I just got a scarcely owned McGee GLP flute. I’ve been waiting for a long time to get my hands on one of these babies and bought this one for myself (heck I’ve been way too good this year to have to wait for Christmas).
Anyway, the thing is lyng on my table…absolutely beautiful…longing to be tooted…taunting me.
And guess who has a cold sore! 
I think this is very much what hell will be like.
Doc
Blimey! I mistakenly thought this was the Pirate Thread. I thought you had veered strangely off the Pirate Day theme. 
Congratulations on your new flute. I am sorry about your cold sore. I think hell will be worse though. Godspeed me bucko. Arrrrrrr!
Yeah, there will probably be more flutes on the table.
Doc
Congrats.
Something like this?
From the 2002 Bedford Bash, see
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/2002trip.htm
Arrgh, ye stick with me, young Jim Hawkins, I see thee right …
Very hard to play with a parrot sitting on the end of your flute.
Terry
Terry, it’s a shame that flutes are so scarce there. 
By the way, Doc, I’m anxious to hear your take on how that GLP compares to the more common patterns, i.e. Pratten, Ruddall. Oh, and by the way, since it’s all I have to go on, how’s it compare with a tipple?
Oh, and Terry, it be mighty hard ter play with a parrot attacking the end of the head of yer flute too, AAAAAAARRGH.
Methinks we spy the blaggards themselves here goin’ through their booty. Those aren’t belayin’ pins ye see on the table.
Yes exactly like that.
I personally think heaven and hell will be in the same place. It’s just that the guys in “heaven” won’t have a cold sore. Saves space you know.
I’ve always thought cat heaven and mouse hell are probably in the same place too.
Doc
I’m quite excited myself. Terry’s sending a batch of flutes including some GLPs for the store. I’m looking forward to comparing the improved elyptical embouchre on those with the rounded rectangle embouchre on this flute.
Anyway, much fun ahead and I’ll keep you posted.
By the way my daughter, who is a Boehm flautist, just played it for me. It sounds really great. The sound is quite focused and true. Interesting that she usually has trouble playing Irish flutes but had no trouble at all with this one. Likely due to the rounded rectangle embouchre which is similar to her Boehm tooter. Anyway, she only plays lovely slow stuff.
I’m dying to rip off a few reels and see how this things handles on the curves. I’ll keep you posted. 
Does GLP stand for Good and Loud Pratten?
Or Good Low Price?
Or … 
Grey Larsen Preferred.
Jon, here’s a link to Terry’s discussion of his flute designs:
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/models.html
the GLP is the last one on the page, and if you’re interested, he has a link that talks about how that model came about.
Standard disclaimers apply… I ain’t got one, and after last weeks pickup repair bill, I won’t have one for a good long while, lol.
You should definantley tell us about it when the cold sore goes away I am going through breaking in a Bleazey Whistle which is a pretty similar sitiuation…
As an Aussie who has just started on flute this year (and playing an American-made Sweetheart keyless), I am intrigued that the objects of desire in this forum so often seem to made by McGee and Grinter, both Australians. Sure, other makers get a mention, but it really surprises me - I guess I thought that Irish or American makers would totally outnumber Australian makers. Any thoughts as to why this is the case?
They make good flutes.
except with your body burning forever and worms eating your flesh in utter lonelieness; all synced to a top 40 soundtrack.
Well the old lip is back in playing shape.
And now for a few discriminating comments on the McGee GLP that has recently joined my humble collection…
Wowser! 
Hubba hubba!
and, as “The Undisputed” is wont to say…
Yikes-a-hootie!
This is a very very cool flute. I have never played such a delightful flute. The holes are much smaller than any other flute I’ve played and the length is quite compact as well. The result is that the thing plays with the nimbleness of an E or F flute rather than a D. Picking it up after playing any other flute is like getting out of a mini-van and sliding behind the wheel of a Ferrari. Ornaments are just crisp and effortless (I swear I heard the thing rolling off low-D cranns by itself last night. Must have gotten lonely in its box.).
The air reqirements are also noticibly lower than most flutes. Terry’s site describes it as having an agility remeniscent of the whistle (or something to that effect) and he’s absolutely right.
The remarkable thing to me is that, in spite of its diminutive holes and narrow bore, this flute has terrific power and presence. The tone is solid and strong, very focused without being nasal or wimpy in any way. I think it would be more than adequate for serious session work.
Anyway, “hats off” to Firth and Pond for inventing it, Grey Larsen for championing it, and Terry McGee for resurrecting it.
I also have some interesting things to say about Two different headjoints on this baby but I’ll save that for another thread.
Right now I’m gong go play some more.
Doc
Sounds very cool.
Thanks for the review, Doc. Do you think that you could post a sound sample of the GLP and Pratten or Rudall flutes on the same tune? It would be interesting to be able to hear the similarities and differences.
I’d love to do that but don’t have a good way to do recordings. It’s on my list.
Terry McGee has a recording of Grey Larsen playing a GLP on his site and he also has a Rudall recording. Rudall perfected I think..
You could also go to the Wooden flute obsession site and listen to samples of lots of Rudalls & Prattens. 
Doc