What to use? A 'pull through stick' (has a hole in one end to loop the cloth through) and a piece of cloth. When I got my flute the maker said that when flutes came back for work he could always tell who swabbed out every time they played, which was essential.
Yep, swabbing out prevents build up of all the condensation, dirt, etc., in your bore.
I use a stick meant for swabbing out recorders (common at music shops) and a piece cut from an old silk neck tie (common at thrift stores for a few pennies). The silk is highly absorbent but also wicks well so it dries out quickly. And it won't scratch your bore.
Some people prefer to use a patch of cloth tied to a string. The string has a little weight on the other end--you drop this down the bore of the body of the flute and pull the cloth through from the other end. Meh. The stick works better. Just be careful not to bump it hard against the cork in the headjoint, and don't throttle the bore with the bare stick--we don't want scratches in the bore, eh? Works a treat.
If it is a flute (i.e. one of the newer ones) with a joint between the hands and the bottom three notes are hard to get - then there will almost certainly be a leak in the aforementioned joint... (Assuming that the flute used to work. and it is not just player related.)
Nine times out of ten when that happens to me I find it was nothing more than my own embouchure. How many hundreds of hours of blowing have you logged yet?
You may want to get a cotton bud and put it in the holes of the flute to remove any unnessercary build up and most definitely swab the inside of that flute. However I have found the casey burns folk flute difficult to get a good sound out of the lower E and D in particular, the rest not so bad. So it may be just a case of perservering checking that you are correctly covering holes and adjusting your embrouchure accordingly.
thanks for the advice
The low E and the D are difficult alright, but They used to play somewhat ok, but now not a geek...
There were two light cracks in the lower bore, this could be the issue..
My wooden flute
My wooden flute
I have a casey burns folk flute, sounds lovely, but I find it hard to get a sound out of it of late especially the bottom 3 notes,
This is after oiling it, and keeping it out sun light etc etc.
Any Tip's or tricks, is is room termperature related or can any recommend any oils etc that may help resolve..
# Posted on August 11th 2010 by premierview
Re: My wooden flute
Oiling can be overdone.
Do you swab out the bore after playing each time?
Check for leaks.
# Posted on August 11th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: My wooden flute
No to be honest, never swab out ? what would you use ? thanks for the assistance.
# Posted on August 11th 2010 by premierview
Re: My wooden flute
What to use? A 'pull through stick' (has a hole in one end to loop the cloth through) and a piece of cloth. When I got my flute the maker said that when flutes came back for work he could always tell who swabbed out every time they played, which was essential.
# Posted on August 11th 2010 by minijackpot
Re: My wooden flute
Yep, swabbing out prevents build up of all the condensation, dirt, etc., in your bore.
I use a stick meant for swabbing out recorders (common at music shops) and a piece cut from an old silk neck tie (common at thrift stores for a few pennies). The silk is highly absorbent but also wicks well so it dries out quickly. And it won't scratch your bore.
Some people prefer to use a patch of cloth tied to a string. The string has a little weight on the other end--you drop this down the bore of the body of the flute and pull the cloth through from the other end. Meh. The stick works better. Just be careful not to bump it hard against the cork in the headjoint, and don't throttle the bore with the bare stick--we don't want scratches in the bore, eh? Works a treat.
# Posted on August 11th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: My wooden flute
must be leaking air....
# Posted on August 11th 2010 by premier
Re: My wooden flute
If it is a flute (i.e. one of the newer ones) with a joint between the hands and the bottom three notes are hard to get - then there will almost certainly be a leak in the aforementioned joint... (Assuming that the flute used to work. and it is not just player related.)
# Posted on August 11th 2010 by Crackpot
Re: My wooden flute
It would have to be a leak, unless there's a lot of gunk in the
embouchure hole -- eeww!
# Posted on August 12th 2010 by Hup
Re: My wooden flute
Nine times out of ten when that happens to me I find it was nothing more than my own embouchure. How many hundreds of hours of blowing have you logged yet?
# Posted on August 12th 2010 by Alex Wilding
Re: My wooden flute
Check the tenons for leaks. Next, check your own embouchure for leaks.
# Posted on August 12th 2010 by ElaineT
Re: My wooden flute
You may want to get a cotton bud and put it in the holes of the flute to remove any unnessercary build up and most definitely swab the inside of that flute. However I have found the casey burns folk flute difficult to get a good sound out of the lower E and D in particular, the rest not so bad. So it may be just a case of perservering checking that you are correctly covering holes and adjusting your embrouchure accordingly.
# Posted on August 12th 2010 by frogeyes
Re: My wooden flute
thanks for the advice
The low E and the D are difficult alright, but They used to play somewhat ok, but now not a geek...
There were two light cracks in the lower bore, this could be the issue..
# Posted on August 13th 2010 by premierview