So, Glauber, tell me about this new rung in the ladder of flutes--new or vintage, who's the maker, and have you heard about the new M&E polymer design that's getting rave reviews for improved tone, volume, responsiveness, and ease of playing?
I'm still waiting for my Seery, but I hear that it's shipping this week. I am blowing across the top of an empty beer bottle till it gets here so I'll be ready....
David Migoya came up with an used M&E with 5 keys (missing the C key, darn) and a custom-made stopper and crown made by Mark Hoza, and i'm buying it.
The "rationale" here is the following: i've been playing my M&E more than my Boehm flute. I've been thinking of buying a "real good" keyed simple-system flute, but before i commit money to it i should first try my ideas on a decent but less expensive flute. The M&E fits the bill. I already have an old 5-key flute (missing long F), but it's horrible, can't play it. Now if after some time playing this M&E i can prove to myself that i can use the keys, i'll start looking for a more expensive one. (By the way, there's a beautiful Rudall on David Migoya's site (http://www.fyfer-restorations.com).)
This would be mostly for non-Irish music; the keyless is fine for Irish (so far).
I heard about Michael's Rudall model (it's in his email that i posted in the Dixon discussion http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/291
I'm sure it's very good. If i have one complaint about the traditional M&E design, is that it's not as comfortable under the fingers as a Rudall. Rudalls are just a delight to hold. And maybe by using a more traditional shape, Michael will be more accepted. I think his flutes are underpriced right now.
I'm curious to read what you think of your Seery. I've read a lot of good things about it too.
Yes Will, I am enjoying it very much, thankyou. It still gives me blisters every day, but they heal up every night so never mind.
If anyone's interested, according to the label it's a Valencia, model MD30. I got it from a music shop new for about two hundred NZ dollars. When I say "about" I mean that there was trading-in of an old guitar and buying of tutorial booklets and so-forth so I can't remember the exact figure. It seems to me to be an excellent instrument to start on though the bass strings sound a bit dull. That's probably my crappy playing.
And what's this about flutes? I don't know, some people just can't keep to the topic. Honestly, talk about gripes ... I'm dying to know what an M & E flute is. Do you mean it's made out of a kind of plastic?
Cat, back to the subject - Mandolins. If the G & D strings sound dull but are otherwise in good shape, could be, I'm afraid, that the fault lies with the instrument. Picked up a flatback (similar description to yours) which I used for some while from a couple of people who were selling their wordly goods to go to India. Although they got no further than France, I still had the instrument. Upgraded later to a handmade Mandolin and the effect was startling - particularly in the lower registers. My travelling friends' Mando sounded slack and dull at the low end, with a much slower response time. But what you've got will be fine while you get your fingers around it. Have fun. By the way, a good place to go on the Web for a bit of support is the Mandolin Cafe. Happy plucking ! Jack Clements
Thankyou Jack
Clements. Actually the bass strings are sounding an awful lot better, so I think I just wasn't pressing hard enough. I've been doing lots of dreary, depressing scales and intervals for practise and they seem to be helping my fingering too. I have thick horrible lumps of callus on my lefthand finger tips and it feels like they are covered in candle-wax allthe time.
I apologise for horrible spelling and lateness of reply - have been travelling and I'm squeezing as much as I can into a half hour internest access off library computer.
I go away for a couple of weeks and my discussion isn't even on the front page. Aargh. How dare you people have lives without me. I dunno ... grumble grumble, grumble.
I just got a new mandolin!
I just got a new mandolin!
It's really pretty. It's got f-holes like a violin and four courses of steel strings and lots of other cool stuff.
THERE'S ONLY ONE THING LEFT TO DO
Learn to play.
hee hee hee
# Posted on January 27th 2002 by cat
Re: I just got a new mandolin!
Well, Cat either didn't read the Gripes thread, or s/he did.....
Congrats on the new mando-fingerbuster. May you thoroughly ENJOY learning to play it!
Will
# Posted on January 27th 2002 by Will CPT
Re: I just got a new mandolin!
And i'm buying a new flute. I promise this is the last one for a while.
# Posted on January 27th 2002 by glauber
Re: I just got a new mandolin!
So, Glauber, tell me about this new rung in the ladder of flutes--new or vintage, who's the maker, and have you heard about the new M&E polymer design that's getting rave reviews for improved tone, volume, responsiveness, and ease of playing?
I'm still waiting for my Seery, but I hear that it's shipping this week. I am blowing across the top of an empty beer bottle till it gets here so I'll be ready....
# Posted on January 27th 2002 by Will CPT
New flute
David Migoya came up with an used M&E with 5 keys (missing the C key, darn) and a custom-made stopper and crown made by Mark Hoza, and i'm buying it.
The "rationale" here is the following: i've been playing my M&E more than my Boehm flute. I've been thinking of buying a "real good" keyed simple-system flute, but before i commit money to it i should first try my ideas on a decent but less expensive flute. The M&E fits the bill. I already have an old 5-key flute (missing long F), but it's horrible, can't play it. Now if after some time playing this M&E i can prove to myself that i can use the keys, i'll start looking for a more expensive one. (By the way, there's a beautiful Rudall on David Migoya's site (http://www.fyfer-restorations.com).)
This would be mostly for non-Irish music; the keyless is fine for Irish (so far).
I heard about Michael's Rudall model (it's in his email that i posted in the Dixon discussion
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/291
I'm sure it's very good. If i have one complaint about the traditional M&E design, is that it's not as comfortable under the fingers as a Rudall. Rudalls are just a delight to hold. And maybe by using a more traditional shape, Michael will be more accepted. I think his flutes are underpriced right now.
I'm curious to read what you think of your Seery. I've read a lot of good things about it too.
# Posted on January 28th 2002 by glauber
Re: I just got a new mandolin!
Yes Will, I am enjoying it very much, thankyou. It still gives me blisters every day, but they heal up every night so never mind.
If anyone's interested, according to the label it's a Valencia, model MD30. I got it from a music shop new for about two hundred NZ dollars. When I say "about" I mean that there was trading-in of an old guitar and buying of tutorial booklets and so-forth so I can't remember the exact figure. It seems to me to be an excellent instrument to start on though the bass strings sound a bit dull. That's probably my crappy playing.
And what's this about flutes? I don't know, some people just can't keep to the topic. Honestly, talk about gripes ... I'm dying to know what an M & E flute is. Do you mean it's made out of a kind of plastic?
All the best,
Cat
# Posted on January 28th 2002 by cat
M&E Flute
It's made of black PVC. It's heavy enough to serve as a weapon, and entirely black. Looks like something Darth Vader might take to a session.
# Posted on January 29th 2002 by glauber
Re: I just got a new mandolin!
Cat, back to the subject - Mandolins. If the G & D strings sound dull but are otherwise in good shape, could be, I'm afraid, that the fault lies with the instrument. Picked up a flatback (similar description to yours) which I used for some while from a couple of people who were selling their wordly goods to go to India. Although they got no further than France, I still had the instrument. Upgraded later to a handmade Mandolin and the effect was startling - particularly in the lower registers. My travelling friends' Mando sounded slack and dull at the low end, with a much slower response time. But what you've got will be fine while you get your fingers around it. Have fun. By the way, a good place to go on the Web for a bit of support is the Mandolin Cafe. Happy plucking ! Jack Clements
# Posted on February 10th 2002 by JACK CLEMENTS
Re: I just got a new mandolin!
Thankyou Jack
Clements. Actually the bass strings are sounding an awful lot better, so I think I just wasn't pressing hard enough. I've been doing lots of dreary, depressing scales and intervals for practise and they seem to be helping my fingering too. I have thick horrible lumps of callus on my lefthand finger tips and it feels like they are covered in candle-wax allthe time.
I apologise for horrible spelling and lateness of reply - have been travelling and I'm squeezing as much as I can into a half hour internest access off library computer.
I go away for a couple of weeks and my discussion isn't even on the front page. Aargh. How dare you people have lives without me. I dunno ... grumble grumble, grumble.
Seeya
# Posted on February 16th 2002 by cat