Need some flute buying advice...

Irish Flute
1

I haven’t been on here for a while because I’ve been so busy. Anyway, I may have finally convinced my mom (who could convince my dad) to help me pay for a real Irish flute. I’ve looked at lots of options for flute, but still have no clue what would really be best to get. (I know we all hate this question, but I really could use some help.)

My background: I’ve played whistle for a little over two years. I’ve played Boehm flute for over five years and picc for almost three. I have a Hall Crystal flute that is kinda fun to mess around with, but not actually much of an instrument. I was lent a Dixon 3-piece polymer for a week, and was able to play it right away and sounded very good on it by the end of the week considering it was the first time I played an actual Irish flute.

I have a background in classical and want to continue that, but I also am working toward becoming trad on whistle (and hopefully Irish flute someday). I’ve been told by a few good trad players that I was really good on Irish stuff, so I think that I’m getting pretty close to that really trad point. (I’m self-taught between reading stuff on the net, Larson’s Essential guide, and plenty of intense listening.)

Some considerations:

  • As long as quality doesn’t suffer, material doesn’t really matter to me. I won’t need to play outside except under rare circumstances. I think that I’d actually enjoy taking care of a wooden flute. Polymer doesn’t feel quite as good to my hands, but it may be the only thing that fits in my budget.
  • Because I already can play flute, I think the embochure (sp?) should come fairly easily once I adjust, and I already know the ornamentation and fingerings for I-trad. Therefore, I think I could “outgrow” a “beginner” flute fairly quickly. I want a flute that I won’t grow out of for several years, no matter how much I progress.
  • I would really love keys (4 would do very nicely for my circumstances), but I would be willing to get a flute that could later be upgraded to keyed if my budget wouldn’t allow keys right away.
  • I need something with at least some tuning capabilities.
  • Between what I have saved up and what I think I could get from both of my parents, I think absolutely no more than $1000, but I would really prefer it to be more like $700-$800. I would like to get the flute sometime in near future, but I’ve been saving for so long and would probably be willing to save up for more if I needed.
  • Volume isn’t much of an issue. When I play concerts I can get a mic if necessary.
  • Quality and not wanting to outgrow the flute too soon are the most important things.
  • I’d like no waiting list no longer than 1 yr. (no waiting is best, but usually unavoidable)

What I’ve been looking at (and pretty-pretty please give some advise here):

  • 4-key rosewood Sweetheart (I know they have quality control issues, but I may be able travel to Whistle Shop and try a few if they would special order them for me)
  • M&E polymer that I could get keyed (probably 4) a.s.a.p.
  • finding an antique flute that I could have restored
  • Copley keyless with the intention of someday replacing it or getting a keyed body for it
  • Burns keyless probably in mopane with tuning slide (I’m not sure if he would put keys on it later if I wanted them)

Thanks for the help!

2

See in his FAQ here- the last item in the section answers your question.

Have fun choosing!

3

Martin Doyle.
Dollar for dollar hard to beat.
If you don’t want it I’ll buy it from you.

4

Martin Doyle’s are quite good, and underrated on this board (probably not in Ireland). It would be a great flute. The M&E would also be a great flute and you could get some keys. The Burns also a quality flute, can’t go wrong. I might interject by recommending Jon C. he is a new maker and belongs to this board. He is in the process of learning how to key flutes and several people on this board will tell you his flutes are quite good, I being one of them.

You might want to consider what kind of flute you want to get, ie Rudall or Pratten style as this might limit your search. All the people you have listed would make a great flute and in the price range you are considering.

I would probably stay away from the Sweet because the others you mentioned seem more consistent and from my experience on this board people tend to grow out of the Sweet.

5

Copley flutes are also right in your preferred price range, and the wait is minimal. They’re nice instruments.
Danner, I’m not sure if the Arden Valley is in the U.S. (perhaps it’s a state of mind?), but exchange rates are something to keep in mind. Looks like the Euro is about $1.24 at the moment.

6

Seems to me that a keyless (at first) Hamilton might be the way to go. It’s square in your price range, and definitely has a reputation as a “mature” flute.

7

I wouldn’t discount the Sweet 4 key if you can try some first or buy from someone you trust. A good Sweet flute can be excellent, and with the keys impossible to beat in price (for wood). I’ve heard they can be inconsistent, but that’s not my experience.

I don’t think they’re true beginner/easy flutes. They’re based on a Boosey Pratten Ralph owns, take as much air as any pratten derived flute, and really sound great with a good, focused embouchure.

Eric

8

I have gotten Renee (my wife) both a Burns Folk flute ($250 range) and a Bleazey ($500 range) R&R style. We no longer have the Burns (long story, don’t ask here) which was a pretty decent flute. Everyone that played it, liked it a lot.

We have the Bleazey now. It is a VERY nice flute. She says she does not miss the Burns at all and that it is a real joy to play and handle. More important :smiley: is that I really enjoy listening to her play it. This one is worth considering. I don’t know if he can key it later if you want but an email would answer that right away.

9

I am considering getting a Burns Blackwood Pratten in the near future as that is the only Pratten in my price range becasue I would go slide less and he will add keys and/or a slide later and he recently uped his prices if you did not know. If you really want keys I would say go for the M & E because why get a Flute that some times has bad reviewes when you could get one that pretty much never does. But you know what they say a great keyless Flute is better than a medeocore keyed Flute. Wormdiet suggested a Hammy and if you are looking for a loud Flute that is the one to get I really want a Hammy but it is about $900 and I can not afford that right now I was actually thinking maybe I should get a Hammy Piccolo instead of a Flute but decided that I need a nice Wooden Flute before I need a Piccolo. I just can’t wait for my next two pay checks so I can go Flute shopping.