Some years ago I bought used a Dixon low D whistle that came with the flute head, but I was only interested in the whistle so after unsuccessfully fooling with it for five minutes, the flute head has sat in a drawer for all these years.
I’m thinking about trying flute and I’m wondering if this flute is one that a beginner should try, or is it one of those things that was built as a compromise for someone who wanted a whistle/flute combo and it’s not good to learn on.
I have not personally played the Dixon combo, but have seen it listed. I believe it is a cylindrical flute/whistle and have heard that they can be very difficult to play as a flute. “Irish” flutes are conical and the minimum for a decent flute is about $300 new, a bit less used. Dixon makes a delrin conical flute for about that price and I would think that (as well as other “entry”-level flutes such as the Burns Folk Flute) would be a much better instrument to learn on.
That said, if you can get a tone out of your current Dixon and get around on it, it may be fine. I started simple fluting on a Billy Miller bamboo D (great deal for under $100, but it is also a cylindrical instrument) but quickly moved on to a conical flute.
The Dixon combo historically has been a difficult flute to learn on (but a fine low D whistle). I think Tony may have made some modifications on his newer combo flute heads to make them easier players, but you’d have to email him to find out (he’s a good guy and responds to emails within a few days if he’s in town).
Personally, I’d suggest getting one of Doug Tipples flutes - I think they’re likely cheaper with the exchange rate and all (if you’re in the US) and they are very well made.
I have one of those combos. I bought it for the whistle. And as you probably know, the whistle is a fine low D and well suited to a beginner.
I also purchased mine “some years ago”. The flute head I have is not the current model. The current flute head has a lip plate and deeper chimney which is quite an improvement. Which model do you have?
My comments relate to that older design. I found it to be a difficult flute to play. When I bought it, I already played Boehm flute and bamboo flutes. I thought I had gone through the “pain” of learning to get a tone on those. I can play the Dixon but I don’t think it is worth putting a lot of effort into one. That older Dixon cylindrical is not suited for a beginner IMHO. I’ve had more success with DIY flutes.
That said, you already own it and should give it a try. After all, you have nothing to loose. If you can get a good tone, great. But if it becomes frustrating I would suggest looking into another flute.
The Dixon 3 piece conical flute is a whole other story. I think it makes a good starter flute but there are many others you could try as well.
Yeah, mine has no lip plate. I did mess with it for a few minutes and had zero success, but I’m sure that’s me and not the flute. Still, I’d rather start with an easier one when I start.
What about the finger spacing? Is that pretty normal for a D flute?
I dare say it’s comparable with an Eb low whistle, and the conical shape makes it even more ergonomic.
Try a delrin Copley&Boegli, they go for 359$ at the Irish Flute Store.
You can still sell your delrin for about the same price, if you ever like to upgrade to a wooden flute.
I had good experiences with the 3pc Dixon conical delrin flute. I had tried a less expensive route, but the embouchure on the Dixon felt far more natural to me; and I enjoyed playing it. I come from a background of Boehm flutes, whistles and wooden fifes; and although my fifes have a small round embouchure, I am more at home with an oval or rounded rectangle on flute.
The older Dixon I had will be going up for sale on Doc’s website shortly. It has a larger embouchure (which may have been modified) and seemed to play pretty well in tune. I just sent it off today, along with my gray PVC flute in trade on a Pratten style blackwood. If you decide to look for a used Dixon, check the irishflutestore towards the end of the week.
Your success (or lack of) may not be all be your fault. The older Dixon cylindrical is hard to play.
As Lixnaw said, the finger stretch on your Dixon is probably wider than any conical D flute out there. And if you are concerned about holes sizes, hole size on conical flutes will differ from design to design but the Dixon holes are about as large as any flute I have owned. I would second Lixnaw’s suggestion on the Copley & Boegli delrin flute. I play a balckwood Copley and it’s a darned nice flute. I played a three piece delrin Copley last year and would like to get one myself. I also own/have owned M&E’s, Seery and the Dixon 3 piece conical flute. All are decent flutes to start on.
If you want to keep the costs to a minimum, the Tipple flute is a good way to go, as Jayhawk suggests. The Tipple flute is also cylindrical but plays better than the Dixon. Hole size also determines hole position, so the stretch will differ from the Dixon to a Tipple. Doug gives measurements between holes on his website. You could compare your Dixon to one of those easily. If you own a drill and feel industrious, Doug also has instructions for making a flute on his site. I have built a couple to his specs and they work quite well.
I’ve got a one-piece Dixon flute which is cylindrical and may be similar to yours. Or maybe not.
I keep mine around for quick practices in between doing other things. I play my Dixon more than my Casey Burns just because it’s easy to pick up and put down on a whim. The negatives are that I have a harder time blowing a clean note than my Burns (but it’s not terrible) and the finger stretch is more uncomfortable (but it gets easier with time).
John Skelton played mine briefly and noted that the low E was a little weaker than the other notes, but he made the flute sound embarrassingly good (meaning that most of my problem wasn’t the flute).
The first weeks of trying to get notes out it were difficult. Maybe that’s true of any first attempt at the flute? A few minutes isn’t long enough to test it. (I’m sure I’m just pointing out the obvious to you. I’m not saying you didn’t know that.)
Having said all that, if you can afford one. buy something different. I’m sure that you’d enjoy a better flute more than the one you have because the sound and ease of playing will be almost certainly be better.
Funnily enough, both the tone hole spacing and their sizes are virtually identical between the Dixon tube and a Glenn Watson, uncannily so. My Dixon pipe is my “pick up and play” flute that I leave around the house, and it is possible to get a good tone from it, but I do prefer the Glenn Watson.
I learned flute on a Dixon whistle/flute combo. Just as a couple others have mentioned I bought it for the whistle and put the flute headjoint in a drawer for a number of months. Mine had a lip plate though. I found it to be sufficient as a starter. True, you don’t get a clean sound like you can with other flutes but I had no trouble learning on it. It’s extremely lightweight and you can take it anywhere.
Well, I decided on the Tipple (low d with lip plate and wedge) and just ordered it. I figure that’s the best way to see if I’ll stick with it or not without putting out a lot of cash and still get a good tone.
