The Seery is a serious, high quality flute. Desi Seery makes them in wood and in Delrin (a solid black plastic polymer). Tom Doorley (of Danu) plays a Delrin Seery. You can buy a brand new Delrin keyless D model for $350, including shipping, and the waiting list is usually only a few months, so I don't know why you'd pay that much for a used one. Perhaps the used one is wood--which might make it a better buy.
You can search the threads here for "Seery" or M&E (another polymer flute maker) and come up with all kinds of info and advice about these inexpensive but decent flutes.
350 Euro for the Seery is probably too much, since you can get it new for this much. I have an M&E and love it, it was a great flute for me to learn and it's still a great flute to carry in trips, etc; it cost me about US$400 new. I hear good things about the Seery too. These plastic flutes play exactly like the wooden ones, sound almost as good, and they have the advantage that you don't have to be careful with them, they're practically indestructible.
Either one of these will serve you well for at least one year, then if you decide you want to be serious about being a flute player (my condolences!) then join the WOODENFLUTE list and ask me or them about how to buy a wooden flute.
I've played both the Seery and the M&E. I liked the Seery, it's pretty easy to fill, and forgiving on embouchure. (I've been playing flute for about 7 months now). I just got an M&E, (His new Rose Rudall model), keyless, with the tuning slide and bands. GREAT flute!. Less forgiving on the embouchure, but has a much "richer" tone. (Both flutes are polymer, I play them at Ren Faires, which here in Arizona means the desert). I have small/average hands for a guy, and I can pad finger both, I don't have to use a pipers grip.
The M&E will always be with me, when I play better and have money again, I'll look into a blackwood or mopane flute.
I've played both the M&E and Seery as well, and I'd be happy with either one. My Seery has a more reedy tone than the one M&E I've played, and I happen to like that--sounds just like a trad wooden flute. It's possible to get a rounder tone, and the response is good--lots of "pop" when you want it.
And even if you end up buying a top-of-the-line wooden flute later, it makes a lot of sense to keep a polymer flute around for traveling, weather extremes, and St. Paddy's Day riots--er, sessions.
For the record, my M&E is the "regular" (non-Rudall) model, with split embochure. I haven't played the Rudall model yet, but i hear good things. In my experience, the M&E is easier to play and very responsive. The Seery, though, may be a better preparation if you later go to a large hole wooden flute (Pratten style). But i wouldn't worry too much either way, they're both fine instruments.
Thanks for all the info - especially on the price of new compared to second hand - but then again this is Ireland, the most expensive country in the EU, so things are probably a little dearer here alright!
Another slant to this - my girlfriend has a classical flute! Could I begin to learn on that, or is that just pointless?
There are a few [very few] players who can get a good sound out of the classical Boehm system flute so I wouldn't rule it out. However the keys make it a bit combersome when trying to play triplets etc.
You might also try Sam Murray, probably one of the best flute makers in the country at present, he can be contacted on Galway 532848. If he can't meet your requirements he can probably offer some sound advice.
I wouldn't worry too much about the cost - spend as much as you can on getting a good flute and even if you get bored with it you can sell it again and get your money back.
Try the flute out before you buy - every flute player has a flute out there that's just for you and there are some flutes that are almost impossible to play. I once had a Hawkes Siccama system flute that I could hardly get a note out of but that other players had no problems with.
Just to correct a poster's comments. A Seery keyless polymer in D goes for $380 + $25 s&h. Tom Doorley use to play a Seery polymer, but now plays a keyed Olwell in rosewood.
A year's time and prices go up. I bought my Seery keyless polymer a year ago for $325 + s&h to the U.S. It's worth the extra $55 and then some. And I'm glad to hear that Doorley finally saved up enough gig money to get an Olwell....
Irish Flute
Irish Flute
I am looking into buying an Irish Flute. Any idea of what is a good make within a reasonable cost? I mean for about
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by Edja
Re: Irish Flute
The Seery is a serious, high quality flute. Desi Seery makes them in wood and in Delrin (a solid black plastic polymer). Tom Doorley (of Danu) plays a Delrin Seery. You can buy a brand new Delrin keyless D model for $350, including shipping, and the waiting list is usually only a few months, so I don't know why you'd pay that much for a used one. Perhaps the used one is wood--which might make it a better buy.
You can search the threads here for "Seery" or M&E (another polymer flute maker) and come up with all kinds of info and advice about these inexpensive but decent flutes.
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: Irish Flute
Edja - here's a link to a previous discussion about buying flutes:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/998
Also check out Brad Hurley's Irish flute website. Lots of good info on flute makers.
http://www.firescribble.net/flute/index.html
Good luck!
Joyce
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by JMH
Re: Irish Flute
350 Euro for the Seery is probably too much, since you can get it new for this much. I have an M&E and love it, it was a great flute for me to learn and it's still a great flute to carry in trips, etc; it cost me about US$400 new. I hear good things about the Seery too. These plastic flutes play exactly like the wooden ones, sound almost as good, and they have the advantage that you don't have to be careful with them, they're practically indestructible.
then join the WOODENFLUTE list and ask me or them about how to buy a wooden flute.
Seery: http://www.worldtrad.org/Seery/
M&E: http://www.irishflutes.net
Either one of these will serve you well for at least one year, then if you decide you want to be serious about being a flute player (my condolences!)
g
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by glauber
Re: Irish Flute
I've played both the Seery and the M&E. I liked the Seery, it's pretty easy to fill, and forgiving on embouchure. (I've been playing flute for about 7 months now). I just got an M&E, (His new Rose Rudall model), keyless, with the tuning slide and bands. GREAT flute!. Less forgiving on the embouchure, but has a much "richer" tone. (Both flutes are polymer, I play them at Ren Faires, which here in Arizona means the desert). I have small/average hands for a guy, and I can pad finger both, I don't have to use a pipers grip.
The M&E will always be with me, when I play better and have money again, I'll look into a blackwood or mopane flute.
Aodhan
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by Aodhan
Re: Irish Flute
I've played both the M&E and Seery as well, and I'd be happy with either one. My Seery has a more reedy tone than the one M&E I've played, and I happen to like that--sounds just like a trad wooden flute. It's possible to get a rounder tone, and the response is good--lots of "pop" when you want it.
And even if you end up buying a top-of-the-line wooden flute later, it makes a lot of sense to keep a polymer flute around for traveling, weather extremes, and St. Paddy's Day riots--er, sessions.
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: Irish Flute
For the record, my M&E is the "regular" (non-Rudall) model, with split embochure. I haven't played the Rudall model yet, but i hear good things. In my experience, the M&E is easier to play and very responsive. The Seery, though, may be a better preparation if you later go to a large hole wooden flute (Pratten style). But i wouldn't worry too much either way, they're both fine instruments.
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by glauber
Re: Irish Flute
Thanks for all the info - especially on the price of new compared to second hand - but then again this is Ireland, the most expensive country in the EU, so things are probably a little dearer here alright!
Another slant to this - my girlfriend has a classical flute! Could I begin to learn on that, or is that just pointless?
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by Edja
Re: Irish Flute
There are a few [very few] players who can get a good sound out of the classical Boehm system flute so I wouldn't rule it out. However the keys make it a bit combersome when trying to play triplets etc.
You might also try Sam Murray, probably one of the best flute makers in the country at present, he can be contacted on Galway 532848. If he can't meet your requirements he can probably offer some sound advice.
I wouldn't worry too much about the cost - spend as much as you can on getting a good flute and even if you get bored with it you can sell it again and get your money back.
Try the flute out before you buy - every flute player has a flute out there that's just for you and there are some flutes that are almost impossible to play. I once had a Hawkes Siccama system flute that I could hardly get a note out of but that other players had no problems with.
Anyway - best of luck.
# Posted on February 27th 2003 by breandan
Re: Irish Flute
Just to correct a poster's comments. A Seery keyless polymer in D goes for $380 + $25 s&h. Tom Doorley use to play a Seery polymer, but now plays a keyed Olwell in rosewood.
# Posted on March 2nd 2003 by Odin
Re: Irish Flute
A year's time and prices go up. I bought my Seery keyless polymer a year ago for $325 + s&h to the U.S. It's worth the extra $55 and then some. And I'm glad to hear that Doorley finally saved up enough gig money to get an Olwell....
# Posted on March 2nd 2003 by Will Harmon
Re: Irish Flute
Tom Doorly's Olwell is cocus. I know. I've played it.
Chris
# Posted on March 2nd 2003 by ChrisLaughlin