I was looking over the list of contributers to either the second or third "Wooden Flute Obsession" CD, on which the flutes used were given credit. Sam Murray's name came up again and again. It was amazing, especially given that I am not very familiar with his name. I've seen it a few times on this site, most recently in the preceding "High-end Flute" thread. I'm just curious as to what the experienced players around here can tell me about Murray's flutes. It's quite a testament to his flutes that so very many recording artists are using them.
Simply put, a very good flute at a price that is a lot lower than an Olwell or a Grinter or a Wilkes. I have a 6-key - love it to death. I won;t bother describing the tone (very subjective) but it is easy to play and extremely comfortable. In better hands than mine (Justin Murphy, or Emer Mayock) they sound great.
The catch is that Sam can be hard to get a hold of with questions and concerns. I had a positive experience, however. (6-key flute in nine months with a price far lower than other "high end" makers)
Also, Murrays have a reputation for being a bit more fragile than other flutes. I am testing this, inadvertently, at the moment - I left mine in the trunk of the car last night in very cold weather. It is currently warming up to room temperature and hopefully won't crack. Keep yer fingers crossed.
From what i can tell, listening to chatting on this forum and chiff and fipple, Murrays flutes don't seem to be as popular outside of Ireland as they are here at home. Seems to me that every second session player here that is worth his (or her) salt plays a Murray flute. No doubt that this is partially a result of the endorsment from Comhaltas, who purchase his instruments for the little and the very big kids. But it is also because his flutes are fine, fine instruments.
It may just be that I spend a lot of time in sessions in the greater Belfast area, Co. Down and Antrim, this being Sam's old home turf! But that would not explain why his name appeared so often on WFO albums. That would be because of the quality of his instruments. A great example is to listen to the 'Three's Company' album buy Martin Meehan. All the D and Eb work was on Sam Murray flutes (Bb Giles Le Heart was also used). The sound breathtaking
Wormdiet mentions above the usual concern about temperature changes damaging flutes. i used to worry about that too, but Terry McGee, who makes beautiful flutes, and is obssessive about the physics and techniques involved, says he moved a flute direct from the deep freeze into the oven (or maybe it was vice versa) with no impact whatsoever on the flute. He reckons the thing that cracks flutes is dehydration rather than temperature. I'm not inclined to repeat his experiment myself, mind you...
Over at C & F there have been a lot of threads about why flutes crack - suffice it to say that it's complex and nobody has all the answers.
I got kinda lucky - no cracks in mine as of yesterday afternoon!
I ended up getting a Murray because a friend has one and I knew it was a good deal -even though I live in North Carolina. Otherwise it almost certainly would have been an Olwell for me.
does sam Murray have any existing website?
I also want to get myself a high-end flute,six keyed. I'm concidering getting myself a Tom Aebi (he's from Switzerland)
Nope, he certainly does not have a website! Brad Hurley's flute site has a phone number but I don't know if it still works. He moved while he was finishing my flute, and I don;t have the new contact info.
Speaking of High-end Flutes. . .
Speaking of High-end Flutes. . .
I was looking over the list of contributers to either the second or third "Wooden Flute Obsession" CD, on which the flutes used were given credit. Sam Murray's name came up again and again. It was amazing, especially given that I am not very familiar with his name. I've seen it a few times on this site, most recently in the preceding "High-end Flute" thread. I'm just curious as to what the experienced players around here can tell me about Murray's flutes. It's quite a testament to his flutes that so very many recording artists are using them.
# Posted on February 19th 2007 by Ailin
Re: Speaking of High-end Flutes. . .
Simply put, a very good flute at a price that is a lot lower than an Olwell or a Grinter or a Wilkes. I have a 6-key - love it to death. I won;t bother describing the tone (very subjective) but it is easy to play and extremely comfortable. In better hands than mine (Justin Murphy, or Emer Mayock) they sound great.
The catch is that Sam can be hard to get a hold of with questions and concerns. I had a positive experience, however. (6-key flute in nine months with a price far lower than other "high end" makers)
Also, Murrays have a reputation for being a bit more fragile than other flutes. I am testing this, inadvertently, at the moment - I left mine in the trunk of the car last night in very cold weather. It is currently warming up to room temperature and hopefully won't crack. Keep yer fingers crossed.
# Posted on February 19th 2007 by wormdiet
Re: Speaking of High-end Flutes. . .
Fingers crossed! Take care of your flute!
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by Matt_Celta
Re: Speaking of High-end Flutes. . .
From what i can tell, listening to chatting on this forum and chiff and fipple, Murrays flutes don't seem to be as popular outside of Ireland as they are here at home. Seems to me that every second session player here that is worth his (or her) salt plays a Murray flute. No doubt that this is partially a result of the endorsment from Comhaltas, who purchase his instruments for the little and the very big kids. But it is also because his flutes are fine, fine instruments.
It may just be that I spend a lot of time in sessions in the greater Belfast area, Co. Down and Antrim, this being Sam's old home turf! But that would not explain why his name appeared so often on WFO albums. That would be because of the quality of his instruments. A great example is to listen to the 'Three's Company' album buy Martin Meehan. All the D and Eb work was on Sam Murray flutes (Bb Giles Le Heart was also used). The sound breathtaking
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by proinsiasrua
Re: Speaking of High-end Flutes. . .
Wormdiet mentions above the usual concern about temperature changes damaging flutes. i used to worry about that too, but Terry McGee, who makes beautiful flutes, and is obssessive about the physics and techniques involved, says he moved a flute direct from the deep freeze into the oven (or maybe it was vice versa) with no impact whatsoever on the flute. He reckons the thing that cracks flutes is dehydration rather than temperature. I'm not inclined to repeat his experiment myself, mind you...
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by E
Re: Speaking of High-end Flutes. . .
Over at C & F there have been a lot of threads about why flutes crack - suffice it to say that it's complex and nobody has all the answers.
I got kinda lucky - no cracks in mine as of yesterday afternoon!
I ended up getting a Murray because a friend has one and I knew it was a good deal -even though I live in North Carolina. Otherwise it almost certainly would have been an Olwell for me.
# Posted on February 20th 2007 by wormdiet
Re: Speaking of High-end Flutes. . .
does sam Murray have any existing website?
I also want to get myself a high-end flute,six keyed. I'm concidering getting myself a Tom Aebi (he's from Switzerland)
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by Mark P.
Re: Speaking of High-end Flutes. . .
Nope, he certainly does not have a website! Brad Hurley's flute site has a phone number but I don't know if it still works. He moved while he was finishing my flute, and I don;t have the new contact info.
# Posted on February 21st 2007 by wormdiet