Olwell bamboo arrived!

Irish Flute
1

Well, after much waiting, and a painful introduction to tranverse wooden flutes by a souvenir maple fife over the last couple months (see my previous posts), I believe I now have a decent insrument to play on! Came home yesterday to find a cylindrical package from Nellysford, VA on my Doorstep! :smiley:

First observations - beautiful! Really is a nice hunk of grass. Smells oddly like smoked Salmon - is this the ‘wonderful smell’ everyone talks about with Bamboo flutes? Anyway, I do enjoy it - just an unexpected detail.

Wow this sucker’s big! How am I ever gonna get those holes covered!? Anyway, when I do manage, the nicest, most mellow sound emerges, and I can’t wait to play it again tonight.

Talked with Mr. Olwell directly regarding ordering a ‘left-handed’ model (which is simply - holes being aligned straight down the bore as opposed to the last hole or two tweaked to the right) - he qouted me 30-60 day delivery times - came in 31.

Anyway, wanted to share the glee with the rest of you!

Giddy Regards,

  • Ryan
2

That’s cool, Ryan! Olwell bamboo flutes are wonderful.

I assume you got a concert D?

Make sure you oil it occasionally, I’d say. And all that means is
putting some light oil (like almond or grapeseed) on the endgrain
where the bamboo can suck some of it up. My Olwell low C developed
a slight foot crack after a couple of years. No big deal, but I’d
gotten lax on the oiling.

Stuart