Would I notice a difference between a Copley and ...

[trekkie]

I am a fairly new flute player having been learning on a fine Delrin Copley for less than a year now. Actually, I am quite happy with it and have been making far better progress playing than I thought I would. That said, I wonder about some of the other flutes out there. If I were to try a Somers or a Forbes or a Seery how different would it be?

[ImNotIrish]

I would imagine you will still sound like you.
Arbo

[tsackett]

I believe the Copley is based on a Rudall, and both the Seery and Forbes are based on Prattens. I would expect they would have a more reedy, and possible louder, tone than your Copley. The tone holes would also be larger, making the flute a bit more challenging to play, and producing a less crisp sound in articulations and ornaments. Whether you prefer this is a matter of taste. You might find that Pratten flutes shift your playing to a different sort of style.

I don't have any of these flutes, but I have an M&R Rudall copy similar to your Copley, and a Prattenesque Skip Healy. They are very different, and I still don't know which sound I prefer.

-Tom

[Tjones]

Copley's are a great flute! I have a Eb and it's verrry nice. Just keep working ~ From their website: "Our instruments are tapered bore "simple system" flutes based on originals made in England during the 1800's, with the greatest influence being the flutes made by Hawkes and Son of London. The design has been adapted to give the characteristics sought after by players Irish Traditional Music."

Tjones

[Denny]

what Tom and Arbo said

I've both Copley & Forbes in delrin.

I'd suggest not bothering with other flutes.

yes, this is a "do as I say, not as I did"

ah, the question ... yeah, I'd hope you'd notice the difference

[LorenzoFlute]

It would probably sound quite a bit different to you and not very different to people listening.

[kkrell]

Results might also depend on which embouchure you have - modern or oval.

[jim stone]

If it works no need to fix it, and if you do ultimately jump somewhere one day, the place to go is probably a wooden flute
by a good maker, not another delrin flute. I think you would notice the difference.

[Doug_Tipple]

If it works no need to fix it, and if you do ultimately jump somewhere one day, the place to go is probably a wooden flute
by a good maker, not another delrin flute. I think you would notice the difference.

I'd say don't stop at Delrin or blackwood, go all the way to pvc (tongue in cheek).

[paddler]

My first flute was a Copley. I learned to play using it. I liked it, but I started wondering how other flutes would be for me. Mostly out of curiosity I tried a Forbes and quite a few others, including various antiques. I learned a lot in the process, but whatever I played I sounded just like myself! I still have the Copley and I still like it.

So long as the flute is decent quality, which many are, it honestly doesn't seem to make a whole lot of difference. Certainly, the player is what dominates the sound.

I enjoy exploring different flutes, but the more I do it, the more I realize just how good the Copley is. Not only does it sound as good as all the others in side by side tests, but it is also exceptionally easy to play. I think this latter point is very important, especially for a beginner. It allows you to concentrate on the music not the instrument.

I do notice differences between flutes, but they tend to be relatively subtle. Probably the biggest difference I notice is with tone hole size and its influence on the responsiveness of ornaments. My ornaments are not very good, and at my level of proficiency small tone holes do seem to make them noticably crisper. Half holing notes is easier on larger tone holes though. The Copley has medium size holes, and so is a nice versatile compromise.

I have also been surprised to find out how much I enjoy lighter weight flutes. I'd never really considered this an issue before, but I think it is one of the main reasons why I enjoy playing my boxwood Firth Hall & Pond, or my Olwell bamboo. Both feel noticably lighter and more resonant than any of the Delrin or Blackwood flutes.
But in all honesty, I only really need one flute, and no matter what I play I still don't sound like Matt Molloy or Jean Michel Veillon.

Jon

[Peter Duggan]

If it works no need to fix it, and if you do ultimately jump somewhere one day, the place to go is probably a wooden flute
by a good maker, not another delrin flute. I think you would notice the difference.

Yep, you'd have to keep swabbing it out and putting it away...

Delrin's great stuff!

[tin tin]

In the words of the great John Skelton, Copley flutes are "vastly underrated." He also stresses not switching flutes; stick with one. You'll progress faster. If you've been playing for less than a year (or even less than a decade) and you have a good flute (which you do), there's no point looking elsewhere. Focus on developing your tone and your rhythm, learning tunes, etc.

[Jay]

I agree with the above. Here's what I would do if I were you. Keep playing the Copley and start saving now for a wood flute from one of the top flute makers. I bet you're going to want one eventually anyway...no point trying all the plastic flutes when you already have a great one.
-Jay

[Peter Duggan]

I bet you're going to want one eventually anyway.

Why? (I don't!)

[cunparis]

I bet you're going to want one eventually anyway.

Why? (I don't!)

Wondering the same thing here (just bought a Copley delrin keyless).