I’ve just moved onwards to a keyless Olwell, so I want to sell my
6-keyed Glen Watson - see
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/fs-6-keyed-glen-watson-flute-sold/83411/1
I just wanted to say that in good hands Watson flutes (at least the 4 I’ve tried) CAN be session cannons, especially the blackwood ones.
‘it is not a “session cannon” but is
a professional quality instrument.’
Not sure what this is really saying. Some clarification might help.
The volume of this instrument does not compare with
a large holed Grinter or an Olwell - at least not when I’m
at the controls. But once you find the sweet spot, it does
give plenty of sound.
I’m not a full time flute player like ‘Othannon’ so no doubt I don’t get
100% out of it. Some good Aussie fluters have tried this instrument
and were impressed. Mike Grinter liked it but said to me the overtones
are structured in a different way to his own flutes.
(BTW the way, Grinter told me he recently sold two flutes to Matt Malloy.)
I tried Grinter’s personal flute but it was leaking so much I could
hardly get a sound out of it.
On the Watson web site there are three recordings by Harry
Bradley where he really blasts on an 8 keyed Watson, including some O’Grada
style multiphonic low D’s.
I heard the Watson once in a pretty robust session. It was plainly audible, nothing missing.
Played it briefly myself. I thought it was a lovely flute, in truth.
Then buy it Jim, buy it! I’m in trouble with the missus …
I have a 6-key Watson and It took me a good while (about 7 months) to really dial it in and get used to it since I was playing a Forbes Pratten before. From what I’ve read (I’ve never played an Olwell) it’s not as easy to pick up and play the first time out as an Olwell is, but it can be played very loudly and the tone really cuts through the air. I love the sound of this flute and I have no plans to trade mine for anything else at this point.
Someone is going to get a really nice flute!
P.S. The second octave on the Watson is to die for!
Cheers,
Kirk
I think I remember medium holes. Is that right?
I don’t have a precise way of measuring but eyeballing it with a ruler I get:
L1 8mm
L2 9mm
L3 7.5mm
R1 9.5mm
R2 10mm
R3 7mm
Thank you and I’m sorry. MM are lost on me; I just wonder if anybody can give a subjective
estimate. E.G. Some rudalls (Grinters, I believe) have large holes; others (like the small-holed Gallagher)
have small holes; some have medium holes. I reckon the watson has medium holes. It felt
quite comfortable, in fact.
By the way, as you probably know, Rudally flutes tend to have lovely second octaves.
I confess I have fallen gradually more into the rudall camp and away from prattens.
Partly because rudalls (especially the non-large hole ones) are easier to handle
but also because I’ve become increasingly intrigued by the sound. You know,
Harry B. much favors Rudalls; of course there are fine fine players who
favor prattens, or at least play them on recordings.
Well, the holes are visibly smaller than the ones on my Forbes but not dramatically, so if I were a betting man I’d say the Watson is a medium holed flute.
But why, Jim… when you can take a ruler to any/all of your current flutes and get an objective one by comparing to Kirk’s measurements? 
P.S. The second octave on the Watson is to die for!
I can only agree. I don’t have any experience with the Ollwells, which I regret, but I my Watson 6-key D flute is a real tooter, with a strong tone all along the scale, has no trouble cutting through and tunes perfectly in the second octave. I’ve had it for 6 years now and love it to bits.
Thanks.
Here is a review of Glenn’s flutes from David Levine, when they first appeared. David deals in flutes and, IMO,
has very good judgement about them:
I received my new Glenn Watson 6-key blackwood flute a week ago. It is very clear and powerful. The bottom is solid and the second octave is a dream-- very strong and accessible.
The flute is beautifully made and feels great in my hands. It is slim and elegant, with beautiful keys and blocks and finely cut metal plates under the key-springs. The bore is well-finished, although it does not have a perfect mirror finish. Nor does it have a screw-cap crown, which I would prefer if only because it facilitates removing the cork for cleaning the head joint. Too few makers do this as a matter of course.
The silver keys are simple and elegant. They are hand cut rather than cast- another bargain. Most flute-makers cast their keys rather than cut them. Forging/swaging takes longer but entails a better quality alloy with fewer imperfections. They are perfectly placed for my hands and in any case Glenn expressed a willingness to customize should I desire.
The Watson is perfectly in tune. Probably because of the French slide the flute has a woody, dark tone that I like very much. The flute projects very well. I recently played with a loud fiddler and a loud concertina player. I could hear myself and I was told that I could be heard clearly from across the room.
The flute continues to improve as I get used to the embouchure, and is becoming more responsive every day. The embouchure is not the most forgiving I have played, requiring precise focus, but it is capable of a cracking good sound.
So far I am delighted. This flute is a great bargain. Glenn is a single man living alone. His needs are modest and his expenses are minimal. He can afford to sell a keyed flute at €1,400 (about $1,800), including a lovely hand-made case. This is less than any other top maker charges. He is a good player himself, which helps towards the making of a good flute.
I would not hesitate to recommend that any player – experienced as well as beginner-- buy a flute from Glenn before the inevitable price rise and longer wait. Glenn’s web-site reflects the elegance of his flutes: www.watsonflutes.com. His phone and email are listed on the site.
He does not know I am writing this. I have no financial connection with Glenn. I wish him well and would like to see him succeed.
Post subject: My new Glenn Watson flute
PostPosted: 15 Aug 2006 18:40 (Can’t seem to link to it, but there it is.)
I kinda like this way…
But ‘My new Glenn Watson flute’ didn’t write it… Cocus/Julia/David did:
Though that might imply a link to his profile and we’d be better with this:
But ‘cocusflute’s Glenn Watson flute review’ didn’t write it either, so…
I would have to agree with everything that JD said in that review. It’s spot on.
Kirk
One thing I have noticed so far with the Olwell is that for me
it is not as ergonomic as the Watson. The head sticks out more
at the end (but not as much as a Reviol) so I cannot tuck it into
my shoulder as comfortably. It’s also heavier - it’s quite a war club.
There seems to be a little more distance from the embouchure to
the left hand holes, but I haven’t checked yet to verify it.
BTW, I’ve had only one serious nibble - a trade which I decided
not to accept. Make me an offer - you could end up with quite a
deal since I’m not interested in counting pennies.