Looks like Casey is truly a heavyweight among flute makers!
Other players have remarked on the weight of mine (398 g., keyless). I haven't ever spent enough time with another to compare. It doesn't feel heavy to me. It's certainly solid, though, and fat. One friend who has arthritis to deal with says that my fat, heavy one is much better for her left hand than her lighter weight but smaller bore flute.
Plus mine is a good billy club for those late nights in Fairbanks walking through the parking lot after the session. Never know when you'll meet a moose.
Dana - I didn't find a scale that accurate (although you could go to the local post office and weigh a flute there)...I used a common kitchen scale and the weight (checked three times) fell dead between 460g and 490g mark - therefore I put down 475g. I imagine some folks may have digital scales which could lead to more precision than I had.
Tell us something.: Pipes have become my main instrument, but I still play the flute. I have emerged from the "instrument acquisition" phase, and am now down to one full set of pipes (Gordon Galloway), and one flute (Hudson Siccama).
You can get a battery operated digital kitchen scale that weighs in either grams or ounces. They sell for about $20 on EBay or in a kitchen supply store. They're very helpful for cooking, for mailing things and for weighing flutes.
6-key Olwell cocus, Pratten: 382 gr., or 13 1/2 oz.
Doyle keyless rosewood: 228 gm
Hamilton keyless blackwood: 349 gm
I was surprised as I always thought the Hammy was at least twice the weight of the Doyle. The rosewood flute seems light as a feather and almost brittle, one wouldn't want to drop it whereas one feels one might comfortably use the Hammy in a fight: not that I'm thinking that way
I was surprised as I always thought the Hammy was at least twice the weight of the Doyle. The rosewood flute seems light as a feather and almost brittle, one wouldn't want to drop it whereas one feels one might comfortably use the Hammy in a fight: not that I'm thinking that way
I think compared to blackwood rosewood is more brittle, apart from being less dense and lighter in specific weight. So your perception is quite correct.
Rod Cameron 8 key blackwood Rudal Rose 400g
and very nicely balanced too
Rod suggests weighing it progressively through the playing-in period so that you can later estimate how much moisture it has on board at any time. This is its 'played in' weight.
