Low flutes - boxwood? Blackwood?

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 4:34 pm

[YaBvsBD - yet another boxwood vs. blackwood discussion]

Hello,

I'm in the process of sorting out an order for a low A flute, eight or nine keys, block-mounted. I'm wondering which wood I should order. I love the appearance and sound of boxwood, but I'm seriously in doubt if it's a good idea to have an all-boxwood flute with block-mounted keys, especially regarding warping (the longer the key, the faster one notices key leaks caused by a warped flute) and swelling of blocks, causing the keys to get stiff. The flute will have a G foot with pewter plugs and I expect it to be around one meter long, which leads me to the big advantage of boxwood vs. blackwood (in this case): weight. A fully keyed low A flute made from blackwood would be quite heavy, I guess.

I'd be glad to read your opinions and especially own experiences.

Thanks,
Gabriel

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:09 pm

When I first ordered a Bb from Pat O, his initial suggestion
was boxwood. It seemed plain he thought
boxwood and low flutes were a good combo.
Of course there were no keys.

Have you talked to the maker?

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:26 pm

Sure, not particulary about ordering such a big flute in boxwood, but about boxwood in general - he said his boxwood supplies are around 25 years old and he never had problems with warping, just with swelling tenons which can be addressed easily by adjusting the thread on it. But I'm sort of attracting any forms of Murphy's Law and don't want to take a chance...

eilam · Post by **eilam** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:51 pm

my choice would be Rosewood.
i have a Bb Olwell in Rosewood, it's so light and fun to play.
Rosewood is naturally oily wood and does not have to warpage(sp) problems that Boxwood has.
i also have a keyed Copeland in rosewood and it's extremely light and fun to play.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:01 pm

'Sure, not particulary about ordering such a big flute in boxwood, but about boxwood in general - he said his boxwood supplies are around 25 years old and he never had problems with warping, just with swelling tenons which can be addressed easily by adjusting the thread on it. But I'm sort of attracting any forms of Murphy's Law and don't want to take a chance...'

I'm a fan of boxwood. I've never had any trouble except swelling
tenons from condensation. But maybe I've been lucky.
I suspect the downside of boxwood has been somewhat
exaggerated. If you don't want to take a chance, that
settles it,of course.

Eilam, I like rosewood too. I think it's under-appreciated,
flutewise.

eilam · Post by **eilam** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 8:13 pm

"I like rosewood too. I think it's under-appreciated"

yes - i'm not into the lacquered finish, and from my experience, it's not necessary.
i think oiled finish Rosewood with Brass rings and keys is so beautiful !!!

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 10:43 pm

Rosewood is nice, i have a Doyle in rosewood. The sound and response are what one would expect from Blackwood, but it is much lighter.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:05 am

Good to know, thanks. I know that the maker offers blackwood, boxwood and cocus, but I'll have to ask if rosewood is possible, too. I also like the appearance of it - just have to check if I'm allergic to it, even though I don't think so. But you know, Murphy's Law...

Thanks again, and I'm happy to read more thoughts!

talasiga · Post by **talasiga** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:37 pm

The Murphy's Law on allergies is that they can come and go.

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:49 pm

I'd trust the maker on the boxwood. If he's having good luck with his batch you're probably fine, Can we ask who the maker is?

Can I guess Tom Aebi due to your relative proximity?

If it is Tom, I've seen a few of his boxwood flutes including a Bb...straight as a stick.

Doc

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:55 pm

Doc Jones wrote:straight as a stick

...ya need to work on that one...

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:06 pm

Denny wrote:
Doc Jones wrote:straight as a stick
...ya need to work on that one...

Ummm you know, a straight stick.

Come to think of it, I've never actually seen a straight stick. But if there were a straight stick somewhere, the Aebi boxwood I had would have been real straight just like that.

I've never seen a warped boxwood McGee or a warped boxwood Olwell either...always quite straight. You, know like...errr...quite straight things.

Oh forget it. I'm goin' to bed.

Doc

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 4:20 am

Yep, it's Tom Aebi. I'll meet him in winter to testdrive all those models he offers including Bb's in various woods (I already know some of his flutes from my teacher), and maybe he even has a low A prototype ready for me to try out then.

There are many many boxwood flutes which never warped, even though they're hundreds of years old. So I might take a chance anyhow and go for boxwood. Tom's supplies will be nearly 30 years old when my flute comes into production, so that should be quite enough.

Thanks everyone!

Sillydill · Post by **Sillydill** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:26 am

Hey Gabriel,

Perhaps it's moot at this point. But I'm surprised no one else has mentioned it.

Boxwood is almost 30% lighter than Blackwood. When you are getting such a long flute as a Bb and add to that the weight of keys (especially the foot keys), I would think that a bit less cantilever on the far end would be a real asset.

All the Best!

Denny · Post by **Denny** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:08 am

good point

...and the A, even more so!