Ellis flutes are considered to be quite good. The epoxy infusion makes them very stable and permits a wide variety of woods. Colored epoxies are also available.
His newer ones are cylindrical body because they use a taper in the head joint. That gives them both proper intonation and good volume.
He is also working with colored ebonite.
Blayne at the Irishflutestore.com really likes them, and he has done a couple videos on Geoffrey’s flutes.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=407106309480623
While they are probably good players, my concerns would be 1) no tuning slide, and 2) because of the external profile, the grip would likely be different on a cylindrical body vs. the traditional conical.
I think there’s definitely a place for his models among other choices, but it doesn’t strike me as a good start for the OP.
The flutes in the video linked by tstermitz are not the same model, though. The flute I was talking about is this one: https://www.irishflutestore.com/products/the-ellis-irish-flute-1 (see also the linked video in my post)
If you’re talking about his World Flutes/Irish Flutes category, with slides, conical build, etc., than sure.
https://www.ellisflutes.com/world-flutes/irish-flutes
Those prices also put you in line with flutes from other makers as well. Triple the price step up from your first message discussing Seery & etc. In fact, that sort of pricing opens you up to some makers in Brittany, possible keyed flutes, even.
Hmmm, clearly the Fins are on to us. Robert Browning, 1812-1889, might have foreseen this…
I want to know a butcher paints,
A baker rhymes for his pursuit,
Candlestick-maker much acquaints
His soul with song, or, haply mute,
Blows out his brains upon the flute.
There was another poem I can’t quite bring to mind on the same topic, possibly published in the Musical Times. It went something like:
Nature gave flute players brains, without a doubt
but then they go and blow them out…
Indeed, a second thought it must have been a Freudian typo…
No, I’m talking about the flute that I linked, a resin infused Ellis which is not listed on the website anymore. It falls into the same price category as most of the Delrin flutes recommended here.
Perhaps a Casey Burns 3D-printed resin Folk Flute would be a good choice, once he begins releasing those, priced at about USD $450.
I re-read a bunch of the posts Geoffrey Ellis made as he was developing his vacuum-infused resin experiments back around 2014. Lots of interesting discussion here on the Chiff and Fipple board. There were issues, and I’d be cautious about picking up a used model when to my mind there are other, better choices.
I’m very curious to give the Burns resin flute a go. If it plays as well as his Folk Flute, it could be a hit. So many great flutes available–lots of good choices.
I’ll throw in another vote for Damien Thompson here…
Of the other flutes mentioned above, I’ve tried a couple and owned an M&E. I did not have a good experience with the M&E - it was very heavy, had a weak bell note, some quality control issues, and it really felt like you had to fight it to get it to play. Thompson flutes on the other hand are fantastic. I’ve known Damian for a long time and played many of his flutes over the years as he was developing his current offering. He offers a range of different options, including ‘student’ and ‘two-piece’ models that are very cost effective, as well as more traditional looking flutes with silver rings etc. One thing I will say is that no less effort goes into his more economical flutes, and every one of his flutes that I’ve played are fantastic. He’s a great guy to boot, and will be happy to answer your questions or work with you to meet your specific requirements.
Couple clips of me playing my Eb Thompson, which he tailored so that I could also use the head joint on my Grinter, should I ever take that particular notion.
https://www.facebook.com/683422526/videos/10157360589662527/
I’m a novice flute player but check out flutes by Davy Angus (is what I have). His flutes are wooden, but are very affordable compared to the competition and the quality seems very good. He’s from the UK, and even shipped to the USA shipping was very cheap. so shipping to EU should be easy. It plays much easier than my dixon 1 piece. Idk how it compares to other high end makers.
Heres a link to the one I have. Its his cheapest conical wooden one with a tuning slide
http://shop.fifeanddrumshop.com/epages/es143324.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/es143324/Products/"Low%20D%202pce%20Sapele%20Tuning%20Slide[1]"
He has other woods, but Sapele is a very affordable tone wood, its similar to mahogany but much cheaper.
And yes, its wood, which occasionally needs to be oiled. I’ve oiled it like a whole 1 or 2 times (I advise doing it more often tho, like every couple weeks or once a month). No issues sofar. Only takes a few minutes. And I run a cleaning rod through it when I’m done playing to keep it try. So I wouldn’t worry about the wood being too much work. Delrin is obviously less work though.
Just my 2 cents, best of luck with whatever you chose to get.
There’s a new entry on the Used Instrument Exchange for a Vincent Di Mauro delrin, Rudall style. That might fit your bill…
[I have no involvement with the sale, don’t know the seller, nor have I seen this instrument. However, I have owned a Di Mauro and found it to be a nicely made, in-tune flute with no issues. Well worth the price I paid.]
Best wishes.
Steve