Not sure if your are talking about the one piece or three piece - I personally started on the Tony Dixon one piece polymer flute (non tunable) - the one that looks like a black pipe with holes and is very affordable - I only payed 30 Euros but unfortunately, to be perfectly honest I would not recommend the one piece. I started on it as a complete beginner but although the claim is that the embouchure is particularly easy for beginners I would personally disagree - I found it very hard and now since I've moved on to a keyless blackwood Hamilton life is becoming much easier (not that I'm a good player mind you, I'm only learning). So all in all I would say that the Dixon one piece is in fact very hard to get a decent sound out of and can be frustrating for a beginner - also the low range of the flute is very weak. To be honest it really does sound and feel like a dull pipe with holes but that's only my opinion. If I were to start again I would go for a Hamilton practice flute (aluminium) or a Doug Tipple PVC flute which are both very affordable but I didn't know about them when I started out. As to Tony Dixon's three piece polymer flute I can tell you that from the research I've done over the past 6 months they seem to get much more favourable reviews but can't beat the Desi Seery delrin flutes and M&£ polymer ones which are both of excellent quality but a bit more pricey.
Also, if you are looking for polymer flutes that have session capabilities, you are better off with a Seery or M&E although the three piece Dixon seems good enough for general practice purposes and playing at home. And if you are going for a Seery or M&E it's best to do some research on the differences to see which one suits you best. Good luck
I have owned a Dixon polymer flute for about 5 years. I am very happy with it. I have traveled a lot with it, never worry about it, and use it for private practice. It is not a serious instrument, certainly not for session or band use, but it is perfect for many other uses.
I've owned a Dixon 3 piece polymer, Seery and M&E. Eliot is on target with the Dixon.
I find the Seery and M&E both equally good. The Seery is better finished, but the M&E sounds as good as the Seery but with that traditional R&R sound as opposed to the Seery pratten sound.
I've ended up with a keyed M&E - keys were much cheaper than Seery's (and look it, too) and the embouchure a better fit for me. It's a bit of an industrial looking flute - but I like the way it sounds and at the end of the day that's what really matters.
We had the Dixon one piece knocking around the house and I started playing on that - got the three piece earlier this year and mostly play that these days. Sometimes it sounds great, sometimes 's****' but that's just me, I guess.
I do find it gets 'clogged' up with moisture a fair bit and I have to shake it out - seems to lodge somewhere. I also have to pull out the top joint a fair bit to play in tune - the cork is well exposed. More than I would have thought.
I meant to add that the Dixon polymer is definitely slippier than a wooden flute - more inclined to wander in my hands than wood flutes that I've played. Probably common to all polymer flutes though?
My Dixon 3-piece goes with me everywhere.
I also have a Seery, but prefer the Dixon - it packs up smaller (fits in my pocket - the Seery has a much longer mid section which pokes out the top), and the Dixon gets less clogged with moisture and is far more in tune.
The Seery is louder and has a stronger bottom D, but the Dixon is my favourite.
I would say, have a look at the cochran flutes by jon cornia.
he is on chiff and fipple and does both wood and delrin, great flutes and super customerservice!
Both pratten and rudall models available.
As for slipperiness, there is none on the delrin as he sands a grain into the outside and it looks a lot like a wooden stick.
Fantastic flute. I take mine everywhere. It plays in tune with the headpiece all the way in. You need to chin down a bit to get the low D in tune and chin up a hair to get the upper octave in tune. The only problem is if you do try to tune it, by pulling out, the upper register is way flat. Once you really spend some hours with it you'll be suprised at what it can do!
Tony Dixon polymer flutes
Tony Dixon polymer flutes
Anybody have a Tony Dixon polymer flute? If so, are you happy with it?
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by O'Lehane
Re: Tony Dixon polymer flutes
Not sure if your are talking about the one piece or three piece - I personally started on the Tony Dixon one piece polymer flute (non tunable) - the one that looks like a black pipe with holes and is very affordable - I only payed 30 Euros but unfortunately, to be perfectly honest I would not recommend the one piece. I started on it as a complete beginner but although the claim is that the embouchure is particularly easy for beginners I would personally disagree - I found it very hard and now since I've moved on to a keyless blackwood Hamilton life is becoming much easier (not that I'm a good player mind you, I'm only learning). So all in all I would say that the Dixon one piece is in fact very hard to get a decent sound out of and can be frustrating for a beginner - also the low range of the flute is very weak. To be honest it really does sound and feel like a dull pipe with holes but that's only my opinion. If I were to start again I would go for a Hamilton practice flute (aluminium) or a Doug Tipple PVC flute which are both very affordable but I didn't know about them when I started out. As to Tony Dixon's three piece polymer flute I can tell you that from the research I've done over the past 6 months they seem to get much more favourable reviews but can't beat the Desi Seery delrin flutes and M&£ polymer ones which are both of excellent quality but a bit more pricey.
# Posted on May 24th 2006 by vanessa
Re: Tony Dixon polymer flutes
go for the seery if you can.
# Posted on May 25th 2006 by Dont
Re: Tony Dixon polymer flutes
should read 'M&E polymer flute'
Also, if you are looking for polymer flutes that have session capabilities, you are better off with a Seery or M&E although the three piece Dixon seems good enough for general practice purposes and playing at home. And if you are going for a Seery or M&E it's best to do some research on the differences to see which one suits you best. Good luck
# Posted on May 25th 2006 by vanessa
I have one
I have owned a Dixon polymer flute for about 5 years. I am very happy with it. I have traveled a lot with it, never worry about it, and use it for private practice. It is not a serious instrument, certainly not for session or band use, but it is perfect for many other uses.
--Eliot
# Posted on May 25th 2006 by Eliot
Re: Tony Dixon polymer flutes
I've owned a Dixon 3 piece polymer, Seery and M&E. Eliot is on target with the Dixon.
I find the Seery and M&E both equally good. The Seery is better finished, but the M&E sounds as good as the Seery but with that traditional R&R sound as opposed to the Seery pratten sound.
I've ended up with a keyed M&E - keys were much cheaper than Seery's (and look it, too) and the embouchure a better fit for me. It's a bit of an industrial looking flute - but I like the way it sounds and at the end of the day that's what really matters.
Eric
# Posted on May 25th 2006 by Jayhawk
Re: Tony Dixon polymer flutes
We had the Dixon one piece knocking around the house and I started playing on that - got the three piece earlier this year and mostly play that these days. Sometimes it sounds great, sometimes 's****' but that's just me, I guess.
I do find it gets 'clogged' up with moisture a fair bit and I have to shake it out - seems to lodge somewhere. I also have to pull out the top joint a fair bit to play in tune - the cork is well exposed. More than I would have thought.
# Posted on May 25th 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: Tony Dixon polymer flutes
I meant to add that the Dixon polymer is definitely slippier than a wooden flute - more inclined to wander in my hands than wood flutes that I've played. Probably common to all polymer flutes though?
# Posted on May 25th 2006 by the wounded hussar
Re: Tony Dixon polymer flutes
My Dixon 3-piece goes with me everywhere.
I also have a Seery, but prefer the Dixon - it packs up smaller (fits in my pocket - the Seery has a much longer mid section which pokes out the top), and the Dixon gets less clogged with moisture and is far more in tune.
The Seery is louder and has a stronger bottom D, but the Dixon is my favourite.
# Posted on May 25th 2006 by Wurzel
Re: Tony Dixon polymer flutes
I would say, have a look at the cochran flutes by jon cornia.
he is on chiff and fipple and does both wood and delrin, great flutes and super customerservice!
Both pratten and rudall models available.
As for slipperiness, there is none on the delrin as he sands a grain into the outside and it looks a lot like a wooden stick.
# Posted on May 29th 2006 by Berti
Re: Tony Dixon polymer flutes
Fantastic flute. I take mine everywhere. It plays in tune with the headpiece all the way in. You need to chin down a bit to get the low D in tune and chin up a hair to get the upper octave in tune. The only problem is if you do try to tune it, by pulling out, the upper register is way flat. Once you really spend some hours with it you'll be suprised at what it can do!
# Posted on December 1st 2006 by Lee Stanford