Been playing flute for about two years now and getting to the stage where I'm seriously thinking about buying a new one. The only problem is I'm not entirely sure how to go about getting one. I currently have one made by Ganley, which although sounding ok, isnt of the best quality. I have tried a Seerey flute which I thought was really lovely, rich & mellow. However, it wasn't timber, it was one of those synthetic types. I know that this type is more practical. they rarely crack, etc. but Isorta have a thing for the timber. So if anybody has any suggestions I would really appreciate them. I bought my first flute from a shop called Waltons, but as I couldnt actually play at the time it was just luck of the draw really. I'd prefer this time to get someting that I was really suited to. Just while i'm sitting here, just wondering what's the general concensus on these synthetic flutes are they widely used or just another fad?
aoife
I really like my Irish flute made by Michael Cronnolly. It's one of these synthetic flutes (but he makes wooden ones too). http://www.irishflutes.net. Of course, this is purely personal preference, but i've been playing flute for 20 years. If you come over to the Chicago area, US, you can try out mine. If you go to Michael's site, he may be able to give you a list of users in your part of the world.
You should wander over to http://www.skiphealy.com and look at Skip Healy's flutes. I have a bias. He's my teacher and I'm his Webmaster, but I'll think you will find he has a very good reputation all over.
His instruments start at $500 for his economy wooden flute. His standard keyless wooden flute is $1,000. They're all pretty rugged in design and have a powerful tone. Skip is very flexible about working with his new customers to make sure they get the right instrument.
I don't think synthetic flutes are a fad. Some people love them and prefer them over wooden flutes. Each person has a preference. I'll probably always play flutes made of Cooktown ironwood as opposed to blackwood.
I agree. My synthetic flute sounds as good as any wood flute i've played; it has a beautiful strong tone. The price is not much difference, but synthetic is easier to care for than wood, and it's not affected by changes in weather and air humidity.
The thing to watch for when playing a traditional flute if you're used to the modern flute, is that the traditional "hole in the wall" embochure works differently from the modern raised kind. I feel i blow much more air "inside" the traditional flute than in the modern flute. If you blow a traditional flute the same way you do a modern flute, you get a weak tone and some of the notes are badly out of tune.
Here in England I play a Ray Sloane wood flute and a Tony Dixon polymer flute. The Ray Sloane is beautifully made and plays well, the Tony Dixon has a cruder finish and no top C but is very strong low down and comparatively cheap to buy. Both of these makers have web sites under their own names which are easy to find.
I don't play the flute, but my daughter does and we spent the summer trying out flutes for her as an upgrade from the basic student flute she started with.
At the Willie Clancy week we stumbled across flutes by a maker in Bray, Ireland. Martin Doyle. We bought on for her which cost IR
I just managed to acquire a Martin Doyle flute from an independent seller. This is the best flute I have ever played, hands down. I love it. I would recommend his flutes to anyone. Wow, I was just totally blown away by how easily and consistently it plays. Kudos to Martin.
Flute Suppliers?
Flute Suppliers?
Been playing flute for about two years now and getting to the stage where I'm seriously thinking about buying a new one. The only problem is I'm not entirely sure how to go about getting one. I currently have one made by Ganley, which although sounding ok, isnt of the best quality. I have tried a Seerey flute which I thought was really lovely, rich & mellow. However, it wasn't timber, it was one of those synthetic types. I know that this type is more practical. they rarely crack, etc. but Isorta have a thing for the timber. So if anybody has any suggestions I would really appreciate them. I bought my first flute from a shop called Waltons, but as I couldnt actually play at the time it was just luck of the draw really. I'd prefer this time to get someting that I was really suited to. Just while i'm sitting here, just wondering what's the general concensus on these synthetic flutes are they widely used or just another fad?
aoife
# Posted on September 10th 2001 by Bonxie
Re: Flute Suppliers?
Didn't I see some flutes in at Custy's last time I was in Ennis?
Zina
# Posted on September 10th 2001 by Zina Lee
Re: Flute Suppliers?
I really like my Irish flute made by Michael Cronnolly. It's one of these synthetic flutes (but he makes wooden ones too). http://www.irishflutes.net. Of course, this is purely personal preference, but i've been playing flute for 20 years. If you come over to the Chicago area, US, you can try out mine. If you go to Michael's site, he may be able to give you a list of users in your part of the world.
# Posted on September 11th 2001 by glauber
Re: Flute Suppliers?
Well, I don
# Posted on September 11th 2001 by Gadrielei
Re: Flute Suppliers?
Greetings,
You should wander over to http://www.skiphealy.com and look at Skip Healy's flutes. I have a bias. He's my teacher and I'm his Webmaster, but I'll think you will find he has a very good reputation all over.
His instruments start at $500 for his economy wooden flute. His standard keyless wooden flute is $1,000. They're all pretty rugged in design and have a powerful tone. Skip is very flexible about working with his new customers to make sure they get the right instrument.
I don't think synthetic flutes are a fad. Some people love them and prefer them over wooden flutes. Each person has a preference. I'll probably always play flutes made of Cooktown ironwood as opposed to blackwood.
Take care,
John Harvey
Rhodeirish.net
http://www.rhodeirish.net
# Posted on September 12th 2001 by Jdharv
Synthetic
I agree. My synthetic flute sounds as good as any wood flute i've played; it has a beautiful strong tone. The price is not much difference, but synthetic is easier to care for than wood, and it's not affected by changes in weather and air humidity.
The thing to watch for when playing a traditional flute if you're used to the modern flute, is that the traditional "hole in the wall" embochure works differently from the modern raised kind. I feel i blow much more air "inside" the traditional flute than in the modern flute. If you blow a traditional flute the same way you do a modern flute, you get a weak tone and some of the notes are badly out of tune.
# Posted on September 12th 2001 by glauber
Re: Flute Suppliers?
Here in England I play a Ray Sloane wood flute and a Tony Dixon polymer flute. The Ray Sloane is beautifully made and plays well, the Tony Dixon has a cruder finish and no top C but is very strong low down and comparatively cheap to buy. Both of these makers have web sites under their own names which are easy to find.
# Posted on September 17th 2001 by Johnnypither
Sweetheart
I just submitted a link (under "instruments") to Ralph Sweet's homepage. That's another sort of nice, affordable flutes and whistles of all kinds.
# Posted on September 20th 2001 by glauber
Re: Flute Suppliers?
I don't play the flute, but my daughter does and we spent the summer trying out flutes for her as an upgrade from the basic student flute she started with.
At the Willie Clancy week we stumbled across flutes by a maker in Bray, Ireland. Martin Doyle. We bought on for her which cost IR
# Posted on September 23rd 2001 by Fergal_dearle
Re: Flute Suppliers?
I just managed to acquire a Martin Doyle flute from an independent seller. This is the best flute I have ever played, hands down. I love it. I would recommend his flutes to anyone. Wow, I was just totally blown away by how easily and consistently it plays. Kudos to Martin.
# Posted on March 30th 2003 by Odin