well…
I’m not Irish either! 
I’m already ordering a Tipple, but I decided mostly on price (below 1000) and what I had read about the flutes here and at the Session. If I really wanted to go all out, I’d probably buy a McGee flute, but that will be down the road.
No experience with the Tipple flutes, but I think that having an all weather flute will be an asset. Something that works and would be a good backup. If due to aesthetics, finger hole placement, embouchure shape, or a dozen other preferences, you find that something else works well I would think that the Tipple flute will be something you will want to hold onto.
Kevin, thank you for connecting those dots. You just made my day! And I only have to wait 10 months for them to be in my backyard. Wooohooo!
Sorry to get so off-topic.
Feadoggie
off topic?
Denny, Great find! A few weeks ago I spent a couple of hours trying to find info on these guys. As one might expect, if you search on “Three Friends” AND “Gentle Giant” OR “Kerry Minnear” you get thousands of hits, most of which are selling, some reviewing the album. Great videos. Not quite the same as the classic lineup (I loved Kerry’s playing the old beat-up keyboards), but still wonderful musicianship.
I am thinking of making the trip up to Allentown (about 5 hours) when they are there.
well you know good I am at finding things…
it was at the bottom of the page that Kevin linked 
NEARfest is being held at the Zoellner Arts Center in 2010. The Zoellner is actually in Bethlehem on the campus of Lehigh University. It’s a nice space for music. I live about ten miles away. I could be persuaded to take in a “raconteur troubadour” should one find their way up here.
This is pretty cool, even without the Shulmans.
Feadoggie
Which is why I linked it. Now if they’d only come to Los Angeles. I mean, I’ve only seen Gentle Giant live 4 times.
I’d like to suggest a few makers to add to your list, if I may:
- Patrick Olwell
- Martin Doyle
- Bryan Byrne
- Hammy Hamilton
- Eamonn Cotter
- Gilles LeHart
- Chris Wilkes
I’ve played and owned a lot of good flutes and I were in your shoes I’ll tell you what I would do:
- Place an order with Patrick/Aaron Olwell for an unkeyed D flute in blackwood.
- Spend the next year learning/practicing the whistle.
- Be surprised and overjoyed when Patrick calls you a year from now to tell you that your flute is ready.
- Receive your Olwell flute and begin a love-affair with the only flute you’ll ever need.
- Lust after Olwell flutes in Eb, C and Bb, keyed Olwell flutes, and hundreds of other kinds of flutes…
Chris
And an all-wood Olwell will (I think) still come in under the OP’s $1000 limit. I’ve played at least three of them, and I’ve yet to come across a finer flute.
Can you realy get an Olwell in a year? I thought his waiting list was something ridiculous like 12-15 years?
Unkeyed ones.
I have two friends here who ordered keyless Olwells, and both arrived in less than a year.
I was interested in a keyless D Ormiston a couple years ago and contacted him through email. I can’t say enough about the excellent (and prompt) communication I experieced while dealing with George, great guy and great flutes…
Yes, I’m pretty certain that you can still get an unkeyed Olwell in about a year, give or take. Just give Patrick/Aaron a call and ask them. I think that’s about how long mine took, but that was 7 or 8 years ago now.
It does take quite some time to get a keyed flute. Mine took about 6 or 7 years, I think, but during that time I was more than happy with my unkeyed Olwell. The truth is that most people, including myself, have almost no need for keys on a flute, won’t really know what to do with them once they’ve got them and probably won’t use them much. I know there are plenty of players who do, but I think it’s fair to say that most don’t, including myself, due to the simple fact that something like 98% (a non-scientific number) of Irish tunes will play perfectly fine without them, which is one can go to a session and expect to play almost every tune with a simple D whistle. Still, having keys IS definitely nice and I’m glad I have a keyed flute.
Going back Olwell and the wait for flutes - the year wait for the unkeyed flute will fly right by and before you know it you’ll have a beautiful and remarkable instrument. Yes it costs a little bit more than some other flutes (but not by much) and the wait may be a bit longer (but not by much) but once you have one you simply won’t need another flute in that key ever again (unless you want keys).
I don’t think it really makes much sense to buy a less expensive flute just because of the money “saved”, only to lust after a more expensive flute and end up buying one a few years down the road anyway. Just save up a little more money and buy the flute you really want, love it, and you won’t have to spend money on another one down the road.
Best,
Chris
Sorry, not a lot to offer on choices between the flutes you have suggested, it’s all subjective in the end and completely down to personal taste, but I do love this;
I’ve winnowed down a list of makers,
It’s been a long time since I have heard the word ‘winnow’ used in conversation and even longer since seeing it in print. 
Chris (or anyone else), have you played all the flutes you’ve listed? I’m particularly interested in how a Doyle compares to an Olwell?
Karl.
Just to throw out some more names,
Johnnie Gallagher
Windward Flutes (made by Forbes Christie)
Sam Murray
The thing that has worked for me was to ask all the local flute players if I could try their instrument for more than a quick puff or two. Really try to get familiar with what is ergonomically comfortable and (if you have advanced enough on something like a tipple) which one works with your embouchure. There is no “best” flute - there is a flute that works well for the player.
Many people in my neck of the woods play a certain maker’s flute for the very good reason that he is local. I find these flutes difficult to play - NOT because they are poor flutes (They are excellent and well-regarded) but because the flutes I’ve learned on have very different qualities. If a flute is in tune, has decent volume, very good intonation, and a professional embouchure cut, it will work. Most of the flutes listed here have those attributes.
/aimless ramble
Martin Doyle flutes are lovely, extraordinarily good for what they are (two piece) and for their price,
but very few flutes are going to be as good as Olwells. Hard to deny that Patrick O is some sort of genius.