I’ve been playing Irish music on the mandolin for about six years now, but I have decided to take up the flute. I’ve winnowed down a list of makers, and I was wondering if you guys have any comments, good or bad, about these flutes/makers, or other recommendations, because I can’t decide which to buy.
There are a lot of opinions on this board about flutes from these makers. When I was trying to make a decision on my first flute, I used the search function and looked at discussions over a period of time about the different models. That really helped me out.
Another thing to think about is that taking on the flute can feel very overwhelming if you don’t have a background in some woodwind. I would suggest looking at a whistle first. That way you learn about fingering, air pressure, intonation, ornamentation, etc. without the “overhead” of dealing with the embouchure which can be the most difficult aspect of flute playing.
Perhaps I used the quote function incorrectly. I meant that your recommendation of the wedge and lip plate was good and that the OP could hear the difference in Arbo’s clips.
there’s a couple of used student flutes (wooden/keyless) on Ebay in Ireland just now.
Both look like junk. One is from Pakistan, from the look of it, and the other is probably a Ganley flute. The latter is Irish and the ones that I have tried to play are execrable. That means they aren’t any good. On another forum people have written:
Re: Tom Ganley flutes
I’ve tried a couple of these and they were astoundingly bad… the worst I’ve ever had the misfortune to play.
Chris
Unless he has improved dramatically as a maker, which from what you write seems to be the case, I have always advised against buying his flutes. I tried two four years ago at Milltown and thought they were the worst flutes I had ever played…
Posted on July 12th 2002 by LongNote
For less than $100 I’d go with the Tipple. And personally I think the difference between the two and the three piece flute is mainly aesthetic - though not everybody would agree with me.
I have played Healy instruments and Sweet’s, never played any of the others. Both are great, but they have different personalities. What is the “Best” doesn’t mean it is right for you. Think about what you want out of a flute.
Unfortunately I have only played their fifes. In my opinion Healy has brute power, Sweet has nuance, but my instruments are older versions.
The advantage of a three piece is that you can adjust where your hands go. More places to leak though.
It’s not my auction, but I play an M&E polymer and like it a lot. If you bought the eBay one, you’d be able to sell it again for the same price and you’d also get a taste of what a nice conical flute can do. I leave mine assembled all the time and grab it when I don’t feel like putting my Copley together and then having to swab it later. I guess you’d say it’s a “grab and go” flute for me. I also use it when camping or where I don’t want to risk my good flute.
Calvero, may I ask, purely out of curiosity, how you came up with your list? It’s not centered anywhere geographically, nor by price. There are many other options, to which we can steer you if we know what you’re looking for feature wise. Also, you’d do well to follow celticmodes’s advice and search the archives for posts about any flutes you’re interested in. There’s a wealth of information, plus you’ll get a sense for the points of view of many posters.
Of those on your list, I’ve only owned two, Sweet (several) and Bleazey (one), and of those, I have a considerable preference for the Bleazey. But it’s a very small-holed flute, and thus not for everybody.
The problem is that all ‘irish’ flutes are rare instruments. Anyone who hasn’t played a LOT of flutes - dozens, at least - will judge other flutes by familiarity, not quality. In other words how similar it is to the one or two flutes they themselves own and play.
This is what makes thread questions like "which is better: a Healy or a McGee? more or less futile. There is substantial agreement against mass produced Pakistani flute-like objects, and for any of the various artisan flutemakers you list. After that, you’re on your own, IMO.
“Don’t you see that I’m just doing what I want to do
Nothing more and nothing less than you
Read no thoughts I didn’t think myself
Just the same as anybody else”
– Gentle Giant
BTW, Kerry Minnear (keyboards), Gary Green (guitar) and Malcolm Mortimore (drums) are gigging together in a new band, “Three Friends”, with guest musicians, play Gentle Giant songs and plan to create original music.
