A few questions about the Dixon three-piece flute

Irish Flute
1

A few questions about the Dixon three-piece flute

I’ve been thinking of buying one of these for some time now and have done a lot of searching for opinions, so I have a fair bit of info already.

A lot of the comments have been very positive- many of the less positive ones seem to be confusing the three-piece Dixon conical bore polymer with the two-piece Dixon cylindrical bore PVC starter flute.

I am familiar with the Dixon two-piece as it was the first flute I bought many years ago, to be honest, for the price and for an instrument which doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a beginners budget flute, I think the two-piece doesn’t deserve some of the nasty comments I’ve seen posted.

But, then again, I can see the flaws in the two-piece (bad tuning on the 2nd octave, longer hole placement distances comapared to a conical bored flute) and feel it’s time to spend a fair bit of money on a proper conical bore flute.

Most posts covering the Dixon three-piece, end up mentioning the Seery and the M& E- on the whole, these seem to be considered to be a better class of flute than the Dixon (although I’ve seen posts critisising both these models and, at least one poster who thought the Dixon was superior).

I should make clear that, for me, I don’t think any of these other conical polymer flutes are an option, as-

  1. they’re a fair bit more expensive than the Dixon
  2. I’m in the UK so, purchasing a flute from overseas results in the import tax lottery, where customs will add a extra tax which could range from zero, to quite a lot

(Unless there’s a maker of good polymer flutes in the UK who I’ve not heard of)

So, for the Dixon flute, I’ve got a few specific questions I’d like help with-

  1. Most of the other polymers seem to have a tuning slide, whereas, as far as I can tell, the Dixon doesn’t, it can apparently be tuned in a limited fashion by pulling out the end bit, but not a proper tuning slide- to what extent is this a bad thing?

  2. The Dixon seems to have smaller than average finger holes? As I understand it this means less volume- but, it also seems to have a larger than average blowing hole, which I thought increased the volume- can anyone clarify this?

  3. Do smaller finger holes limit, or improve, note-bending/sliding?

  4. Are there any positives to having smaller finger holes (other than being easier to finger, cos I have reasonably large hands and don’t seem to have problems with larger finger holes)- perhaps a better tone??

  5. I’ve seen posters say that the Dixon is a good flute, but not a session flute- what is it that the Dixon lacks for sessions?

6 Till quite recently I’ve assumed that polymer flutes are created with some kind of mould, which would mean that the quality of all dixon 3-piece flutes would be very consistent (ie, if I bought one I could be confident that it would be as good as the one I’d seen reviewed). However, having read a fair bit about the subject, it sounds like, at least some polymer flutes, are hand-bored and hand-drilled from solid polymer rods, in a similar fashion to how wooden flutes are made?

If so, does this not mean that consistency amongst models of the same flute cannot be assumed. So,just because one polymer flute has been well recieved/reviewed, that doesn’t necessarily mean that all flutes in that range are of similar quality?

Thanks in advance to anyone who has a go at answering any of the above, or any Dixon 3-piece owners who wish to comment on the flute.

2

I’ve owned two dixon threepiece flutes; I’ve been playing for
well over four years.

  1. The absence of a slide may be a problem if you play with
    other instruments. The slide facilitates tuning. You may be
    able to use the tenon to tune. I never tried playing the dixon
    with other instruments so I don’t know if this is adequate.

  2. You’re rt on both counts.

  3. Larger holes tend to facilitate bending, half-holing etc,
    however this can be done on smaller holed flutes too.
    It’s all a matter of practice.

  4. Smaller holes tend to be easier to finger. I don’t think
    there are other advantages–maybe they help give the
    flute a more focused sound.

  5. Probably the deficit is volume; possibly also tunability.

  6. However they are made I think Dixons are consistent.

I thought the Dixon not bad but really a stepping stone
to something better. Unless you are really wanting polymer,
there are some extraordinarily wooden good flutes available
in the UK, e.g. Martin Doyle, at not a horrific amount of
money–though maybe more than you wish to pay.
Wood is very hardy and easy to care for, in fact.

If you’re really wanting to play flute, IMO, it’s probably
better to go for something you will stay with. Odds are
you will buy one anyway. The better
flutes keep their value more or less, and can be
resold. Good luck.

3

I have one of these and I play it a fair bit both at home and in session. I just leave it assembled at home, propped up on a windowsill etc., so it’s quick to pick up. It is tuneable by sliding out the top tenon a bit - the cork shows a wee bit when I tune mine to accordion etc. Volume is fine but that’s all personal preference and the smaller holes do mean that you can be a little less precise in your fingering and still seal the holes. I think it’s a good bit lighter than an M&E.
I wouldn’t be too worried about import taxes if you purchase within EU as far as I know, though tax legislation is a strange beast.

4

FWIW - FluterD is a fine flutist and if a Dixon is good enough for her in session then you’ll be fine. I played mine in a slow session for a couple of years and did not feel the volume was an issue…they’re nice flutes. The lack of tuning slide shouldn’t be an issue as the tennon is long enough to tune unless you personally play really sharp or flat - then it can be a problem.

I personally do prefer the M&E and Seery over the Dixon, but I like large holed flutes. The Dixon I’d say is comparable to the McGee GLP flute.

The single largest factor in how a flute sounds is you, the player.

Eric

5

Re: advantages of smaller holes: Small holes can sometimes make for crisper ornaments. (Not that they can’t be crisp on a large flute, of course.)

A Dixon 3-piece was my first Irish flute. Something about it cramped my left hand in a way no other flute ever has. (I came to it after about 25 years on the Boehm flute.) It must have been the diameter of the flute. It was soft in volume compared to other Delrin flutes I’ve since played (Wards and Jon Cochran’s).

The McGee GLP is quite a bit louder than a Dixon.

I like medium to smaller holed flutes because of the crisp ornamentation, and because my finger tips are too small for really big Prattenish holes.

Jeanie

6

Thanks for the help and advice everyone.

In a recent development I’ve found a UK supplier of Seery flutes (delrin) at the price of £280.

So that’s £100 more than the Dixon, but cheaper than I’ve seen elsewhere, plus there’d be none of the import taxes that may occur if buying from a US supplier.

The pros of the Dixon are that it’s-

  1. cheaper
  2. more portable (the Seery has a solid section for the six tone holes, whereas the Dixon splits in the middle,so is literally a 'pocket’flute)

Whereas the Seery-

  1. generally seem to be better thought of in most posts I’ve read
  2. has the tuning slide, which I do like, not just cos it’s practical, but also cos Ilike the way it looks (in fairness to the Dixon, apparently tuning slides are not as important with ploymer flutes as they don’t alter tuning as they warm-up, unlike wooden flutes)

If anyone can add anything further, it would be most appreciated.

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I thought that Seery had an option of a three piece body/foot section.
Anyone know for sure?

8

Oh, if only that were true.

Tuning will change as temps change within the instrument.

It makes no difference as to the material.

9

first #1. If you’re pretty much a beginner (I’m not sure), the Dixon is a very easy flute from which to get a decent sound, plus it’s very easy to finger. I found it a very easy flute to play. Plus the absence of a slide makes it considerably lighter than a Seery or M&E.

(No comment on your first #2 or your second #1)

  1. I don’t think small holes make a flute less loud, but the embouchure cut on the Dixon I owned did make for a quieter flute – it’s not the clearest-sounding flute, which means it won’t carry well.

3&4. I’ve never found smaller holes to limit sliding, plus as someone has already pointed out, they may make ornaments (especially crans) crisper. I do find they make half-holing more difficult.

No comment on 5 and 6.

If cost is a factor, the Dixon is a not-half-bad instrument.

10

Hey Dave,

Just to further muddy the waters! :stuck_out_tongue:

Check out Carl Bell’s flutes, he’s in the U.K.

Acetal Flute in D with tuning slide… £225.
Acetal Flute in D without tuning slide… £175.

Here’s a link: http://www.carlbell.co.uk/4598.html

I’ve never tried one of his flutes, but I’ve been tempted! :smiley:

11

jeez, these fellas are springing up like shrooms.

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I suggested Carl Bell to “sponge” here when he was looking for Delrin makers, and he said he contacted Carl, and he wasn’t able to help him out-and sponge got the impression that he might not be taking orders at this time. Don’t know if that applies to his wooden flutes too.