We know who he is. The name is famous. So famous that I don’t see mention of it on the flute board. Or maybe it is because I’m tired:-).
Anyhow. One hopes for reversals of a long bout of bad fortune. In anticipation of same, I tried one of Skip's Bb chromatic fifes. I fell in love, plain and simple.
Has anyone out there played Healy's chromatic flutes, specifically the F? Does anyone out there own a Healy flute, period? Two-piece, three-piece, keyed (no, I can't afford that in any event). I keep eyeing the chromatic flutes. If I am a believer in the Deity of Stuff, even more am I a believer in Stuff that is locally produced by a guy who makes an object--in this case a fife--that is an absolute work of art and plays like on.
And who produces said works of art and music on short order, in a workshop, to specification surely, but without the mystique of one guy at a work bench with a waiting list that may outlive both him and his customers.
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[ This Message was edited by: KenWolman on 2002-07-03 22:42 ]
I have a 3 piece healy blackwood keyless but I suck (just made the transition from whistle a couple weeks ago) and don’t know what I’m talking about. That said… Healys are in my expert opinion the best flute ever made… in East Greenwich…
On 2002-07-03 23:30, Loren wrote:
Umm, are you asking a question, telling a story, or giving advice Ken? After reading your post I’m a little confused…
Loren
It’s a question. I never ask questions unless there’s a story attached: finding the question is like Where’s Waldo for flute-players. It’s in there, promise. NOW!–the original question had to do with user opinions of and experiences with Healy chromatic flutes.
[ This Message was edited by: KenWolman on 2002-07-04 14:54 ]
Well, I own two unkeyed Healy three-piece flutes (Cooktown & blackwood) and I think they’re both great.
But my opinions are essentially moot as I’m part of the Healy Flute Company (I do Web design & marketing…nothing to do with the manufacture of the instruments).
Where are you, Ken? I might be able to locate someone in your area who has a Healy keyless chromatic F flute that you can try or at least talk to the owner.
I have a 10-hole Healy F that I have been using for 6 months now. It goes with me everywhere. I also have had a Healy keyed-D for almost a year. The D is my session flute but eventually I will swap the F in and out of sessions. It’s a really fun flute.
I play folk, rock, Trad, and blues on the 10-hole F. You can slide on and off every note. The holes are large so it is very responsive. Because each hole is a half step, I find changing keys far easier in the 10-hole system than on my Boehm flute, or my simple system flute - because the fingering is more intuitive.
I would advise getting a loaner to try for a month. While you can finger a 10-hole like a D flute with minimal changes, covering 10 large holes takes some time to learn and you need to take it slow. I am in the process of setting up a West coast set of loaner Healys - kind of like the roving ambassador concept Terry McGee has set up. Let me know if you would like to get a 10-hole F on loan.
By the way, I recently acquired Healy 10-hole fifes in Bb and A. These have also been a real blast to play. Being able to hit accidentals dead on and quickly helps convey the songs. I have come to believe that each flute has it’s own character that makes them unique and fun - kind of like good friends, you can’t have too many.
I’m not part of the Healy Flute Company, I just think Skip makes choice flutes. I’m an electronics consultant and this is my hobby.
Alfy loaned me a 10-hole F flute to play with for a month. It showed up Friday. I already own one of the 10-hole fifes, which I adore. He seemed to suggest there'd be a period of adjustment with the flute. He wasn't kidding:-).
The reach required to cover all the holes is a bit daunting. I don't have small hands but there's a contortion required of my right hand that is really painful, and I'm still negotiating the bottom of the scale so I can get the low notes to sound at all. I doubt very much that there's a "trick" here, just a lot of wrist strengthening and hard work required before the magic happens.
I also hate to say this, but we're being honest here...I did not notice this on the fife, but I find the tone hole edges VERY sharp, almost uncomfortably so.
Lest anyone accuse ME of being a chronic whiner:-)...the actual tone of the flute on the notes I can get to sound thus far is joyful. It's a gorgeous-sounding flute and that makes the effort worthwhile. I have a feeling that once I get the flute to play, I'll forget all about the tone-hole "problem."
And by the time I get it going, it'll be time to send it back. But I will have emerged with the strongest right wrist in Monmouth County, New Jersey....
[ This Message was edited by: kenwolman on 2002-08-08 09:44 ]
Interesting thing about the sharp tone hole edges, my Ironwood Healy had this characteristic, and I really disliked it. Speaking with someone who had a Blackwood Healy, they told me the tone hole edges were very well rounded, so I wonder if Skip varies this based on the type of wood used?
On 2002-08-07 16:46, Loren wrote:
Interesting thing about the sharp tone hole edges, my Ironwood Healy had this characteristic, and I really disliked it. Speaking with someone who had a Blackwood Healy, they told me the tone hole edges were very well rounded, so I wonder if Skip varies this based on the type of wood used?
Loren
Well, the 10-hole F flute is blackwood. I’m thinking in retrospect that this could be a “size matters” issue having to do (no Elizabethan puns here) with fingers. My hands are large but the fingers are thin. The holes on the flute are really large–I feel as though I need to do a piper’s grip to cover them, yet with the twisting involving the right hand, that’s a painful option.
The hole size combined with the stretch required makes me quite aware of the edge sharpness. I gather one of Skip's cardinal virtues is that he will work with a buyer to customize such things as keywork: I would assume that also extends to the diameter of toneholes and perhaps even their placement? John? Skip? Anyone out there from the Cartel?
[ This Message was edited by: KenWolman on 2002-08-08 09:54 ]
[ This Message was edited by: KenWolman on 2002-08-08 09:54 ]
Sorry. Now it’s my turn to apologize. I haven’t been able to check this list for a couple of weeks due to a number of drop-dead deadlines.
In any case, Skip can fully customize the tone holes on his flutes, including moving them around to an extent for a customized grip. This is something where you have to work directly with Skip to let him know what you want. I know that he has performed similar modifications before.
Regarding the edge sharpness of the tone holes, I have to admit that this is the first time I’ve heard it mentioned. Skip counter-sinks his tone holes so that they conform to the finger. I’m not doubting you. It’s just news to me. Again, I’m sure that if you mentioned this to Skip, he would be able to provide a softer edge upon request.
You should also keep in mind that with regular playing both blackwood and ironwood tends to soften on its own.
Regarding your issues with the stretch, if you’re used to a fife/piccolo stretch (which isn’t very demanding in most cases), then most flutes are going to take some getting used to. Here again, Skip can quite easily made some modifications to tone hole placement and that should make the transition easier.
the best flute ever made… in East Greenwich…