Hi, I wondered if anyone would be able to tell me anything about this flute. I know it is probably a beginner's model. I wondered what the two extra holes are in the end piece? It seems weird to me, as a whistle player, to have the extra holes. There is obviously something I don't know!
I would be most grateful if anyone can shed any light on this, and tell me if it is worth getting. Thanks in advance!!
Flutes with no makers stamp or information, that are marketed as cocus wood despite such a light color, are most probably made in Pakistan. They are widely regarded as poor quality flutes with poor intonation.
The site is a New Zealand site, yes?
Maurice Reviol is a Kiwi maker who by all acounts makes great sounding flutes for a reasonable price.
The two holes on the end are where the Cnat and C# keys would sit open. They aren't covered by fingers, and they are there for venting only.
Thanks Mike, this is exactly the help I was looking for. I have just been doing some more research and did wonder if it was a Pakistani make. I will look into Maurice Reviol flutes - thanks for the tip.
Looks like a Pakistani make, probably not a playable flute, but a flute-like object. However, regarding your question about the 2 holes in the foot joint. These are vent holes, which, when properly placed and sized, can improve intonation. They're approx. where low C & C# would be on a keyed Irish flute. The first open hole defines the tuning for your low D (all fingers down on the six holes in the main sections), as that's the length needed for that note.
Our local instrument repairman calls these things out of Pakistan and China "ISO's" (Instrument-Shaped Objects). They are shaped like instruments on the outside, but do not function like instruments.
Yes by all means avoid these Pakistani flutes. I've tried a number of them and they are uniformly terrible. Much much better, and cheaper, would be a high quality Irish bamboo flute by Patrick Olwell. These play as well as most high-end wood Irish flutes.
The reason for those two extra holes is that our modern "Irish flutes" are actually copies of 19th century "simple system" orchestral flutes which had open-standing keys down there for low C sharp and low C natural. The theory goes, if you're going to copy a flute, copy the entire length of the bore and the purported effects of these two open holes.
I've talked to Irish flute makers who have played the same flute both with a simple short holeless bottom section (or footjoint), and with the extended bottom section with two holes, who have told me that there is no appreciable difference. My own experience was with a flute that came with both types of bottom sections and I felt that the short simple bottom section gave a stronger bottom D as well as a stronger low register in general. The extended footjoint is supposed to help the response of some of the higher notes like like B.
Avoid this flute like the plague! Better to get a good polymer flute than a poor wooden one. (They sell these awful flutes in Ireland too and it's a crime!) Check out Michael Cronnolly (M&E) polymer flutes (for the old style small holed flutes that I like): http://www.irishflutes.net/mef/index.htm
Or Desi Seery polymer flutes for slightly larger holes and bore for more volume.
And a debate as to which is better. http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/8523
Open holed flute - anyone know this make?
Open holed flute - anyone know this make?
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Music-instruments/Instruments/Woodwind/auction-128428524.htm
Hi, I wondered if anyone would be able to tell me anything about this flute. I know it is probably a beginner's model. I wondered what the two extra holes are in the end piece? It seems weird to me, as a whistle player, to have the extra holes. There is obviously something I don't know!
I would be most grateful if anyone can shed any light on this, and tell me if it is worth getting. Thanks in advance!!
# Posted on November 27th 2007 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: Open holed flute - anyone know this make?
Flutes with no makers stamp or information, that are marketed as cocus wood despite such a light color, are most probably made in Pakistan. They are widely regarded as poor quality flutes with poor intonation.
The site is a New Zealand site, yes?
Maurice Reviol is a Kiwi maker who by all acounts makes great sounding flutes for a reasonable price.
The two holes on the end are where the Cnat and C# keys would sit open. They aren't covered by fingers, and they are there for venting only.
Mike
# Posted on November 27th 2007 by MikeDucayen
Re: Open holed flute - anyone know this make?
Thanks Mike, this is exactly the help I was looking for. I have just been doing some more research and did wonder if it was a Pakistani make. I will look into Maurice Reviol flutes - thanks for the tip.
# Posted on November 27th 2007 by buttons 'n' whistles
Re: Open holed flute - anyone know this make?
Looks like a Pakistani make, probably not a playable flute, but a flute-like object. However, regarding your question about the 2 holes in the foot joint. These are vent holes, which, when properly placed and sized, can improve intonation. They're approx. where low C & C# would be on a keyed Irish flute. The first open hole defines the tuning for your low D (all fingers down on the six holes in the main sections), as that's the length needed for that note.
# Posted on November 27th 2007 by kkrell
Re: Open holed flute - anyone know this make?
Our local instrument repairman calls these things out of Pakistan and China "ISO's" (Instrument-Shaped Objects). They are shaped like instruments on the outside, but do not function like instruments.
Yes by all means avoid these Pakistani flutes. I've tried a number of them and they are uniformly terrible. Much much better, and cheaper, would be a high quality Irish bamboo flute by Patrick Olwell. These play as well as most high-end wood Irish flutes.
The reason for those two extra holes is that our modern "Irish flutes" are actually copies of 19th century "simple system" orchestral flutes which had open-standing keys down there for low C sharp and low C natural. The theory goes, if you're going to copy a flute, copy the entire length of the bore and the purported effects of these two open holes.
I've talked to Irish flute makers who have played the same flute both with a simple short holeless bottom section (or footjoint), and with the extended bottom section with two holes, who have told me that there is no appreciable difference. My own experience was with a flute that came with both types of bottom sections and I felt that the short simple bottom section gave a stronger bottom D as well as a stronger low register in general. The extended footjoint is supposed to help the response of some of the higher notes like like B.
# Posted on November 27th 2007 by Richard D Cook
Re: Open holed flute - anyone know this make?
Avoid this flute like the plague! Better to get a good polymer flute than a poor wooden one. (They sell these awful flutes in Ireland too and it's a crime!) Check out Michael Cronnolly (M&E) polymer flutes (for the old style small holed flutes that I like):
http://www.irishflutes.net/mef/index.htm
Or Desi Seery polymer flutes for slightly larger holes and bore for more volume.
And a debate as to which is better.
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/8523
# Posted on November 27th 2007 by dsndfkjasf
Re: Open holed flute - anyone know this make?
Great info. Thanks everyone for your help.
# Posted on November 28th 2007 by buttons 'n' whistles