Hello everyboy,
I play actually on a Tipple Flute in D and want to upgrade to a wooden flute. I've a 1 700€ budget and don't know wich flute to choose, keyed or keyless. Can you help me to choose ?
The best maker is Hammy Hamilton (personal opinion) and you only need the lower C# key so that you can play lower C as in the Mountain Road if you want.
So, suddenly every girl is not good enough to answer your question?
More seriously, keys are useful if you want to play some stuff other than Irish traditional music. With a budget like this you can get a 6-key blackwood flute from Glenn Watson, for example, which is a really very good flute, and you really don't need more than 6 keys. Some people prefer it keyless. I prefer it keyed. Some prefer Hammy Hamilton, some will vote for Sam Murray, etc. etc. The important thing is, with a budget like this you can really make a good choice without tradeoffs.
Thanks for the advices. I don't want to wait a long time for the flute ! I've seen that the waiting list for an Olwell is 6 years. I'm in France and was thinking to have a Lehart. Someone knows about these flute ? The Watson looks very nice ! For the Hamilton i don't know if i could be able to play it because of my small hands.
The waiting list for Glenn Watson the last time I checked was 7 months, and he's a great person to do business with (not to mention - he keeps to his deadlines); however, if you don't want to wait, I suggest you check out the website of Doc Jones's flute store at http://shop.irishflutestore.com (he's refurbishing his site at the moment, so you'd need to be patient anyway) - he's a conscientious businessman as well, and sometimes gets real gems of used flutes for reasonable prices.
As to Gilles Lehart flutes, they seem to be relatively popular here; two of my fluter friends have them - the sound is great, very rich, and the flutes are really responsive in their account(both friends are professional musicians). I can't, however, give you a personal account - I've tried them, but both are unsuited to my heretic ways (I'm a leftie player).
If you want to source local, there's also Pol Jezequiel, also from Brittany - his flutes are also very good, you can get a sample here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-8kMaD_DWE
For a Watson keyed flute the waiting list is now about 10 months, it's not too long. And his flutes look very nice.
I didn't know about Pol Jezequiel, don't find a price list on the web i may call him. I know in Brittany there is also Solen Lesouef do you know about her flute ?
And since it needs to be said at least one in every thread about buying a flute - Check out the Chiff and Fipple flute discussion boards, particularly the archives for extensive discussions about flutes and makers.
I would agree with EastPole about Pol Jezquel. As well as being a great repairer/restorer, the flutes he makes are very responsive, loud and in tune. And a nice friendly approachable guy too!
Dollar for dollar you cannot beat Martin Doyle's flutes. They are better than "quite good." Martin is a great player and his flutes are wonderful. In tune, great sound, beautifully finished. Go for it.
Think of aftersale service as well. I was told by a galway based flute maker that most people now claimed it on their house insurance. Exit stage left. Needless to say flute is still working
My top makers list agrees with Andyras1. Hammy, Olwell, or Grinter. I haven't had the good fortune to try any of Sam Murray's flutes.
I played a keyed Lehart that was nice, but not enough to make me buy it. One of my friends got a 6-key McGee GLP and while small-holed flutes are not to my taste it was a lovely instrument in all respects. I have another friend with a fantastic custom Copley. That would be another option.
I decided to spend a bunch on a keyless Olwell when one came up for sale used. I haven't regretted the decision.
Grinter, Doyle and Olwell's keyed flute are too expensive for me but the keyless one are in my budget. On the Irish flute store there is a 6 keys Paddy Ward but i don't know about this flute.
I send a message to Pol Jezquel and i'm waiting for his answer.
There are many flute makers in France et specially in Brittany, Pol Jezequel and Stéphane Morvan for example. Not easy to choose, my flute is a Hamilton, a great flute.
There's also a french forum about flutes and whistles, you can find there comments about different flutes makers in Brittany :
Do you need a keyed flute? With your budget, you can get an excellent keyless flute that will satisfy you for many years.
If you're looking for a shorter waiting list, used flutes are a good option. Dave Copley tends to have a manageable waiting list, and perhaps there are some makers with shorter lists in France, too.
Maybe i've to wait a little bit to save money and have a keyed flute. I have seen that some makers have a 2-years waiting list (even more sometimes). So a solution would be to buy a keyless and order a keyed flute, it'll let me the time to save money for the 6 keyed flute.
I don't know.
Which keyless flute would you recommend to me ?
Buying a new flute
Buying a new flute
Hello everyboy,
I play actually on a Tipple Flute in D and want to upgrade to a wooden flute. I've a 1 700€ budget and don't know wich flute to choose, keyed or keyless. Can you help me to choose ?
thanks !
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by harmonico
Re: Buying a new flute
The best maker is Hammy Hamilton (personal opinion) and you only need the lower C# key so that you can play lower C as in the Mountain Road if you want.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by tuney
Re: Buying a new flute
So, suddenly every girl is not good enough to answer your question?
More seriously, keys are useful if you want to play some stuff other than Irish traditional music. With a budget like this you can get a 6-key blackwood flute from Glenn Watson, for example, which is a really very good flute, and you really don't need more than 6 keys. Some people prefer it keyless. I prefer it keyed. Some prefer Hammy Hamilton, some will vote for Sam Murray, etc. etc. The important thing is, with a budget like this you can really make a good choice without tradeoffs.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by Janek
Re: Buying a new flute
Loud or soft, long wait, short wait, keyed or no.
Get the best you can.
My personnal choice was a four keyed Hamilton, but any nice undamaged example from Hammy, Murray, Olwell or Grinter, would be great value.
There are loads of great flutes try a few..
IMO
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by Andyras1
Re: Buying a new flute
Thanks for the advices. I don't want to wait a long time for the flute ! I've seen that the waiting list for an Olwell is 6 years. I'm in France and was thinking to have a Lehart. Someone knows about these flute ? The Watson looks very nice ! For the Hamilton i don't know if i could be able to play it because of my small hands.
# Posted on August 23rd 2010 by harmonico
Re: Buying a new flute
Add Copley and McGee to your list...
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by plunk111
Re: Buying a new flute
The waiting list for Glenn Watson the last time I checked was 7 months, and he's a great person to do business with (not to mention - he keeps to his deadlines); however, if you don't want to wait, I suggest you check out the website of Doc Jones's flute store at http://shop.irishflutestore.com (he's refurbishing his site at the moment, so you'd need to be patient anyway) - he's a conscientious businessman as well, and sometimes gets real gems of used flutes for reasonable prices.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Janek
Re: Buying a new flute
Sorry, didn't notice you've mentioned Lehart...
As to Gilles Lehart flutes, they seem to be relatively popular here; two of my fluter friends have them - the sound is great, very rich, and the flutes are really responsive in their account(both friends are professional musicians). I can't, however, give you a personal account - I've tried them, but both are unsuited to my heretic ways (I'm a leftie player).
If you want to source local, there's also Pol Jezequiel, also from Brittany - his flutes are also very good, you can get a sample here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-8kMaD_DWE
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Janek
Re: Buying a new flute
Thanks for the answer !
For a Watson keyed flute the waiting list is now about 10 months, it's not too long. And his flutes look very nice.
I didn't know about Pol Jezequiel, don't find a price list on the web i may call him. I know in Brittany there is also Solen Lesouef do you know about her flute ?
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by harmonico
Re: Buying a new flute
And since it needs to be said at least one in every thread about buying a flute - Check out the Chiff and Fipple flute discussion boards, particularly the archives for extensive discussions about flutes and makers.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Crackpot
Re: Buying a new flute
I would agree with EastPole about Pol Jezquel. As well as being a great repairer/restorer, the flutes he makes are very responsive, loud and in tune. And a nice friendly approachable guy too!
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by banjoburger
Re: Buying a new flute
Here's another good resource: http://www.firescribble.net/flute/
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by mcswiss
Re: Buying a new flute
I would add Martin Doyle to your list; his flutes are quite good.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by Why Bother?
Re: Martin Doyle flutes
Dollar for dollar you cannot beat Martin Doyle's flutes. They are better than "quite good." Martin is a great player and his flutes are wonderful. In tune, great sound, beautifully finished. Go for it.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by David Levine
Re: Buying a new flute
Gilles Lehart's flutes are great.
Here is a clip of me playing one of his 5 keyed flutes in D:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_wAm0_CceQ
But with your budget I would probably go for a 6-keyed Pol Jezquel flute, or a 6 key Grinter.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by -Abraxas
Re: Buying a new flute
Think of aftersale service as well. I was told by a galway based flute maker that most people now claimed it on their house insurance. Exit stage left. Needless to say flute is still working
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by cprooster
Re: Buying a new flute
I agree with the recommendation for Doyle.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by mr_segundus
Re: Buying a new flute
Grinter if you have it.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by pipersgrip
Re: Buying a new flute
Looking forward to a nice new Doyle, so have to agree with cocus. Ordered a 6 key. Left a bit, right a bit, up, down, faster and slower.
# Posted on August 24th 2010 by EnDaC
Re: Buying a new flute
My top makers list agrees with Andyras1. Hammy, Olwell, or Grinter. I haven't had the good fortune to try any of Sam Murray's flutes.
I played a keyed Lehart that was nice, but not enough to make me buy it. One of my friends got a 6-key McGee GLP and while small-holed flutes are not to my taste it was a lovely instrument in all respects. I have another friend with a fantastic custom Copley. That would be another option.
I decided to spend a bunch on a keyless Olwell when one came up for sale used. I haven't regretted the decision.
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by ElaineT
Re: Buying a new flute
Thanks for the answers !
Grinter, Doyle and Olwell's keyed flute are too expensive for me but the keyless one are in my budget. On the Irish flute store there is a 6 keys Paddy Ward but i don't know about this flute.
I send a message to Pol Jezquel and i'm waiting for his answer.
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by harmonico
Re: Buying a new flute
Pol Jezquel's price list:
Keyless: 900€
6-keyed: 2400€
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by -Abraxas
Re: Buying a new flute
Hi Harmonico,
There are many flute makers in France et specially in Brittany, Pol Jezequel and Stéphane Morvan for example. Not easy to choose, my flute is a Hamilton, a great flute.
There's also a french forum about flutes and whistles, you can find there comments about different flutes makers in Brittany :
http://whistle.xooit.fr/index.php
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by Bran Ruz
Re: Buying a new flute
There are several god flutes for sale at the moment on the Chiff&Fipple site.
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by Imnotirish
Re: Buying a new flute
Hi ! Pol Jezequel had a 2 years waiting list so it's a bit long for me
# Posted on August 25th 2010 by harmonico
Re: Buying a new flute
You can always go for a keyless Lehart to begin with. They cost €630 and have a very short waiting list.
Then you can order a 6-keyed flute from Pol Jezequel, and sell the Lehart when you get the new keyed flute.
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by -Abraxas
Re: Buying a new flute
Do you need a keyed flute? With your budget, you can get an excellent keyless flute that will satisfy you for many years.
If you're looking for a shorter waiting list, used flutes are a good option. Dave Copley tends to have a manageable waiting list, and perhaps there are some makers with shorter lists in France, too.
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by mcswiss
Re: Buying a new flute
Well if it's possible i would like a keyed flute.
# Posted on August 26th 2010 by harmonico
Re: Buying a new flute
Maybe i've to wait a little bit to save money and have a keyed flute. I have seen that some makers have a 2-years waiting list (even more sometimes). So a solution would be to buy a keyless and order a keyed flute, it'll let me the time to save money for the 6 keyed flute.
I don't know.
Which keyless flute would you recommend to me ?
# Posted on August 27th 2010 by harmonico
Re: Buying a new flute
I have finally ordered a 6 keyed flute from Glenn Watson !
# Posted on October 4th 2010 by harmonico