Hello, I have a wonderful keyless pratten style flute made by Hevia, Parrado y Aragon of Spain. I want to add keys to it to make it a chromatic intrument, but Hevia did not return my email (I don’t even know if they do this). So, unless someone knows that they will add keys to their keyless flutes, I was looking for names of makers that would consider adding keys to a flute they did not make. Thanks a lot, -Matt
I’m not sure how common it is for makers to add keys to other instruments then the ones they have made themselves. Try asking any of the makers that offers to retrofit keys to their own flutes.
Casey Burns
Hammy Hamilton
Desi Seery
for example
Second this. Casey has mentioned to me that he
is most reluctant to work on other makers’ flutes.
Your best hope is to get through to the original maker.
There is always snail mail, all else failing.
Maurice Reviol can do it.
Maurice is known for doing this.
And he has really pretty keywork.
And besides pretty, Maurice’s keywork is absolutely tops!
Maurice would be an excellent choice.
Johnny Gallagher has also added keys to flutes he didn’t make. He can even do blocked keys to keyless flutes.
Doc
How does that work? Does he glue on blocks or what?
AFAIK they still have the same e-mail address. I’m seeing them next week-end. I’ll make some enquiry and let you know, ok? I also want a long F and maybe a C# key for my four-keyed Arhpa.
I don’t want to seem like pesimistic, but I know that they have been fully concentrated on Uillean Pipes for a time now. They sold out a short production of C and Eb flutes recently and I feel they are trying to shorten their waiting list on UP.
Rgds
I wrote to Maurice inquiring about changing keyless
flutes to keyed. He responded that he can do it
although it usually ‘takes a bit longer.’ He needs
to try the tuning out on a dummy flute first.
He says the earliest he can do this is at
the end of Dec. So goes the very nice
and helpful Maurice.
This thing raises interesting question, IMO.
Obviously the flutesmyth will have to drill
holes and, perhaps not knowing the flute
as well as the maker does, there is a question
of placement and tuning. Hence the need for
a dummy flute first, I suppose.
Also I wonder what original makers think
of this–especially if they make keys for
their own flutes, but it takes a long while
to get a keyed flute from them and they
don’t retrofit. I suppose it doesn’t matter very
terribly…but i’m not sure I want to find
out.