G'day All,
I'm after some opinions please on the plastic/PVC or aluminium practice flutes that are around these days.I have two...a Tony Dixon one (quite "breathy"..."windy") and one by our own Jason Burnfield (takes a bit to warm up)...but I like them both.
Has any one tried the Hammy Hamilton job ????.....or are there any other models/makes that people have tried and liked ??
Also...........
I'd like to have a crack at making one.Anybody know of a web site that has instructions ????
Thats all to report...best wishes......Charlie.....
I would strongly recommend M&E which I play and like very much, although I wouldn't call it just a practice flute, because I believe it's a great instrument in every respect.
Sorry Zoukboy, after reading your profile, I ithink I mistook you for someone else (referring to those regards to Rory). Anyway, still recommending M&E.
I'd also go along with the M&E, and Michael Cronnolly is really good to deal with. I also have a Dixon (3 part polymer, not the one part PVC) but imo it's not as good as the M&E. Just wish I'd had the chance to try a Seery for comparison as I believe it's based on a Pratten.
They also like Doug Tipple's PVC flutes, he not only makes them but he supplies directions should you care to try making your own. Check out his website at http://home.earthlink.net/~life2all/dougswebspace/
Dixon PVC's are OK, but the three piece is considered much better than the two piece.
I've not had an opportunity to play one of Hammy's practice (or serious) flutes, but I have two Tipples and like them. One lives in my car and the other in my briefcase, so that I always have a flute to hand (I'm a consultant who spends too much time on the road, and I don't want to worry about my good flute).
M&E isn't what I'd call a practice flute unless you consider $300 chump change.
To buy, Doug TIpple (do a eBay search) or the Hammy practice are good bets. However, it's pretty easy to make your own. Use the link above - I've made dozens in the past.
A Tipple is, IMO, a much better flute than a Dixon *cylindrical.* I have not tried a Dixon conical.
$300 for a completely giggable worthy instrument (the M & E) is an absolute steal. It's not a practice instrument in that it sounds like a wood flute, looks like one, and plays like one. The only downside is that it does not shatter in an exciting maner when ya drop it.
Yes, Pete Kosel's Java application 'flutomat' is a good tool. I personally use a spreadsheet by Dr. Peter Hoekje (a professor of acoustics). I believe I also got it from Pete Kosel's web site and then modified it to suit my purposes. This is what I use for all of my flute designs. It usually gives me a good enough design that the flute plays in tune immediatly without 'tweaking'. If you are interested, I could e-mail you a copy of my modified version (the units are in inches though, because I use a carpenter's tape measure to mark my hole positions).
I have three of the Doug Tipple flute: D, G, and F. The D and F are the larger tubing, the G is smaller. They're tunable. I'm very pleased with them, obviously.
Well done to all who've replied to my enquiry....I should have mentioned in my post that I have a Terry McGee unkeyed flute made from Gidgee (an Aussie timber,a species of Wattle) so the idea is for a 'practice' flute,pick it up,play a tune or so put it down.....thanks Kate G,thats the way I'm thinking....I have the Dixon in the shed and the Burnfield here in the computer room....
I've just had a look at Doug Tipple's site ( good ) and I'll do abit more surfing on this matter...
Thanks to every one............zoukboy...........
A flute in every room! Definately the way to go And I'll second Dorian's words about how nice Doug Tipple is to deal with. My second Tipple (also a grey D with a wedge) was eaten by the post office on its way to me and never arrived. Once Doug and I had rattled the PO"s cage from both ends to see if we could shake it loose, to no effect, he made me a replacement and shipped it to me at no charge.
Thanks Kate....will do....
At this stage,I think I'll have a go at making one(as per Doug Tipples site).
If I buy another,I'll try the Hammy Hamilton aluminiun model.
See you .........Zoukboy.......
Hi. I got one of them hammy's years ago before I got my timber Hammy flute. Not a bad job at all and I sometimes will still take it out to play. They are not too expensive. It would be worth ringing Hammy.
Practice Flutes...in D...
Practice Flutes...in D...
G'day All,
I'm after some opinions please on the plastic/PVC or aluminium practice flutes that are around these days.I have two...a Tony Dixon one (quite "breathy"..."windy") and one by our own Jason Burnfield (takes a bit to warm up)...but I like them both.
Has any one tried the Hammy Hamilton job ????.....or are there any other models/makes that people have tried and liked ??
Also...........
I'd like to have a crack at making one.Anybody know of a web site that has instructions ????
Thats all to report...best wishes......Charlie.....
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by zoukboy
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
I would strongly recommend M&E which I play and like very much, although I wouldn't call it just a practice flute, because I believe it's a great instrument in every respect.
If you'd like to hear how it plays (keyless, polymer, R&R), click on the link:
http://www.duan.pl/numerki/Fig_for_a_kiss.mp3
The site of Michael Cronnolly, the maker of M&E is: www.irishflutes.net
PS. Pass my regards to Rory
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by Barfly
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
Sorry Zoukboy, after reading your profile, I ithink I mistook you for someone else (referring to those regards to Rory). Anyway, still recommending M&E.
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by Barfly
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
I'd also go along with the M&E, and Michael Cronnolly is really good to deal with. I also have a Dixon (3 part polymer, not the one part PVC) but imo it's not as good as the M&E. Just wish I'd had the chance to try a Seery for comparison as I believe it's based on a Pratten.
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by izzymac
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
The folks on the Chiff & Fipple flute list like Hammy's practice flutes. The url for the list is http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewforum.php?forum=2&3603
They also like Doug Tipple's PVC flutes, he not only makes them but he supplies directions should you care to try making your own. Check out his website at http://home.earthlink.net/~life2all/dougswebspace/
Dixon PVC's are OK, but the three piece is considered much better than the two piece.
I've not had an opportunity to play one of Hammy's practice (or serious) flutes, but I have two Tipples and like them. One lives in my car and the other in my briefcase, so that I always have a flute to hand (I'm a consultant who spends too much time on the road, and I don't want to worry about my good flute).
Happy fluting.
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by KateG
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
Here's a site on how to make them:
http://www.cwo.com/~ph_kosel/designs.html
M&E isn't what I'd call a practice flute unless you consider $300 chump change.
To buy, Doug TIpple (do a eBay search) or the Hammy practice are good bets. However, it's pretty easy to make your own. Use the link above - I've made dozens in the past.
Eric
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by Jayhawk
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
A Tipple is, IMO, a much better flute than a Dixon *cylindrical.* I have not tried a Dixon conical.
$300 for a completely giggable worthy instrument (the M & E) is an absolute steal. It's not a practice instrument in that it sounds like a wood flute, looks like one, and plays like one. The only downside is that it does not shatter in an exciting maner when ya drop it.
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by wormdiet
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
Yes, Pete Kosel's Java application 'flutomat' is a good tool. I personally use a spreadsheet by Dr. Peter Hoekje (a professor of acoustics). I believe I also got it from Pete Kosel's web site and then modified it to suit my purposes. This is what I use for all of my flute designs. It usually gives me a good enough design that the flute plays in tune immediatly without 'tweaking'. If you are interested, I could e-mail you a copy of my modified version (the units are in inches though, because I use a carpenter's tape measure to mark my hole positions).
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by jasonlburnfield
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
BTW thanks for the good review
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by jasonlburnfield
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
I have three of the Doug Tipple flute: D, G, and F. The D and F are the larger tubing, the G is smaller. They're tunable. I'm very pleased with them, obviously.
# Posted on May 5th 2006 by MartyHeyman
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
Doug Tipple flutes sound great ,good price ,and he's a pleasure to deal with .I have the grey D with a wedge,it's nicely made.
# Posted on May 6th 2006 by dorian
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
Well done to all who've replied to my enquiry....I should have mentioned in my post that I have a Terry McGee unkeyed flute made from Gidgee (an Aussie timber,a species of Wattle) so the idea is for a 'practice' flute,pick it up,play a tune or so put it down.....thanks Kate G,thats the way I'm thinking....I have the Dixon in the shed and the Burnfield here in the computer room....
I've just had a look at Doug Tipple's site ( good ) and I'll do abit more surfing on this matter...
Thanks to every one............zoukboy...........
# Posted on May 6th 2006 by zoukboy
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
A flute in every room! Definately the way to go
And I'll second Dorian's words about how nice Doug Tipple is to deal with. My second Tipple (also a grey D with a wedge) was eaten by the post office on its way to me and never arrived. Once Doug and I had rattled the PO"s cage from both ends to see if we could shake it loose, to no effect, he made me a replacement and shipped it to me at no charge.
Keep us posted on what you choose.
# Posted on May 7th 2006 by KateG
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
Thanks Kate....will do....
At this stage,I think I'll have a go at making one(as per Doug Tipples site).
If I buy another,I'll try the Hammy Hamilton aluminiun model.
See you .........Zoukboy.......
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by zoukboy
Re: Practice Flutes...in D...
Hi. I got one of them hammy's years ago before I got my timber Hammy flute. Not a bad job at all and I sometimes will still take it out to play. They are not too expensive. It would be worth ringing Hammy.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by samhain