Whoops, sorry. I must have missed that 
“Quality You Can See & Hear”
I see…, but I cannot hear…
No audio mp3 from this website…
I wonder why
Thank you for performing this invaluable public service for future flute shoppers.
Frankly, I don’t know why you didn’t just go for a Delrin flute for about the same cost?
Arbo
Word..
that would help you immensely in developing as a player. Take my word from someone who owned a old German dud for years, which all knowledgeable players deemed nigh on unplayable.
50 bucks more and you could have bought a Copley 3-piece in blackwood with an unlined head, without a tuning slide. Try and to your money back if you can.
Hi Jem,
I don’t disagree with what you’re saying about what you find on the internet.
I don’t actually (knowingly) own a Pakistani Irish flute - have you got one? If you have, it would be great to see actual photographs of it to copy.
As you know - many sellers clone and copy photographs, and then sell buyers something completely different. I don’t disagree at all that McCarty’s American Black Walnut flute looks very similar to others which you’ve pointed out. But it is black walnut…! It might not be American black walnut, but as far as I can tell (with my A level biology …I didn’t spend enough time treehugging though 
)
Its actual provenance … it was posted from the USA - sure that doesn’t prove anything, but Eric McCarty has supplied me with a flute, which to all intents and purposes, fits the sales description. Unless someone on the forum board, actually owns a Pakistani flute, maybe all of the preceding pages here, are pure speculation, and I’ve been of completely no help in clarifying the issue (more like fudging it!)…
As we’ve commented before in the Sticky thread about all this, some of the output from Pakistan shows very considerable skill in wood-turning and joinery in the basic manufacture of these flutes, but the design specs (detailed dimensions etc.) and finish of things like the embouchure cuts let them down. It wouldn’t actually take all that much to get them half-decent. Which raises the thought that a Western retailer might well order in blanks, as it were - part-made flutes - all the dog-work done - turning and reaming and head lining/tuning slide making, but not finished off - and such a person could then just drill the embouchure and tone-holes and fine-ream the bore to good specs and thus come up with a very cheap but perhaps decently serviceable flute.
In this case…the rationale is completely different: the original premise in the McCarty flute threads, were (even more dismissive than in this thread) denigratory of the McCarty flutes, stating that they were complete junk, and unplayable. The McCarty flute which I have, is not manufactured like junk - it’s quality is higher - and I think you can ascertain that it certain looks very well finished). There are other vaunted American made flutes (not by you of course - you know too much 
) which have inferior build quality to the McCarty flute. What I’m curious about … is this social phenomenon. Why do people commenting on the McCarty flutes, seem to be on a witchhunt? I’d contend … that the flute is better than I am as a ITM flute player. It has way more potential than I have at the moment. That was my first effort at it, so I suppose, it can only get better. Ahem!
I’m really not a snob - I don’t mind where my flutes are made. Similarly, I don’t have an issue with owning a $50 and a $5k flute and spending time with either. This McCarty tunes accurately - my embouchure playing is not. I use a Boehm flute embouchure, as someone here has pointed out … because I don’t know better (well, not quite - I think they called me ignorant lol). It wouldn’t offend me in the slightest if it was made in Pakistan (it is better crafted and tuned, than other American or a specific European flute, which I’ve already mentioned to you about). It would offend me if I have been misled by the seller, but with the flute in front of me… I’m inclined not to think so. Maybe I need more time with it, whilst I learn ITM and see if my perceptions change…
You’re absolutely right about cocuswood. I have no idea what it is, and whereas I can recognise different species of bamboo; rosewoods; walnuts, particularly if they’ve just been stained to mask the wood, I’ve never had much experience with ebony wood and cocuswood.
Kind regards,
James
So, is any experienced player in the USA going to ask mr. McCarty to send him a flute to try it?
Someone really should. I would do it, but the customs hassle takes so much time…so, as an interim conclusion, lets say that the McCarty flute looks like a Pakistani-made flute, has the exact rings, tuning slide and overall construction of a Pakistani flute, the hole layout of a Pakistani flute (down to the sizes; probably deriving from a german junk flute which explains the integral foot) but appears (!) to be made from american walnut wood (as a side note, european walnut is so frickin’ porous that oil applied to the inside leaks to the outside within minutes, totally crappy for flutes - no idea if american walnut is anything like that though). If it’s really any good has to be proven yet.
What I’m curious about … is this social phenomenon. Why do people commenting on the McCarty flutes, seem to be on a witchhunt?
There is no social phenomenon and there is no witch hunt. We are a group of people who have had very unfortunate experiences with flutes made in Pakistan, one of which you just bought. We agree that these flutes are a terror to the world. We endeavor to keep them out of the hands of beginners who think they are getting a good flute at a bargain price. These flutes are generally so awful that they discourage people from playing music on them. They are often unplayable and so they end up as expensive ornaments.
I have played hundreds of flutes but never one that was made in Pakistan that I thought was suitable for playing Irish traditional music. You bought one of these flutes, rather than choosing to support one of the flute-makers whose work we love and admire. If McCarty cared he’d have posted here by now. His silence regarding our comments on his flutes affirms that he is rebranding flutes (and pipes) made in Pakistan and marketing them as if they were made by a responsible instrument maker.
Your ignorance has been dealt with very graciously. You have been treated kindly over-all. To say now that we are on a witch-hunt misses the point. It is dismissive and insulting. You still don’t get it.
James, responding to one specific point you raised, I have already written that I bought (second-hand and quite cheaply) one of the Pakistani ones which looks just like yours bar the timber. It was unplayable; I tried to improve it by recutting the embouchure, to no real avail. It now resides in my work-shed. I haven’t even looked at it in over 2 years. I don’t remember in detail how it played in terms of intonation etc. I haven’t time for the next 10 days to find it, photo it and check it out to comment properly. If this is still running when I can find time, maybe I’ll do so, but honestly, there’s little point.
I only listened to one of your clips on yours - and whilst your playing isn’t bad, it sounds as if you miked yourself too closely for a good representation of its tone, which sounds fluffy. The intonation is noticeably though not drastically off.
There’s no witch-hunt here. In a general sense we here do know what we’re on about, although I agree that a direct report on a McCarty flute by someone we know has the expertise to make a reliable evaluation would be helpful.
James, here’s something from a properly check-up-able, reputable US maker that will certainly work properly and far better than your McCarty, for sale in Eire, so no import duties to risk, for a lower starting price (and I’m guessing the auction won’t go sky-high) than your McCarty.
Oh yes… that’s a shyte flute right there. Pakistani or of some shady East Indian birth for sure.
McCarty, it seems, is a the very definition of a charlatan.
I dare him to prove us wrong and send me a flute and we can do a youtube test among all the local players here in So Cal.
Mr. McCarty are you out there listening?
It’s okay Julia - I wasn’t referring to you.
There’s no need for you to stir things up - the moderators have appropriately deleted the vulgar comment by a previous poster here.
Thanks for your thoughts, however the internet and the use of a forum, is a social phenomenon.
Best wishes.
Hi Jem,
a friend listened to those compressed clips. He tells me I play like I’m auditioning for a vampire movie - except I suck more than vampires
Hmm. I’m not so sure. I still think it’s me - my embouchure slides all over the place. For a flute costing ~ £100/$184 it’s not as bad as others make out. Yes it’s true the intonation is off - I use a fingering technique which wasn’t designed for ITM - the flute rolls as I play (really hot here) and I find my embouchure slides everywhere. Still - it’s day 3 playing with it, so I’ve got a lot to learn on it.
My mic is a $8 mic - it’s not great. Someone did a DVD copy of some playing for me but I don’t know how to upload onto the internet. Having spent hours trying to get those dire clips onto boxnet was bad enough. Anyhow, the sound quality from the digital cam/DVD sounds better - maybe it was mic’d too close, but I tried further away and all I could hear was background noise. I did a few shots on different flutes to get a comparison … will take ages for me to learn how to upload those.
I’m picking up that the ‘E’ fingering leads to a definite appreciably softer sound with slight wispiness when I try to increase the volume. Funny enough a passing human commented on its gentle sound (from about 10 metres).
I do agree with you that it seems odd that McCarty might choose to model his flutes on one which is advertised, rife on the internet from souvenir/gift type shops - my McCarty flute is definitely playable, however the quality of his flute is no reason for me request a refund - maybe if I discover later that it is not black walnut, or not not actually a flute, then I would do so. Or maybe if I discover that I’m actually a flute genius, merely hampered by the flute
Shame I missed out on that Copley one … but it’s still way more expensive than this! I’ve got much to learn, and this will do until next year. Another £50…or $50 for a better flute. Where would it all end? I’d be chasing silver bullets, instead of just getting on and playing…besides… my Reyburn whistle is due to arrive shortly
Do don’t seem to like being wrong ( who does? ) but you should listen to the advice given here.
You’ll not find any better on the internet concerning timber flutes of this type.
It’s both you and the flute.
Dump that lamp and get a proper flute. You are only doing yourself a disservice by trying to talk yourself into thinking you didn’t get rooked.
You did.
Accept it, learn from it and move on. You’ll be happy you did.
James_Alto wrote:
I do agree with you that it seems odd that McCarty might choose to model his flutes on one which is advertised, rife on the internet from souvenir/gift type shops -
By way of possible explanation, I would reference the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
In the world of ITM there is a very definite aesthetic for flute playing. The tonal effects that are held in high esteem are not in most cases easily achieved by beginners. . .they require practice and application and the development of a focused and trained embouchure. Dilettantes, either as a maker or a player are not readily tolerated. Rather than accusing Mr. McCarty of being a charlatan, it may be kinder to view him as too incompetent to realize his own level of incompetence as a flutemaker. 
Bob
Thank Bob.
Most music styles have a definite aesthetic - maybe not fusion music though. Seems like you’re inferring that you believe McCarty flutes are not accepted within Irish Music instrument traditionalists? His sales and feedback is 100% on an auction site over hundreds - clearly these flutes are of interest to people who are outside of the Chiff & Fipple forum.
It makes a pleasant sound to my ears - maybe it is best suited to incompetent players starting off? 
I still think it’s more me than it is the flute which needs to improve - buying a bigger or better flute isn’t going to remedy that. Since we all fail immediately, it’s better to start off low
Do don’t seem to like being wrong ( who does? ) but you should listen to the advice given here.
You’ll not find any better on the internet concerning timber flutes of this type.
It’s both you and the flute.
Wrong? Aanvil - I hear and listen to what some of the more helpful people on this thread are saying. There is a bigger picture too - I’m not looking for flute heaven with a $184 flute - just something to use other than a Boehm flute.
Consumer choices are not inherently right or wrong: I might have made a poor consumer choice. On the other hand, generally speaking, slandering or making false accusations are, ‘wrong’ especially for those who don’t even own one.
I’ve already said - the limitation is more me, than the flute (I think). I haven’t got a handle (literally!) on it. But I am going to play with it for the next few months and maybe a longer term review will reveal more …
O.K., you’ve got my interest and curiosity peaked. I live about 40 minutes away from Mr. McCarty’s shop. I don’t know this man and frankly, I hadn’t heard of him until I read that there was a flute maker in Utah, on this forum. I’m going to try and contact him and ask if I can visit his shop with the purpose in mind of at least trying to determine if there is such a person as Mr. McCarty and ask a few questions about the instruments that he “makes.” My intent is to be very “up front” about my visit so as not to attempt to “bushwack” him. My guess is that he has been approached before, with similiar questions and concerns, so if he is legit, then I would assume he will welcome me and my questions and offer to show me around. I’ll be on the lookout for any camels parked behind his shop. Will let the forum know if I have any success.
Wrong? Aanvil - I hear and listen to what some of the more helpful people on this thread are saying. There is a bigger picture too - I’m not looking for flute heaven with a $184 flute - just something to use other than a Boehm flute.
Consumer choices are not inherently right or wrong: I might have made a poor consumer choice. On the other hand, generally speaking, slandering or making false accusations are, ‘wrong’ especially for those who don’t even own one.
I’ve already said - the limitation is more me, than the flute (I think). I haven’t got a handle (literally!) on it. But I am going to play with it for the next few months and maybe a longer term review will reveal more …
Yup. Wrong.
Consumer choices can be wrong and in this case you are.
We might wish to ask what is wrong with you?
You should be looking for “heaven”.
You are given sage advice and you should take it.
You have already been pointed to fine playable flutes.
Damnit all. We are on your side.
We are trying to save you the trouble of playing a shyty flute.
Most of us are are already aware of the maker of that flute you now own.
It’s your loss if you do not heed the caution.