Far East Network: Bamboo flutes

[Tak_the_whistler]

http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~rishibue/english.html

[Tak_the_whistler]

Ok, replying to myself… :roll: A short review of a Rishi Bamboo flute in F.

I now have one, tuned to 440 (+20c).
In a word, “simply lovely”.

Anyhow, I’m sure many believe that we should all be careful not to take any new makers seriously, particularly those smiths who are not well established nor known at all among the ITM community…but sometimes we do need to take a leap of faith. Well, here’s my humble review as a beginner Rishi fluter

By the way, here’s the link --not mine!-- to a tune played on Rishi flutes. WARNING: Not ITM but at least you can get a descent sample.

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/haru/works/music.html
The flute starts at around 3.00.

Tone
Silverflute-likeness with a bamboo twist. According to some acousticmusic-ally challenged students around me it “sounds like a real flute”. The bottom F is tuned slightly flatter but this gives me a chance to play a in-tune hard “F”, and does not bother me while playing in a normal way, too.

The pure sound of this particular flute I believe is typical of Rishi, but when you ask for a custom order he’d be able to produce one with the closest tonal colour you have in your mind (Irish flute, shakuhachi, Boehm flute, etc).

Playability
Even with a relaxed embouchure it plays brilliantly. With a more focused one, I can go on as far to say that the beauty of the sound far exceeds that of silver flutes. I guess lovers of Olwell do feel the same…bamboo rules!!

Appearance
Well, looks like a bamboo Natural-finish.

Tone holes
Bigger than my Sunreed Low D. I’m having to use the piper’s grip but I’m comfortable with it. Sharp edges, the featuer I like. If you’re a professional half-holer, this is worth the consideration.

Response
Smooth transition between octaves (and the descent vol. balance), crispy ornamentations, changes in the airflow. Jigs, polkas, reels, airs, you name it.

Volume
Mid-range. Suitable especially for in-door playing. Matches nicely with soft accampaniments; pianos, guitars etc., but can be handled agressively for fast tunes as well.

[glauber]

If you need ultimate flute!!!
Let you ask by E-mail or FAX!!!

Hehehe. They look beautiful.

[Wombat]

They look great. My connection at home is a bit too slow to listen right now. My main concern is this. How do they compare with Olwells which are ony a third the price..these beauties are $US300 according to the site.

Tak, have you played any of the Olwell bamboos? If so, how do they compare?

[Tak_the_whistler]

Wombat, I know, Olwells are seriously must-haves for those either on a budget or on a serious pilgrimage to the world of bamboo flutes…but the thing is I haven’t played any of them…

And yes, I do believe Rishi’s are, for bamboo flutes, expensive (3X’s dearer) than Olwells. For $300, you can get three Olwells plus some inexpensive whistles…but you still have to wait for a year to get one (BTW, the waiting list for Rishi is about 12 weeks…still, given that shorter list, they’re a bit expensive…but it’d be unwise to compare the sound to a $9000 Abell flute…All’s relative, you see ). In my opinion this flute plays better than $260 Dixon 3pc, and even though it’s in the key of F I’m sure I would say the same as to a low D…

I came up with a suggestion – C&Fers with Olwells and with some spare dollars can all chip in, get one Rishi flute, and give a fairer review…