M & E with or without keys.

Searleit · Post by **Searleit** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:23 am

First of all I would like to say hello to everybody. Second... Have any body in here got any experience with keyed M & E, or any other polymer flutes with keys? I've heard that they are very rare...

Henke · Post by **Henke** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:31 am

Not too rare. I've got one. If you're planning on getting one, I'd suggest you get an un-keyed version first, since keys can be retrofitted at any time. Get used to the flute without keys first.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 7:56 am

I don't think they are rare.

I own an M&E 6-key that was my primary flute for years.

--James

Matt_Paris · Post by **Matt_Paris** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:04 am

Maybe Searleit meant that keyed polymer flutes are rare... The only ones I have seen were one M&E and two Seery.

Does anybody know a maker who makes block mounted delrin flutes ?

Screeeech!!! · Post by **Screeeech!!!** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:47 am

Matt_Paris wrote:Maybe Searleit meant that keyed polymer flutes are rare... The only ones I have seen were one M&E and two Seery.

Does anybody know a maker who makes block mounted delrin flutes ?

Terry McGee website says he offers all his flutes in delrin as well as the usual woods.

Searleit · Post by **Searleit** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:48 am

Block mounted delrin flutes? Hm, sorry, can't help you with that...

Well... Most flute players in Poland have wooden keyed flutes, only few, 4 maybe 5 people (including me) have got polymer instruments, but keyless.
Henke, or peeplj could you tell me something more about the material, from which those keys (I mean M&E keys) are made? Is it metal, or something else?

fearfaoin · Post by **fearfaoin** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:03 am

Searleit wrote:Have any body in here got any experience with keyed M & E, or any other polymer flutes with keys?

Here's a picture of one (from flutesite.com):

And here's M&E's price list. You can get 3 keys for $300, which will
only get you 1 key from many other makers... At that price, I doubt
that keyed M&E's are rare.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:38 am

Here's my 6-key M&E:

The keys are definitely metal but I do not know what kind.

That flute is years old now--I believe it is the first 6-key he made--but the keys still work perfectly and have never needed adjustment or repair.

The flute that fearfaoin shows above used to belong to Doc. It is several years newer than mine.

-James

Henke · Post by **Henke** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:24 am

I think Michaels standard keys are made of nickel silver. They are manufactured by a company in Pakistan, but I think they are reliable and decent quality, Michael wouldn't offer them otherwise. The price is extremely low for those keys compaired to other makers.
My keys were handmade out of sterling silver, because the Pakistani company wouldn't make lefty keys.

Wormdiet · Post by **Wormdiet** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 7:23 pm

Screeeech!!! wrote:
Matt_Paris wrote:Maybe Searleit meant that keyed polymer flutes are rare... The only ones I have seen were one M&E and two Seery.

Does anybody know a maker who makes block mounted delrin flutes ?
Terry McGee website says he offers all his flutes in delrin as well as the usual woods.

Er. . . not without qualifications. I ordered a Terry flute last summer with some keys and inquired about maybe getting it in Delrin, and he said he would really not want to do that. I should mention the flute is completely oddball customized, and that probably had something to do with his response. But ya never know, so ask him!

Searleit · Post by **Searleit** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 1:56 am

I think that peeplj's flute have got brass keys, and the other one looks like nickel silver, Henke I agree with you n that matter

.
If it would be sterling silver, it would have a diferent colour, although that depends - sometimes from the jeweller, or proper company, or whatever

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:21 am

Wormdiet wrote:
Screeeech!!! wrote:
Matt_Paris wrote:Maybe Searleit meant that keyed polymer flutes are rare... The only ones I have seen were one M&E and two Seery.

Does anybody know a maker who makes block mounted delrin flutes ?
Terry McGee website says he offers all his flutes in delrin as well as the usual woods.
Er. . . not without qualifications. I ordered a Terry flute last summer with some keys and inquired about maybe getting it in Delrin, and he said he would really not want to do that. I should mention the flute is completely oddball customized, and that probably had something to do with his response. But ya never know, so ask him!

Delrin is kind of a pain in the neck to work with. Making key blocks on a delrin flute is, apparently, particularly tedious. If you wanted keyed Delrin from Terry you'd have to talk him into post-mounted keys (which he also doesn't love doing).

'Tis true the keyed M&E above n the blue flannel was mine. The keywork was perfectly functional and the flute was a good player.

I'd agree with the advice to get a keyless first then decide t get what keys you really want/need.

Doc

Searleit · Post by **Searleit** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:27 am

Yes, I know, and I already have keyless M&E

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M & E with or without keys.

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