I’m still a total noob on the flute but fear I may be developing the flute equivalent of WhOA.
I already have a Copley Delrin D but I find I keep lusting after something in blackwood.
I know my Copley Delrin is more than enough flute for me at the moment (and likely to be for some time). Its functional, virtually indestructible, and requires no maintenance. I love all that … but … well … it isn’t blackwood!
Should I stick with the Delrin for a couple of years or would there be advantages to getting a quality keyless blackwood now? I know it’s unlikely to make me a better player in the short term, but would it help in the long run? And if anyone has experience of both … is there an appreciable difference between Dave’s Delrin flute and his Blackwood one?
Yup, save your money. At your level, there’s no significant difference/advantage either way. There are aesthetic differences as objects, of course, and I totally understand the FAD aspect, but in that case, why blackwood/grenadilla? It’s just about the least visually interesting possible flute timber! Wait until you’re looking to upgrade for playing reasons, like wanting keys.
It does of course depend a bit on how much money you have spare. If the cost of a new flute is not a significant hurdle for you then a nice flute that you like looking at and handling may well help your motivation. However, a better flute now is almost certainly not the flute that you will end up with in the long term, so if money is an issue (which it is for most of us) then wait. (Until you have more experience and can better judge what flute you want. And have preferrably tried a range of different flutes.)
And there are some other nice woods, though I personally do like blackwood (Grenadilla).
Maybe a Ralph Sweet G or F folk fife, Billy Miller bamboo, or Doug Tipple in a different key? Way to satify FAD. A Copley in Blackwood over Delrin same specs would not be all that satifying a change for me.
The Copley delrin flute is a very good flute, IMO. I wouldn’t suggest an upgrade, just more playing. I have a Copley in blackwood and silver. I’ve played several delrin Copleys and I plan to buy one soon. The weight and balance of the blackwood/silver flute is different from the delrin flute. But the balckwood flute is not a whole lot different than the delrin Copley once it’s up to the lips being played. Both sound good. Both play well.
I play a blackwood Copley, but recently bought a used delrin Seery from a Chiff-buddy. (I’ve owned several flutes before these, as well).
My advice is that your Copley delrin likely plays as well as a Copley blackwood, which plays as well as a (name the material, style and maker). In the hands of players as modestly skilled as most of us, one decent flute is about as good as another. The magic comes from the player, (or not).
I don’t sound or play any better on one flute over another. My preference for wood is based solely on the tactile feel of it. Delrin can be a bit slippery, which can cause me to lose my bearings on the embouchure sometimes. But the Seery’s sound is just as fantastic, and I worry much less about taking it to sessions. So, I’ve conveniently found a way to justify owning two!
I progressed from a Tipple-D to a Dave Copley delrin. I played the Copley exclusively for about a year before buying a Martin Doyle blackwood. The Copley is a very fine flute, but there’s no question the Martin Doyle is the better instrument even in my hands. Then again, it’s nearly twice as expensive so this stands to reason. I found moving from the rounded rectangle embouchure to an elliptical improved my tone, but that might be all in my head. It sounds like I “upgraded” for the same reasons as you, but I no doubt didn’t have to. If I’m sitting down for a long practice session I always assemble the Doyle, but I still play the Copley every day because it’s always put together and ready to go and sounds great. Am I glad I invested in a blackwood flute? Absolutely. Would I be the same flute player if I’d stuck with just the Copley? No doubt about it. Do what makes you happy and what you can afford, but the Copley is plenty of flute to do you for a long long time.
A real nice antique flute might be just the ticket, maybe something like this. Seriously, though, playing one of the old ones is a real joy and you can get a superb flute for a lot less than one of the modern makers (and without the wait). Once you are committed (or should BE committed!), get on the waiting list for a John Gallagher flute!
Seriously, though, playing one of the old ones is a real joy and you can get a superb flute for a lot less than one of the modern makers (and without the wait). Once you are committed (or should BE committed!), get on the waiting list for a John Gallagher flute!