I am thinking about buying a beginner flute - specifically, I’m thinking about a Dixon PVC. Does anyone have suggestions on this particular flute?
I have done searches on the message board and read a lot about suggestions by others for beginner flutes - but, I’d really like this to be a “beginner” one if you know what I mean (i.e., very inexpensive). I know if I like to play I will upgrade eventually.
Essentially, I’m asking if anyone has one (or, had one), and do you like it?
I am also a beginner, and have tried one of theirs, and I didn’t really like it. I wasn’t able to get good sound out of it. I ended up going with a tipple, and it is amazing. Easy to play and sounds great. Definatly the best thing to get under 100 bucks.
Given the choice I would choose the Tipple,
for choice, the 2 piece version instead of the 3 piece.
The Tipple is louder and easier to get a sound out of.
The 2 piece is better in the second octave than the 3 piece
(I accept that each flute is unique i.e. one might sound better than another) but this is my experience.
The Tipple is maintenance free, and 1 lives in my car,
the other in my whistle/flute case.
I do believe that the Tipple is a better flute that the Dixon, but I acctually recomend getting the Dixon. I started out with it and I’m immensely grateful for that fact, because it made me a better fluter. I think it’s a bit challanging to play in a way that will develop your embouchure a lot and make you better prepared for a pro or mid range flute later. I haven’t tried the Tipple, but I suspect that is what you should get if you want an easier flute to learn on and a flute that could play along better with other instruments. However, if you want an excellent practice flute that will prepare you for future challanges, get the Dixon. Just don’t expect to join in at any sessions with it.
I believe that the Tipple will also cause the “better fluter” effect.
I also believe that you will not “outgrow” the Tipple.
Its seriously a good flute.
I don’t doubt that, I should have added that in my original post. I just have a special feeling about the Dixon. Of course you will be a better fluter from practicing on any flute, at least as a beginner, but the Dixon can develop your embouchure in a way that not even the mid-range flute I normally stick to can. It’s really difficult to explain, but I have a strong feeling that I wouldn’t be half as good when I upgraded if I would have played a “better” flute that the Dixon to start with. At this point, I’m a lot more advanced embouchure-wise than in some of the other aspects of fluting, and I give a lot of credit to the Dixon 2pc for that.
being a beginner myself…as for the dixon pvc…generally they are NOT recommended when you were considering the two piece flute (or even one piece).
when you were considering the three piece then it is going to be an entirely different story and this would make a good beginners flute to learn on, develop your embouchure.
very easy to hold as it feels light in your hands, easy to take care of and it does have the more trad sound then the tipple would have.
if you are into TRAD then I would recommend the three piece dixon as a starting point if you can afford it…easy to sell again later too if it would turn out that this is not your thing.
the tipple is nice to have though, too but very different sounding and also has BIG holes spaced relatively far apart, as opposed to dixon having small holes and easy on the hands.
small holes does not mean low volume though…thats on the player!
I’ve got a 3pc Dixon polymer, bought as a ‘beginner’ flute to help me transition from the Boehm flute. I love it, although after nearly a year I’m beginning to hanker after something more. But I can recommend it - it’s perfectly possible to get a very good sound (especially bottom octave), and there’s one on EBay at the moment - but hurry, it ends in 7 hours! (I am in no way affiliated with the seller)
I bought the one piece dixon pvc flute. I liked it for about two days. it has a big blowhole, which requires a lot of air. The pipe is thin-walled, so the blowhole is shallow, resulting in an airy, unfocused tone. I made a pvc flute myself, and added a lip plate, which made the blowhole twice as deep as the dixon. The sound was so much better, and the blowing easier, that I’ve never touched the dixon again.
it’s easy to make a dixon-like flute if you look around on the internet.
I did order a Tipple, which is a real instrument. lots of volume and tone.
It’s hardly more expensive than the dixon.
I don’t want to over labour the point, but I also don’t want Tony Dixon to get an unecessarily bad rep - the one piece and three piece flutes really are totally different animals, as is reflected in the price. The three piece is much more a ‘real’ flute and not just a piece of water pipe.