Flute Choice sub $500

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Tue May 06, 2003 8:19 am

OK, the poll above lists finalists for under $500 (my price range - and it's firm) flutes. I'm opting for no tuning slides on the wooden flutes since it significantly lowers the price and Casey Burns assures me there is significant tuning ability with just the tenon/socket (there is on my Dixon, too, about 1/2 step up or down). Feel free to post comments as well as votes on the various flutes, life without a tuning slide, etc...

Thanks,

Eric

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Tue May 06, 2003 9:28 am

I voted for Mark Hoza because being a wood flute, you won't have to overcome PAS (plastic aversion syndhrome). But if you get the M&E, you get a slide included in the bargain. If you buy a wooden flute, you should get the rings too (i don't remember if your Hoza had rings or not). With a plastic flute they don't matter (they're there for decoration), but with wood they reinforce the very thin and fragile tenons.

I've communicated extensively with Mark Hoza and Michael Cronnolly (M&E), and both of them are great people, great flutemakers who will bend backwards to help you have an instrument that suits you.

In my session, people tune with electronic tuners, the accordions are more or less in tune, and i rarely ever use the slide. Your mileage may vary.

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Tue May 06, 2003 2:11 pm

Hurray, votes are floating in. Voters for the M&E R&R, Seery, or Hoza, feel free to post your rationales, too, if you'd like.

Glauber - I've emailed Mark to ask about the stability of the joints without metal bands. I know that Casey Burns and Ralph Sweet make those sections of the wood thicker to compensate for the lack of bands, so maybe Mark Hoza does, too. Hopefully, I'll find out soon...provided I don't get blown away by another tornado in the meanwhile.

Eric

gcollins · Post by **gcollins** » Tue May 06, 2003 5:50 pm

Definitely the M&E R&R. It blows my Seery away, and I my first flute was a Hoza ironwood. No question on this one for me.

brad maloney · Post by **brad maloney** » Tue May 06, 2003 6:14 pm

People who've seen me on other lists are probably sick of me saying this, but here it goes. The Healy 2-piece for $500, silver tenon, blackwood, top notch quality. The only thing that makes it different than the standard 3-piece is the foot-joint.
http://skiphealy.com/frames/fr_instruments.htm

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Tue May 06, 2003 9:23 pm

Brad,

I've looked at Skip's prices a little more recently than you have...it's now $750 for the two piece flute. I've read a lot of good things about Skip Healy's flutes, but as with so many makers I've become interested in their flutes shortly after most have gone up 50% to 75% in the past 2 years. Now if my salary had kept pace, things would be different, but alas, as a government worker, it only goes up minimally each year (for which I'm incredibly grateful, but I still can't keep up with flute prices).

Eric

brad maloney · Post by **brad maloney** » Wed May 07, 2003 11:41 am

I didn't realise they went up. I see he doesn't offer the cork tenon two piece (that was the $500) the silver tenon has always been $750. You might want to drop him a line to see if he still has any cork tenon jobbies laying about the shop.

pbar03 · Post by **pbar03** » Wed May 07, 2003 2:01 pm

Are you sure the metal rings are an option on the Rudall Rose model? Just like the split embouchure I believe it is available only on his own design model; am I mistaken?
Incidentally it would make the price of the Rudall Rose model $60 lower, that is cheaper than the Seery. Great!

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Wed May 07, 2003 2:12 pm

I emailed Mr. Cronnolly earlier today, so I'll see when I get home tonight if he has written back. I specifically asked about rings on a R&R model and asked to verify that the prices on the web page are correct.

I'll let you know when I hear back from him.

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Wed May 07, 2003 2:43 pm

The rings are optional on the plastic M&Es. All the M&E "Rudall"s i've seen were ringless.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Wed May 07, 2003 7:49 pm

<p align="center"><img border="0" src="http://www.flutesite.com/images/keyedmnerr.jpg" width="952" height="115"></p>

This is a lovely 6-key M&E Rudall & Rose model flute. Note the rings, and the improvements in the eye-candy department on the keys.

--James

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Wed May 07, 2003 8:33 pm

James - That's one nice looking flute. I can't quite make out if those are the steel or the brass rings on the flute. Can you tell?

Regardless, the rings really add, in my opinion, to the attractiveness, and one thing I'm liking about the M&E is the ability to retrofit keys if I find I need them...

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Wed May 07, 2003 9:04 pm

I don't know. If Doc's still around, maybe he'll enlighten us.

That's a pic of his flute (which I believe he later sold).

--James

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Thu May 08, 2003 5:21 am

Man, I miss Doc, who was according to his own words was "internationally known, or at least my Canadian office assistant knows who I am".

I hope he's doing well, will return soon, and is able to toot away.

Jayhawk · Post by **Jayhawk** » Fri May 09, 2003 5:40 am

I think I'll end up going with the M& E R&R...provided he ever returns my email.

If anyone has any hints on getting in touch with Michael Cronnolly (or an email address different from the one on his web page that he's more likely to check), please PM me.

Thanks,

Eric

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