I am looking into getting a new flute soon, and the two I am trying to decide between are a Tony Dixon 3-piece or an M and E Polymer. I was wondering which is considered to be better?
Neither flute is very good -- if you want a new flute, that means you own a flute. It would be difficult to imagine that the flute you own is not at least as good as a Dixon.
I've played the Dixon for years, it is a great travel and practice flute, but it IS NOT a real flute. I've played the M/E on occasion, and I think it is a better instrument, but it is also NOT a real flute.
For about the same money, you should consider Casey Burns entry level flutes. He has gotten the bugs out and they are rock solid. Likewise, Ralph Sweet has decent entry level flutes.
But, the best flute/$ at the lowest levels is undoubtedly Patrick Olwell's bamboo flutes. The only problem is that you can't tune them. But no flute will give you a better sound or overall performance at the price.
Actuaally, the worst part about Olwell Bamboos is that Pat is no longer making them and they are impossible to find and will probably cost one $200 US. Out of the two, the M&E is the way to go. Of course, you could get a Sweet or a Burns which will not feel like you are playing a billy club. I highly recommend the Casey Burns Folk Flute. A friend of mine has one and it has a very high bang to buck ratio. I play one of Casey's higher level models (a Boxwood Pratten) and I like that enought that I am thinking of adding keys.
If I were you, I would consider a small financial stretch and get a Seery flute, if it is polymer/delrin that you're after.
I've played a Dixon 3-piece for a year and a half now. It is loud and has a nice tone (after moving the cork a bit), but I have to avoid tunes getting to high B, as it goes out of tune. And requires a lot of air. Also, many of flutists who tried it out could not get a decent tone out of it.
I've tried M&E several times, as my good friend plays one. It has a nicer tone and response than Dixon, but is pretty whimsical and requires a lot of patience. It also looks and feels to me like a Stone-Age club.
I wouldn't say that these flutes are a waste of time, but they will hamper your development at a certain level. It's better to save up and get something in higher standard.
Actually, the Flute I am currently using is a Dixon Low D/Flute Combo, and as such is a cylindrical flute, so the Dixon 3 piece should, from what I understand, be an improvement on the one I am currently using. The one I am leaning towards is the M and E, but I will look into the Folk Flute.
I also will chime in for Casey Burn's folk flute. I have a mopane standard from him (which is essentially the same flute but upgradeable with keys and tuning slide options). I love my Casey Burn's model, and Casey is a great guy to buy from as well (very informative and helpful).
I'd opt for the M&E (I've owned both a Dixon 3 piece, an M&E R&R, and a Seery). Both the Seery and M&E are miles ahead of the Dixon, and I'll disagree with what Eliot said about the M&E...Turloch Boylan, in his usual understated manner, said "there ain't nothing wrong with that" after playing mine. I figure, having my current flute (I sold the Seery to get the M&E which was keyed) blessed by a player of Turloch's caliber, it's good enough for me.
... and don't forget to check out the delrin flutes of Jon Cochran if it is delrin you are after... no stone-age-clubs here... and you can choose from a variety of models spanning from Prattens to Rudalls.... and if you want to go wood, he makes fantastic affordable Irish wood flutes with tuning slides (Pratten, Rudall & Rose, Rudall & Carte, hybrids and what have you)... and they are the real McCoy...
Jon C's email: cochranflutes@gmail.com
He has no website but you can find him contributing here:
It's also a specific flute forum where you could post your questions too.... the more brains one can pick the better especially since deciding on a flute is a very subjective and personal thing... keep that in mind also... in the end only you can be the judge of which flute suits you the best.... so any chance of taking a trip to the local music store to try a couple of delrins?... here in Ireland a lot of music stores keep the Dixon, the Seery and if you are lucky a second hand M&E... it's certainly worth looking into
PS Sorry, Jeremy, for the mention of another forum here but then we all know that there is no board quite like the 'mustard board' .... so no competition here
I've tried a couple of John C.'s delrin flutes and thought they we're very good. There's a couple at the Irish Flute Store http://www.irishflutestore.com/ a good place to see what's out there. i have a seery which is always good. Don-
Terry McGee makes all of his flutes in Delrin as well as wood. They're pretty close in sound, feel and playability to the wood ones (excellent). They are however the same price as the wood ones, so good if you want indestructability, bad if you want cheap
Flute Question
Flute Question
I am looking into getting a new flute soon, and the two I am trying to decide between are a Tony Dixon 3-piece or an M and E Polymer. I was wondering which is considered to be better?
Thanks
Richard
# Posted on October 7th 2006 by sharkbat
Re: Flute Question
Neither flute is very good -- if you want a new flute, that means you own a flute. It would be difficult to imagine that the flute you own is not at least as good as a Dixon.
I've played the Dixon for years, it is a great travel and practice flute, but it IS NOT a real flute. I've played the M/E on occasion, and I think it is a better instrument, but it is also NOT a real flute.
For about the same money, you should consider Casey Burns entry level flutes. He has gotten the bugs out and they are rock solid. Likewise, Ralph Sweet has decent entry level flutes.
But, the best flute/$ at the lowest levels is undoubtedly Patrick Olwell's bamboo flutes. The only problem is that you can't tune them. But no flute will give you a better sound or overall performance at the price.
# Posted on October 7th 2006 by Eliot
Re: Flute Question
Actuaally, the worst part about Olwell Bamboos is that Pat is no longer making them and they are impossible to find and will probably cost one $200 US. Out of the two, the M&E is the way to go. Of course, you could get a Sweet or a Burns which will not feel like you are playing a billy club. I highly recommend the Casey Burns Folk Flute. A friend of mine has one and it has a very high bang to buck ratio. I play one of Casey's higher level models (a Boxwood Pratten) and I like that enought that I am thinking of adding keys.
# Posted on October 7th 2006 by Why Bother?
Re: Flute Question
If I were you, I would consider a small financial stretch and get a Seery flute, if it is polymer/delrin that you're after.
I've played a Dixon 3-piece for a year and a half now. It is loud and has a nice tone (after moving the cork a bit), but I have to avoid tunes getting to high B, as it goes out of tune. And requires a lot of air. Also, many of flutists who tried it out could not get a decent tone out of it.
I've tried M&E several times, as my good friend plays one. It has a nicer tone and response than Dixon, but is pretty whimsical and requires a lot of patience. It also looks and feels to me like a Stone-Age club.
I wouldn't say that these flutes are a waste of time, but they will hamper your development at a certain level. It's better to save up and get something in higher standard.
# Posted on October 7th 2006 by Janek
Re: Flute Question
Actually, the Flute I am currently using is a Dixon Low D/Flute Combo, and as such is a cylindrical flute, so the Dixon 3 piece should, from what I understand, be an improvement on the one I am currently using. The one I am leaning towards is the M and E, but I will look into the Folk Flute.
Thanks
Richard
# Posted on October 7th 2006 by sharkbat
Re: Flute Question
I also will chime in for Casey Burn's folk flute. I have a mopane standard from him (which is essentially the same flute but upgradeable with keys and tuning slide options). I love my Casey Burn's model, and Casey is a great guy to buy from as well (very informative and helpful).
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by jasonlburnfield
Re: Flute Question
I'd opt for the M&E (I've owned both a Dixon 3 piece, an M&E R&R, and a Seery). Both the Seery and M&E are miles ahead of the Dixon, and I'll disagree with what Eliot said about the M&E...Turloch Boylan, in his usual understated manner, said "there ain't nothing wrong with that" after playing mine. I figure, having my current flute (I sold the Seery to get the M&E which was keyed) blessed by a player of Turloch's caliber, it's good enough for me.
Eric
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by Jayhawk
Re: Flute Question
... and don't forget to check out the delrin flutes of Jon Cochran if it is delrin you are after... no stone-age-clubs here... and you can choose from a variety of models spanning from Prattens to Rudalls.... and if you want to go wood, he makes fantastic affordable Irish wood flutes with tuning slides (Pratten, Rudall & Rose, Rudall & Carte, hybrids and what have you)... and they are the real McCoy...
.... so no competition here 
Jon C's email: cochranflutes@gmail.com
He has no website but you can find him contributing here:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=7d4111fe293c8239acb4cc9297b482eb
It's also a specific flute forum where you could post your questions too.... the more brains one can pick the better especially since deciding on a flute is a very subjective and personal thing... keep that in mind also... in the end only you can be the judge of which flute suits you the best.... so any chance of taking a trip to the local music store to try a couple of delrins?... here in Ireland a lot of music stores keep the Dixon, the Seery and if you are lucky a second hand M&E... it's certainly worth looking into
PS Sorry, Jeremy, for the mention of another forum here but then we all know that there is no board quite like the 'mustard board'
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by vanessa
Re: Flute Question
I've tried a couple of John C.'s delrin flutes and thought they we're very good. There's a couple at the Irish Flute Store http://www.irishflutestore.com/ a good place to see what's out there. i have a seery which is always good. Don-
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by Dont
Re: Flute Question
Neither : )
A bad flute is extremely frustrating. Get a decent flute.
When I started my teacher told me get a decent flute I'd never regret it and if I gave up I could always sell it for the price I bought it.
I recommend a hammy hammilton flute of course. I've never regretted stretching the finances to buy my hammy.
http://homepage.eircom.net/~hammie/
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by gtag
Re: Flute Question
Gtag, your post reminded me of this Old saying...
"Life is too short to play crappy instruments"
--Anonymous
# Posted on October 8th 2006 by Eliot
Re: Flute Question
Terry McGee makes all of his flutes in Delrin as well as wood. They're pretty close in sound, feel and playability to the wood ones (excellent). They are however the same price as the wood ones, so good if you want indestructability, bad if you want cheap
# Posted on October 15th 2006 by sgp