I've had my current flute for 4 years. It's your typical wooden flute. I've noticed that the quality of sound coming out of it is slowly but surely diminishing - its getting a *lot* more "airy" or rough-sounding for want of a better word. It was like that a while ago too (about a year ago), but I left it into a guy and he simply replaced the cork at the top and widened the end of the mouthpiece, and it was perfect after that. I'm wondering is this common that flutes detiorate over time - would it be wise to just simply buy a new one instead of going back to the guy to see if he can do something with it?
And if thats the case, can anyone recommend a good quality flute maker. The one I have atm is an Eamonn Cotter
A lot of flute players are having this problem lately, a friend of a friend at the CSIRO has discovered that it is caused by the no smoking in pubs thing. The smoke in the air preserves the flute it seems.
Just what I've heard. Umm bye now
In spite of the above, no, it is not normal. Barring damage, cracks and serious faults, a flute does not significantly deteriorate over time. Nor does it improve in the way stringed instruments can.
I shudder to think what you mean by "widened the end of the mouthpiece" - you mean he cut away at the blowhole? Or do I misunderstand?
There are two possibilities: one is that your embouchure is changing over time in unexpected ways - how long have you been playing? The other is that your flute needs maintenance. If you have keys, they may need repadding. Are you sure the joints are tightly sealed (without undue strain on the wood, of course)? They may need recorking/rethreading. Is there gunk around the blowhole (or anywhere else)? Have you tried the suck test? (And btw, do you have bottom C# and C holes? The suck test is a tad easier if you haven't. How often do you oil? If you have keys, are you sure you don't over-oil?
You're talking about a wooden flute, and I'm wondering if it might be having humidity problems- as in, the wood is drying out and shrinking a wee bit. or getting too wet and swelling a tad.
Where do you keep it when you're not playing it?
Does your house or apartment have central heating or AC?
Is there a seasonal pattern to the problem, for example, does it re-occur at the same time of year?
I wouldn't have let someone alter the embouchure hole...very bad indeed.
The change in sound quality could also have been from the cork getting scungy over time. This is why many makers either face the cork with a metal disk, or use a delrin plug. Natural cork isn't the best material for a cork stopper now that there are alternatives. Also the bore can get rough from improper care and feeding.
Hi Antlarthar. I'm sure you didn't wish to be unkind but you might want to be a wee bit more diplomatic. Eamonn Cotter is a top drawer flute maker & could give you any advice you needed. A deserved reputation is many (often unprofitable) years in the making & stray remarks can be damaging. Best wishes. Simon.
I have a keyless flute. Im located in Galway. It was certainly not my intention to imply anything with regards Mr. Cotter's flutes if it appeared that way, in fact I do quite like mine however limited my experience in flute playing may be. I suppose that smiley might have made it look that way and I apologise if so.
QUOTE:My Cotter did the same thing.Keep the cork wet and it will seal.
I shall try that. What do you mean by "it will seal" though?
QUOTE:Where do you keep it when you're not playing it?
Does your house or apartment have central heating or AC?
Is there a seasonal pattern to the problem, for example, does it re-occur at the same time of year?
I keep it in a desk drawer. Theres no air conditioning in the room. It doesn't experience any rapid or frequent temperature changes. This is something that I do thing about. No about the seasonal thing either.
QUOTE:I shudder to think what you mean by "widened the end of the mouthpiece" - you mean he cut away at the blowhole? Or do I misunderstand?
Tbvh I'm not entirely sure what he did. I wasn't entirely accurate when I said that he widened the bottom of the mouth piece - now that I think of it it was actually the tuning slide bit that sticks on the bottom of the mouthpiece.afaik he replaced the cork at the top, and I think I do remember him saying something about a thin crack along it, which meant that it got widened when he fixed it.
@Lingpupa's other comments:
Tbh I'm a whistle player and I don't spend as much time as I should with the oul flute. What is the suck test? Embouchure? Also maybe you have any links to some internets resources on the subject of maintenace that would be handy
QUOTE:...can anyone recommend a good quality flute maker. The one I have is an Eamonn Cotter. You're kidding, right?
Are you swabbing it after use ?
I believe it was Matt Molloy who replied "Only if you want to keep it." when asked why you should swab your flute out after use.
Also, are you oiling it occasionally ? I believe almond oil is the best, my SO keeps a small bottle for her 1850s flute.
Mr. Cotter lives quite a while away from me, so 'twould be rather awkward. Yes I do swab it out after use about 90% of the time, and I do put almond oil on it as well.
I guess ill just have to get it serviced /sigh
Thanks.
What is the suck test?
Close all holes with your fingers, and the bottom opening with something (the skin of your naked thigh may be suitable, if not too hairy and nobody is looking). Put your mouth over the blowhole completely and suck fairly hard. If you hear hissing, you have a *bad* leak. If not, cover the blowhole with your tongue or the inside of your lip. If the negative pressure remains for quite a while, things are ok. For instance, if you let go after a few seconds you should sense a slight "pop" as the air rushes back in. If all that happens, a leak in not likely to be your problem.
Embouchure?
The way your lips (and mouth etc.) shape up when you make a flute sound. It can take years to get right, and though progress is usually forward, temporary reversals can also happen.
Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
I've had my current flute for 4 years. It's your typical wooden flute. I've noticed that the quality of sound coming out of it is slowly but surely diminishing - its getting a *lot* more "airy" or rough-sounding for want of a better word. It was like that a while ago too (about a year ago), but I left it into a guy and he simply replaced the cork at the top and widened the end of the mouthpiece, and it was perfect after that. I'm wondering is this common that flutes detiorate over time - would it be wise to just simply buy a new one instead of going back to the guy to see if he can do something with it?
And if thats the case, can anyone recommend a good quality flute maker. The one I have atm is an Eamonn Cotter
# Posted on September 30th 2007 by AntIarthar
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
A lot of flute players are having this problem lately, a friend of a friend at the CSIRO has discovered that it is caused by the no smoking in pubs thing. The smoke in the air preserves the flute it seems.
Just what I've heard. Umm bye now
# Posted on September 30th 2007 by mcknowall
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
My Cotter did the same thing.Keep the cork wet and it will seal
# Posted on September 30th 2007 by Rwhite
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
...can anyone recommend a good quality flute maker. The one I have is an Eamonn Cotter
You're kidding, right?
# Posted on October 1st 2007 by Whistlin'Dixie
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
In spite of the above, no, it is not normal. Barring damage, cracks and serious faults, a flute does not significantly deteriorate over time. Nor does it improve in the way stringed instruments can.
I shudder to think what you mean by "widened the end of the mouthpiece" - you mean he cut away at the blowhole? Or do I misunderstand?
There are two possibilities: one is that your embouchure is changing over time in unexpected ways - how long have you been playing? The other is that your flute needs maintenance. If you have keys, they may need repadding. Are you sure the joints are tightly sealed (without undue strain on the wood, of course)? They may need recorking/rethreading. Is there gunk around the blowhole (or anywhere else)? Have you tried the suck test? (And btw, do you have bottom C# and C holes? The suck test is a tad easier if you haven't. How often do you oil? If you have keys, are you sure you don't over-oil?
# Posted on October 1st 2007 by Alex Wilding
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
You're talking about a wooden flute, and I'm wondering if it might be having humidity problems- as in, the wood is drying out and shrinking a wee bit. or getting too wet and swelling a tad.
Where do you keep it when you're not playing it?
Does your house or apartment have central heating or AC?
Is there a seasonal pattern to the problem, for example, does it re-occur at the same time of year?
# Posted on October 1st 2007 by Snakefingers
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
If we knew where you were located we could possibly direct you to a local flute maker ! Your budget would narrow the search as well..
# Posted on October 1st 2007 by lamh trom
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
I wouldn't have let someone alter the embouchure hole...very bad indeed.
The change in sound quality could also have been from the cork getting scungy over time. This is why many makers either face the cork with a metal disk, or use a delrin plug. Natural cork isn't the best material for a cork stopper now that there are alternatives. Also the bore can get rough from improper care and feeding.
# Posted on October 1st 2007 by meemtp
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
Hi Antlarthar. I'm sure you didn't wish to be unkind but you might want to be a wee bit more diplomatic. Eamonn Cotter is a top drawer flute maker & could give you any advice you needed. A deserved reputation is many (often unprofitable) years in the making & stray remarks can be damaging. Best wishes. Simon.
# Posted on October 1st 2007 by Leftheris
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
Hold it by the thin end and bang it on the table a few times.
Works for fiddles too.
# Posted on October 1st 2007 by showaddydadito
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
I have a keyless flute. Im located in Galway. It was certainly not my intention to imply anything with regards Mr. Cotter's flutes if it appeared that way, in fact I do quite like mine however limited my experience in flute playing may be. I suppose that smiley might have made it look that way and I apologise if so.
QUOTE:My Cotter did the same thing.Keep the cork wet and it will seal.
I shall try that. What do you mean by "it will seal" though?
QUOTE:Where do you keep it when you're not playing it?
Does your house or apartment have central heating or AC?
Is there a seasonal pattern to the problem, for example, does it re-occur at the same time of year?
I keep it in a desk drawer. Theres no air conditioning in the room. It doesn't experience any rapid or frequent temperature changes. This is something that I do thing about. No about the seasonal thing either.
QUOTE:I shudder to think what you mean by "widened the end of the mouthpiece" - you mean he cut away at the blowhole? Or do I misunderstand?
Tbvh I'm not entirely sure what he did. I wasn't entirely accurate when I said that he widened the bottom of the mouth piece - now that I think of it it was actually the tuning slide bit that sticks on the bottom of the mouthpiece.afaik he replaced the cork at the top, and I think I do remember him saying something about a thin crack along it, which meant that it got widened when he fixed it.
@Lingpupa's other comments:
Tbh I'm a whistle player and I don't spend as much time as I should with the oul flute. What is the suck test? Embouchure? Also maybe you have any links to some internets resources on the subject of maintenace that would be handy
QUOTE:...can anyone recommend a good quality flute maker. The one I have is an Eamonn Cotter. You're kidding, right?
It came out wrong, I swears.
# Posted on October 1st 2007 by AntIarthar
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
In short, likely leaks (cracks, around cork or threaded tenons or headjoint cork). Get it serviced. Why not by Eamonn Cotter himself?
# Posted on October 2nd 2007 by kkrell
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
Are you swabbing it after use ?
I believe it was Matt Molloy who replied "Only if you want to keep it." when asked why you should swab your flute out after use.
Also, are you oiling it occasionally ? I believe almond oil is the best, my SO keeps a small bottle for her 1850s flute.
# Posted on October 2nd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
Mr. Cotter lives quite a while away from me, so 'twould be rather awkward. Yes I do swab it out after use about 90% of the time, and I do put almond oil on it as well.
I guess ill just have to get it serviced /sigh
Thanks.
# Posted on October 2nd 2007 by AntIarthar
Re: Diminishing Flute Sound Quality
What is the suck test?
Close all holes with your fingers, and the bottom opening with something (the skin of your naked thigh may be suitable, if not too hairy and nobody is looking). Put your mouth over the blowhole completely and suck fairly hard. If you hear hissing, you have a *bad* leak. If not, cover the blowhole with your tongue or the inside of your lip. If the negative pressure remains for quite a while, things are ok. For instance, if you let go after a few seconds you should sense a slight "pop" as the air rushes back in. If all that happens, a leak in not likely to be your problem.
Embouchure?
The way your lips (and mouth etc.) shape up when you make a flute sound. It can take years to get right, and though progress is usually forward, temporary reversals can also happen.
# Posted on October 3rd 2007 by Alex Wilding