Casey Burns Flute

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ripleywm
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Casey Burns Flute

Post by ripleywm »

Greetings,

Scottish smallpiper and flute novice here. I recently bought a Casey Burns flute from a random Craigslist ad. I had my piping/whistle instructor check with one of her flute buddies before I bought it so I'm fairly confident it's a decent instrument, but I wouldn't mind some opinions from some folks who play these things all the time. Also, I'd be grateful for some direction towards care of this instrument.

Cheers,

budding flutist,

Bill

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stiofan
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by stiofan »

I've had a few CB folk flutes over the years, and now have an older (~circa. 2000) standard in blackwood, but w/o tuning slide or rings. I like the all-wood-edness of this one a lot (I also have a fully-lined flute w/slide by another maker) Casey's flutes are easy players with very forgiving embouchure cuts. Can't quite tell from the pic, but looks like it might have his ergonomic hole configuration, which a lot of people appreciate. Interesting grain pattern on that flute, at first glance thought it was cracked.
Here's his care instructions: https://caseyburnsflutes.com/flutecare.pdf
(oddly, not on the website any longer)
Enjoy!
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by Flutern »

stiofan wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 10:03 pmInteresting grain pattern on that flute, at first glance thought it was cracked.
Looks like olivewood to me.
Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law.
ripleywm
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Tell us something.: 50 something piper interested in whistles. I live in NE Georgia in the USA. I started in Florida about 30 years ago, but I have had several long hiatuses. I've been playing seriously for about 3 years now.

Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by ripleywm »

stiofan wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 10:03 pm Here's his care instructions: https://caseyburnsflutes.com/flutecare.pdf
(oddly, not on the website any longer)
Enjoy!
Thanks!
ripleywm
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Tell us something.: 50 something piper interested in whistles. I live in NE Georgia in the USA. I started in Florida about 30 years ago, but I have had several long hiatuses. I've been playing seriously for about 3 years now.

Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by ripleywm »

gwuilleann wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 10:44 pm Looks like olivewood to me.
It is olivewood.
Ben Shaffer
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by Ben Shaffer »

Is it just the photo or are the ferrules pinched in and not even with the flute are some of Casey’s just made that way?
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by jenfen »

I don't have any guidance, but I do want to say what a beautiful-looking flute it is. The grain of the wood is really lovely.
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by david_h »

Ben Shaffer wrote: Mon Aug 09, 2021 10:55 am Is it just the photo or are the ferrules pinched in and not even with the flute are some of Casey’s just made that way?
That caught my eye too, but I think it's just the photo.

I think it's Casey's 'Standard Flute', maybe ergonomic but not the small-handed version.
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by oleorezinator »

It will be wise to follow the breaking in procedure
as you don’t know how long the flute has been sitting
and at what humidity level. Take it slow.
Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love.
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oleorezinator
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by oleorezinator »

It will be wise to follow the breaking in procedure
as you don’t know how long the flute has been sitting
and at what humidity level. Take it slow.
Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love.
Love is not music. Music is the best.
- Frank Zappa
ripleywm
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Tell us something.: 50 something piper interested in whistles. I live in NE Georgia in the USA. I started in Florida about 30 years ago, but I have had several long hiatuses. I've been playing seriously for about 3 years now.

Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by ripleywm »

oleorezinator wrote: Thu Aug 12, 2021 9:26 am It will be wise to follow the breaking in procedure
as you don’t know how long the flute has been sitting
and at what humidity level. Take it slow.
Thanks, I will. It's pretty easy for me as I can't actually play yet, so 10 mins or so is about all I can take. I've got some bore oil and cleaning supplies coming as well.
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by dyersituations »

Yup it's Casey's standard flute without tuning slide (as opposed to Folk Flute). I've owned both a Folk Flute and a standard with slide. Great flutes, great craftsmanship, clean ferrel transitions (since that was mentioned above). I ended up moving onto a flute with a bit more volume/power, since I was looking for that type of sound. Also I had a flute with ergonomic holes that I bought second hand, and I much prefer inline holes.

Regarding playing in, just slowly ramp up play time each week for about a month, applying oil every couple weeks or so. Then you can transition to 2x year oiling or whatever makes sense for your environment. That seems to be the common advice.
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Thomaston
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by Thomaston »

That’s a nice find! I’ve never heard of him making any flutes with Olivewood before now.
paddy joyce
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by paddy joyce »

Yes, I have an olive wood flute made by Casey with inscriptions "BURNS 364 HONKER" on it. Lovely player, powerful sound. Could put up a photo if I knew how. Bought it off David Levine years ago.
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Re: Casey Burns Flute

Post by Flutern »

Thomaston wrote: Sat Aug 14, 2021 9:28 am That’s a nice find! I’ve never heard of him making any flutes with Olivewood before now.
See this thread: viewtopic.php?t=95658 :)
Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law.
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