Hi there. I'd like to buy a tuneable Tony Dixon flute, but I don't know which one to choose. I read in past threads that the three-piece is a very nice instrument. What about the two-piece (model DX021)? Has anybody got one? It's much cheaper than the three-piece.
I wouldn't bother you if I could try them at a music shop, but I live in Italy where Irish instruments are unknown. So I'll have to order my flute without trying it beforehand.
Stay away from the two-piece model. I have played them and was not impressed in the slightest. Poor volume and tone, hard to play.
I have played the following:
Casey Burns Folk Flute
Doug Tipple PVC flute
Ralph Sweet flutes
M & E (I own one)
ANY of the above would be a much better choice than the 2-piece Dixon. However, I have heard that Tony's 3-piece models are MUCH better. Can;t confirm by personal exprience though.
I have a three piece Dixon (non-tunable - ie no tuning slide). It did me fine for the first nine months until I decided to buy a blackwood flute. It's a pretty good instrument, and certainly for me prepared me well for the 'real' wooden flute. I still play it. However, I've never heard or read anything particularly good about the two piece. If the three piece is too expensive, I've noticed Doug Tipple selling his widely respected PVC flutes on Ebay for $60.
I have a 3 piece Dixon, and wouldn't be parted from it. It plays better than any of my other 3 wooden flutes, is more in tune with itself than the Seery flute I never use anymore, in face I'd rather get rid of all the others than the Dixon. It goes with me everywhere!
There's plenty enough adjustment in the tenon joint, a tuning slide isn't needed on these flutes. I almost never need to adjust it.
Avoid the 2-piece, I tried one once and my leg fell off.
Briantheflute will confirm how good it is, he's heard me playing it loads of times.
Played a few brief notes on a Dixon one-piece at a festival stand. Really easy to get a noise out of it, and at the time I had only just begun playing regularly so my embouchure was poor. But therein lies the problem - I don't think it would have in any way prepared me for the embouchure requirements of a deeper instrument. My memories of the tone was 'easy and inconsequential'. I'm glad I bought he three piece.
But I wouldn't go as far as wurzel - I don't think even the three piece Dixon is a substitute for a good wooden flute. Initially after buying my Copley blackwood keyless I hankered after the familiarity and ease of tone production of the Dixon, but now I've spent the time and really got to know the Copley, the range of tone is so much greater.
I have both the 2 piece and the 3 piece. The 2 piece is actually the plastic low D whistle with a flute head added as an after thought. It is meant as a toy and not a serious instrument.
The 3 peace is not plastic, it's a polimer. It has the look, feel and weight of a wooden flute. This is a fantastic instrument to start on, and will stand you in good stead for years. As you become more experienced, you may become more picky about subtle differences and therefore move on to a wooden flute, but as far as I'm concerned, few people will hear the difference between the Dixon Polymer and a wooden flute of twice, even three times, the price.
Tony Dixon flutes - question
Tony Dixon flutes - question
Hi there. I'd like to buy a tuneable Tony Dixon flute, but I don't know which one to choose. I read in past threads that the three-piece is a very nice instrument. What about the two-piece (model DX021)? Has anybody got one? It's much cheaper than the three-piece.
I wouldn't bother you if I could try them at a music shop, but I live in Italy where Irish instruments are unknown. So I'll have to order my flute without trying it beforehand.
Thanks, Goccia
# Posted on November 28th 2005 by Guidus
Re: Tony Dixon flutes - question
Stay away from the two-piece model. I have played them and was not impressed in the slightest. Poor volume and tone, hard to play.
I have played the following:
Casey Burns Folk Flute
Doug Tipple PVC flute
Ralph Sweet flutes
M & E (I own one)
ANY of the above would be a much better choice than the 2-piece Dixon. However, I have heard that Tony's 3-piece models are MUCH better. Can;t confirm by personal exprience though.
# Posted on November 28th 2005 by wormdiet
Re: Tony Dixon flutes - question
I have a three piece Dixon (non-tunable - ie no tuning slide). It did me fine for the first nine months until I decided to buy a blackwood flute. It's a pretty good instrument, and certainly for me prepared me well for the 'real' wooden flute. I still play it. However, I've never heard or read anything particularly good about the two piece. If the three piece is too expensive, I've noticed Doug Tipple selling his widely respected PVC flutes on Ebay for $60.
Good luck!
# Posted on November 28th 2005 by NeilC
Re: Tony Dixon flutes - question
I have a 3 piece Dixon, and wouldn't be parted from it. It plays better than any of my other 3 wooden flutes, is more in tune with itself than the Seery flute I never use anymore, in face I'd rather get rid of all the others than the Dixon. It goes with me everywhere!
There's plenty enough adjustment in the tenon joint, a tuning slide isn't needed on these flutes. I almost never need to adjust it.
Avoid the 2-piece, I tried one once and my leg fell off.
Briantheflute will confirm how good it is, he's heard me playing it loads of times.
# Posted on November 28th 2005 by Wurzel
Re: Tony Dixon flutes - question
Well then, how do you rate the Dixon one-piece flute? I'm interested in that one.
# Posted on November 29th 2005 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Tony Dixon flutes - question
Played a few brief notes on a Dixon one-piece at a festival stand. Really easy to get a noise out of it, and at the time I had only just begun playing regularly so my embouchure was poor. But therein lies the problem - I don't think it would have in any way prepared me for the embouchure requirements of a deeper instrument. My memories of the tone was 'easy and inconsequential'. I'm glad I bought he three piece.
But I wouldn't go as far as wurzel - I don't think even the three piece Dixon is a substitute for a good wooden flute. Initially after buying my Copley blackwood keyless I hankered after the familiarity and ease of tone production of the Dixon, but now I've spent the time and really got to know the Copley, the range of tone is so much greater.
# Posted on November 29th 2005 by NeilC
Re: Tony Dixon flutes - question
I have both the 2 piece and the 3 piece. The 2 piece is actually the plastic low D whistle with a flute head added as an after thought. It is meant as a toy and not a serious instrument.
The 3 peace is not plastic, it's a polimer. It has the look, feel and weight of a wooden flute. This is a fantastic instrument to start on, and will stand you in good stead for years. As you become more experienced, you may become more picky about subtle differences and therefore move on to a wooden flute, but as far as I'm concerned, few people will hear the difference between the Dixon Polymer and a wooden flute of twice, even three times, the price.
# Posted on November 29th 2005 by Shrog