All right I can take care of wood because I play other wood instruments Great Highland Bagpipes is one so I know oiling it would be no problem cork care because I play Bassoon also if I can repair most keywork problems on my Bassoon I think I can handle whatever key trouble I would have on a Keyed Flute (one day I went into my band directors’ office and the Suporvisor of music for the district is one director he was there and he says “You are coming to me with a Bassoon” in the I can’t fix that type of voice). So I am looking for 0, 4, 6, or 8 I am looking at Hevia’s, Ward’s, M & E’s, and Sweetheart’s (6 Key) I would like to spend no more than $2000 any recommendations for other makers would be aprecciated. I would prefer Keys but will settle for Keyless. Do not tell me you are selling you Flute and that type of thing because I am looking for what I will be SAVING for not something to buy right now. Thanks.
My edit is to add I would say Blackwood as my first choice in wood.
For a keyed, blackwood flute less than $2000 your looking at no more than 4-keys with a few exceptions.
There’s the 6-key Sweetheart you mentioned.
A 5-key, blackwood Copley with silver tuning slide and rings goes for $1975.
If you have a lucky experience with Sam Murray, a 6-key is £675.
Otherwise your options are keyless, polymer, or alternative woods.
How near are you to Ralph Sweet’s shop? It might be worth a drive over there to try one of his six keys and let me, um, I mean the board know what you think…
Seriously, my Sweetheart 4 key is a wonderful playing flute. I put in another 2 hours playing it this afternoon (after 2.5 hours yesterday), and I’m very impressed. I think Ralph’s flutes are underappreciated, especially his higher end models.
The others you list are good, too, and many would say better, but sometimes it all comes down to the best match for you and a particular flute.
After listening to the sound clips of all the Flutes mentioned (except M & E couldn’t find a sound clip) for tone my favorite is the Hevia for looks the Sweetheart or the Copely. I emailed the Hevia company asking if they will ever make Keyed Flutes so I will let you know how it goes. I didn’t really like the sound of Ward’s but I like the looks also he doesn’t make Keyed Flutes yet. What do you think is the best out of Sweetheart, Copley, and Hevia also what do you think is better (in my price range)?
Found it. Casey Burns 4 Key in Mopane just at the top of my price range. I prefer Mopane but didn’t know if any Flute Makers use it. I will start saving after I buy my Galician Bagpipes.
If you want a keyed flute, I am very happy with my 5 key from Gilles Lehart - I think I paid about 1500 Canadian (it was a while ago). And delivery was fairly quick.
He does not have email (or at least I don’t know about it) but I was impressed with the man and also his instruments. I got a chance to try a bunch at his home two years ago March, and my problem was “How much do I want to spend?”, not " Should I buy one?".
I certainly don’t think that David Copley’s flutes are the most endorsed on this forum. And even if they were, this probably doesn’t mean very much.
The best guide to whose flutes are most valued, by the players we esteem, is to be found in the notes to Wooden Flute Obsession Vols One and Two.
Most of those players endorse flutes made by Olwell, Murray, Wilkes, Grinter, Hamilton, Cotter, and Rudall. I have heard good things about Lehart and Aebi but haven’t played their instruments.
IMHO it’s better to have a really good flute with few keys (or none at all) than a mediocre flute with eight keys.
Hevia emailed me back saying they started making Keyed Flutes so it comes down to Hevia Keyed or Burns in Boxwood 4 keys (I decided that the extra $175 is worth it) I will see how much the Hevia is that is my favorite one but if I can’t afford it there is not much I can do about it. Money does matter when you are 16 (in two weeks) and don’t make that much money now $2000 is a stretch.
I am slightly curious as to why the Hevia is your favourite. While I am aware of their flutes (and their oh-so-annoying website) I am not aware of hearing from anyone who plays one. The clips on their website undoubtedly sound good but that is one player only. It would be worth sticking to one of the makers who get a good name from a wide range of players, from beginners to advanced. Hevia may produce a great flute, but it may not be your flute - if you see what I mean.
Take the Hammy for example, that someone already mentioned. They are lauded by beginners, right up to Conal O’Grada, Paul McGrattan etc (I have gone off my own Hammy a bit recently - but that’s another story!)
This is a big purchase for anyone and it’s worth not basing your choices on sound clips or websites alone.
Yes, we were working within the parameters
set by the initial post.
It’s interesting. I haven’t played the flutes on David’s
preferred list, except an Olwell unlined, to
which I prefer the lined Copley–apples, oranges,
however. I’m simply not in a position to compare,
though perhaps i’ll be in a better position one day.
I would say this, anyhow.
I very much hope that these flutes are not
appreciably better than Copleys.
If this is foreplay, I’m a dead man. Best
Hey, unseen, you’re my age (16), right? I don’t know about you, but for me, $2000 is one heck-of-a-lotta money for folks like us to spend willy nilly. So, unless you’re rolling in $$$, I’d really recomend slowing it down and thinking about it for long time. And sound clips on website really tell you next to nothing.
Trust me I will have plenty o’ time to think about it Flute is 4th on my list so it won’t be for atleast 2 years. There is no way I can do any thing but judge by sound clips and reviews from other people. If I am the first person to buy a Hevia on this fourm I have no problem with that.
Unseen, in the meantime, try to get the chance to have a go at as many flutes by as many makers as you can. If there are flute players that you know, I’m sure they’ll let you test-drive their flutes. As others have said, sound clips are not the best way to choose an expensive wood flute. Find what fits you the best. And as David so wisely said, a good keyless is far better than a mediocre keyed flute.
Unseen122 - There are plenty of flute players in the NJ area - don’t know where you are but still plenty of them around. Get to meet a few, at a session or other, and try out some of their flutes before you spend good bucks on something unseen and unblown. You’ll seek after the Holy Graile otherwise so try before you buy.
With regard to what a few of the most recent people have said on this thread, I quote from my father, who knows it all: “A hint to the wise is sufficient.”
In the meantime during the next two years while you are waiting for the perfect wooden flute, I would humbly advise you to practice on any flute that you now own, even that plastic one.
