Hello. New member here.
Can someone recommend an affordable keyless low flute? Preferably in the key of A, but I can settle with Bb also. Have tried some googling, but I have had little luck so far.
Thanks,
Sondre
Casey Burns
I would recommend Solen Lesouef in France. After extensive research I purchased an African Blackwood Bb flute with silver rings from Solen Lesouef. I cannot praise this instrument enough, the craftsmanship is exquisite and the tone is beautiful. It is also very easy to fill. I have reasonably large hands, and I find the finger hole positioning on the instrument no obstacle to play-ability. (not to make assumptions,) but hand size/ finger span is something to consider when playing these instruments. For instance, my father has average sized hands and cannot make the span to the Lowest note.
Initially, when I was looking for one of these instruments, I considered getting one from the USA, but I found that the additional VAT of 20% , along with import and carriage charges prohibitive. I hope you find this information useful, and good luck with your endeavours.
Regards, Joseph
vincenzo diMauro. he’s in ireland.
I have a Dave Copley low C in delrin, lovely sound easy player and very reasonable.
Ditto on Casey Burns’ low flutes. Or his D flutes too, for that matter.
I hesitate to say anything but if the OP whats a Low A flute there is not as many options available that I’m aware of. The makers listed above state they make Bb flutes and don’t list the Low A as an option, except Casey. From what I gather, the Bb designs most makers use is based on a Rudall & Rose design and are known as “flute d’amour”.
I have a Bb by Hammy Hamilton and it’s a lovely flute. I also have one of Casey’s Low A flute, lovely flute also. I feel they are very different. Hammy’s Bb is, to my way of thinking, very classical. It has in line tone holes, a tuning slide, a nice deep voice, and very agile, but needing a more focused approach, but worth the effort.
Casey’s Low A also based on a Rudall but being a lower tone, took him some time to develop. It’s a larger flute but very easy to play with the tone holes off set; “ergonomic adjustments lead to an instrument which is much more comfortable than the historical antecedent.” It does not have a tuning slide, but has a longer socket joint for tuning, which saves on the cost. It has a very mellow deep tone and a strong, easy blowing key note. I find it’s a very easy instrument to play and will recommend it to anyone wanting a Low A.
Tjones
just for the record,
Peter Noy, Terry Mcgee, and George Ormiston also make low As
if I recall correctly.
though these would not be budget flutes.
The Irish Flute Store has an affordable Tony Dixon tunable low A for sale.
Gremich
It would be nice if Sondre would come back and offer some additional information on what they mean by “Low A flute”.
The Dixon is pitched an octave higher than what the others are recommending. But then some would call a whistle pitched as the Dixon is a low A whistle.
Feadoggie
Yes you’re right IFS has the flute listed in their whistle section! 