Chiff and Fipple Forums

For years, I had the same problem your report, especially when nervous. I am a cyclist. Handlebar tape usually comes with double-sided sticky tape underneath to keep the tape from slipping over time. The outer surface is slightly textured to keep sweaty hands from slipping. So I cut a small piece of...

Thanks for the ideas above. I like the look of the brad point a lot. My sense of caution says to ask around my friends to see if anyone has a drill press, and use a brad of the right size.

Favourite flute: the one I used is an Australian make "Piezobarrel". You can also get a much more expensive German one made by Rumberger. It doesn't require phantom power. I am using mine on an uilleann pipe chanter, which is hard to mic since the sound comes out the finger holes, so the m...

I have a small piezo mic designed to be inserted into the body of an instrument. The procedure is to drill a hole of the appropriate diameter (5mm), glue an internally threaded metal cylinder into the hole, and then the mic or a plug can be screwed into the metal cylinder. This was no bother with bo...

I have an original Siccama, and agree with the above comments about reach, tone and tuning. If you play the silver flute, you won't find the keys bothersome, and as (I think) Jim Stone pointed out, the plateau key for the lower hand ring finger makes it easy to use the short F for D to F transitions.

I bought a used flute at auction in the UK (Siccama made by Hudson ~1850-52) a few years ago, and I had them send it to Arthur Haswell for an inspection/"do anything that you feel is necessary to restore it to perfect playing condition". Cost was reasonable and everything was indeed perfec...

Derrick refurbished a Wooff NBD set for me. Great work, great communication, fairly priced, and as others have noted, a gentleman who was a pleasure to deal with.

Hugh

Putting in another plug for Thompson bellows, small but so efficient, and drive a full set easily. I have had larger bellows, but I don't like them nearly as much because there was more slack/delayed response with them. To paraphrase, bigger is not always better.

My first flute was a McGee with rounded rectangle embouchure. A few weeks later I got a flute with an elliptical embouchure that I much preferred. 1) for a beginner, I found the rounded rectangle more forgiving since the sweet spot is wider than on the ellipse, but the tone seemed to me less interes...

The set is now sold. Thanks to those who inquired.

Hugh

I had a recorder in bubinga and I noticed that the grain raised in the windway, so it was no longer flat and smooth, and the lip wasn't sharp. Pretty as can be, but functionally, didn't work that well in my opinion.

For sale: narrow bore D half set by Joe Kennedy. The keyless chanter is patterned after a Taylor brothers’ chanter, and has a mellow tone, and good tuning, and comes with two reeds by Joe. The drones have Joe’s synthetic reeds and are stable and nicely balanced with the chanter, are mounted in an L&...

For sale: 8-key cocus flute by Stephane Morvan, sterling keys. His flutes are played by Jean-Michel Veillon, Sylvain Barou, and Calum Stewart. Great tuning, fat Pratten sound, all keys in perfect working order, wood is immaculate. Made about 2010. Comes with a custom Northwind leather covered case. ...

Kintailpipes-glad you are enjoying the piccolo. I agree with the transverse whistle but better descriptor-that's what my bandmates said as well.

Hugh

For sale: narrow bore D half set by Joe Kennedy. The keyless chanter is patterned after a Taylor brothers’ chanter, and has a mellow tone, and good tuning,and comes with two reeds by Joe. The drones have Joe’s synthetic reeds and are stable and nicely balanced with the chanter, and are mounted in an...