Can someone tell me if McGee’s 5088 is a good all-around model - that is, not as loud as a Pratten, but louder than McGee’s Rudall Refined with the same note range? I am a beginner (with 4 months of learning behind me). Given the wait period though, by the time I get it, I should have nearly two years of flute experience.
How well does it compare with other flutes of its size - say a Casey Burns Standard model or McGee’s Grey Larsen Preferred?
One advantage to the 5088 is that McGee makes a low C extension for it. Neither the CB flute or the GLP has a low C extension, which is good for playing pop music tunes. Also, McGee offers a Boehm-style embouchure on the 5088, which helps reach the high notes. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
I have a 5088 model, it’s very easy to play flute with a nice volume. I haven’t played any other the other flutes you mention so I can’t compare them, but I have no trouble getting a decent amount of volume out of it.
The headjoint I have is the eccentric bore with the rounded rectangle embochure, I think that has more to do with the ease of playing than the body itself. I personally prefer cylindrical headjoint vs the thinned heads, but that may be due to esthetics than playability.
Terry McGee is also happy to answer email if you have any questions. He also was posting here a few days ago.
I haven’t played any McGee flutes, but I’m sure you can get volume enough with the right embouchere on that flute. Flute desing is not the unique thing in tone production or volume, as it has been discused in the forum.Perhaps the player is the most importante factor. I’ve heard some players with rudall models getting and incredible tone and volumen.
Regards,
Serafin.
beowulf573, do you find that you have to swab the inside of the 5088 frequently (I assume it’s blackwood)? I don’t know how much moisture buildup is a product of play style and breath moistness, but I wonder if a 5088 in polymer or delrin would be as moisture proof (no more swabbing that is) as a metal flute. McGee does make polymer flutes - although he charges the same price, and I have not seen a picture on his site of a poly flute with keys.
Beowulf, the 5088 on Terry’s site with the rounded rectangle embouchure is made of red lancewood. The keyless version with the two semicircles embouchure is ironwood. Which one do you have? Why didn’t you choose blackwood - which Terry says is his favorite?
How many keys? I am told that the rounded rectangle embouchure gives the sound more high frequency components. Is that true? Does it sound closer to, say, a Boehm flute?
Headwiser, why don’t you e-mail Terry with all those questions. I’m sure he will be happy to answer and looking at his site you see that he is a man who goes to great details with the science of flutes sound and everything. I’m sure he can give you a really good description of what tends to sound this or that without even blinking an eye.
I did ask Terry about the difference in sound with the various embouchures. Unfortunately, he does have any recordings or sound clips to show off the differences. Besides, I also wanted to hear what other people had to say about this flute, besides the flutemaker himself.
Okay, that makes sense. Just wasn’t sure if you had brought these questions to Terry, it seams reasonable that he is the one best suited to answer them. Very few regular flute players would have had the oportunity to try out more than one or maybe two of his designs.
