Tallgrass Winds flute in F

Just a quick review of the new flute in F I received from Steve Cox at Tallgrass Winds a few days ago.

It arrived well-packaged and undamaged (yay!). The flute comes in a custom-made hemp bag that ties shut; I think it must be made to the dimensions of the flute, because the fit was perfect. Very nice little bag to protect from scratches, etc. I think Steve’s wife actually weaves the cloth for the bag and sews them for each flute. Quite nice.

The flute was flame-treated and is a rich brown color with some nice grain pattern visible. It’s bound at three points to help prevent cracks.

It plays very, very nicely: loud, woody tone (and my wife approved, which is important). Very easy to fill. Very well in-tune, and the second octave can be brought into tune with just a little lipping (all cylindrical flutes have that funny second octave thing, but I was able to adjust pretty much without thinking about it). Responsive, and very easy reach on moderate-sized fingerholes. Much easier to manage than my bamboo D, closer spacing than my conical (McGee R&R) blackwood flute.

For the price, a very well-made flute, worthy of better chops than mine. If you’re considering a bamboo instrument, I think Steve’s a good bet. His webpage is at www.tallgrasswinds.com, and has good info on bamboo there.

I really like the key of F, for flutes and low whistles (I have an Overton low F, by Colin Goldie). Lovely sound, comfortable key to play in.

Thanks! Is it externally in tune? Is the embouchure hole
in line with the finger holes or offset? Best

Hi ~ I was very tempted to order from him a few weeks ago, but there were TOO MANY CHOICES!!!

Even given the fact that for now, I play alone (so technically, it doesnt really matter what key I would order) I just really couldn’t decide ~

So you chose yours based on the fact that you just like the key of F?

Mary

Answers for y’all:

  1. The flute is indeed externally in tune, as well as in tune with itself (thanks for making me drag the tuner out, Jim!). It is not, however, tunable, so others would have to tune to you, if necessary.

  2. The embouchure hole is in line with the finger holes; in my discussions with Steve, he said he only offsets the embouchure hole if requested. All finger holes are inline, too, by the way, not offset. (I find offset finger holes uncomfortable, personally, so am glad they’re in-line.) Reach is easy.

  3. I got the flute in F because I like that key, yes, and to play along with those few recordings where F flutes are used (Lunasa, I think Paul McGrattan, a couple others. . .). It’s a much easier reach than a D flute – bamboo D flutes can be real bears, if the one I have is typical – and easier even than the reach on a conical D flute.

Mary: if you are looking just to get started on flute, a bamboo F is often recommended as a learning instrument until you decide to look for a good wooden flute. If you want to play Irish Trad music, Steve (or Patrick Olwell’s, or Erik the Flutemaker’s) major-key flutes should serve you well. If you’re just looking to noodle around and improvise, you might try one of the pentatonic models – you can’t play Irish trad stuff, but it’s almost impossible to play a “wrong” note when improvising with a pentatonic flute (I sometimes play with my Native American flutes like this). If you want a bamboo flute you can play in a session, well, you should get a D.

I just wanted an F flute and didn’t want to pay hundreds and hundreds for it, and this flute does the job, quite cheaply. I’m sort of surprised that the good bamboo flute makers don’t charge more for their work, but I’m not complaining. . .

Oooh, pretty! I didn’t know this maker, thanks!

g

For those of us with small hands ,Steve’s D flutes might suit you.The one I ordered last year gets as much play as the 3 piece Dixon .Happily, it has hole spacing nearly identical to the Dixon. The L2 to L3 {A-B} stretch is about 1/16 inch {2mm} longer.For me the biggest differance is the embouchure.The D bamboo flute’s diameter is smaller in diameter than the Erik the flutemaker D flute or Zacciah Blackburn model I have. I don’t know if all Steves flutes are of the same smaller diameter or not.I find this bamboo flute easier to play in the second octave than the Dixon.My embouchure seems to require more focus with the Dixon. Another differance in my instance is that the Dixon is louder but the Tallgrasswinds is “sweeter”.Erik and Zacciah have provided me with large hole, loud flutes that can “honk” if you want them to. They are like baritones at the opera. The Cox flute is an Irish tenor.
Hope this helps someone.
Bruce