Been practicing... now it's time for some input/output

Irish Flute
1

OK, so I’ve been playing the Dixon for a few weeks now and I get better every day. When I first pick it up at the beginning of every practice session, it seems that whatever I was exhaustively struggling with at the end of last practice just rolls right out. My tone is fair at the beginning before I get tired and I can get some bottom which can be hard to do on the Dixon from what I’ve read. Of course after I wear myself out everything just goes south.

Now… I find myself lusting after another flute already. I can see that this is going to be a disease. I really want to try a larger holed Pratten style and the Forbes and Seery look like good candidates. I heard the clips of Kevin Crawford playing the Forbes and I really like the sound. Yes, I know it IS Kevin Crawford, but it tells me what the flute is capable of compared to other recordings I’ve heard of skilled players on the Dixon. I really want some solid bottom and I love that reedy sound of the Pratten style. I would keep the Dixon so I could have both large and small hole flutes. Then at some point I’ll move to a wooden flute.

I’ve read the other threads about these flutes and whether or not to just jump to wood but I like the durability and low maintenance of Delrin for now. What about the differences between the Seery & Forbes like two pieces for the finger holes on the Forbes vs. one piece for the holes with a separate foot on the Seery, etc.

Does this sound logical/crazy/somewhere in between? Am I nutty for wanting to make a jump so soon? Stop rolling your eyes and cursing “newbie” under your breath. :slight_smile:

75 & sunny in the 'Burgh (Go Penguins!)

-Kirk

2

There’s nothing wrong with lusting after another flute, nor with your choices. I’ve owned a Seery (as well as Dixon, M&E, and Copley polymer flutes), and it’s a great flute.

The one thing I’d recommend is get the other one soon, play both the Dixon and Seery/Forbes for a month or two, alternating days rather than playing both back-to-back, then stick with one for at least six months, preferably a year. If you’re anything like me, you’ll gravitate either to the big-hole or small-hole flute. Stick with whichever you gravitate toward. (Keep in mind that the Seery is capable of a heckuvalot more than the Dixon is – if you don’t have a really strong preference for the Seery you might want to try a better small-holed flute at some point.)

3

Thanks Chas, you were reading my mind here. I figure that I’ll gravitate to one or the other and want to really refine myself on that one. Then when the time comes for a wooden flute I’ll have a better idea of what I want.

Kirk

4

Hey Kirk,

Well it sure seems like you are hooked so the investment in a wooden flute probably isn’t a great risk.

You have a Dixon 3 piece conical?

They aren’t that bad at all. If you have one of the cylindrical bore ones dump it and don’t look back. :smiley:

You have a bit better with the Seery and I think even better with the Forbes.

I have a rockin’ Delrin Pratten’s from Jon C., top notch flute it is, but I have found that I just love wood.

So it remains my backup/Amazon/Sahara/Arctic flute. (I have been yet but I have a the flute so its a start. :smiley: )

I love the feel and the smell of wood.

It has life to me.

I don’t like having to put it down.

A flute you can’t keep your hands off of goes a long way into continued and consistent practice.

I was initially concerned about the care and feeding of a wooden flute but I have found that most peoples fears are exceptionally blown out of reasonable proportion.

Pratten or Rudall or somewhere in between really doesn’t make that much of a difference.

I find my vintage Wylde (which is basically a Rudall) is just near as capable in throwing out a huge amount of sound and can get dirty and hard on the low end at will.

Turns out that its much more me and not the particular instruments I own.

I was only able to find that out by, as Chas has suggested, sticking to just one flute and playing no other… not even a whistle. I was told to do this for at least six months (or a year even better) and that I would get results. It turns out to be 100% true.

Its seems to me that each flute has its own happy place and well… its our job to find out where that is.

You can only get there by the spending time.

So pick a flute and play the helloutofit.

:thumbsup:

5

Aanvil,

Thanks, I really appreciate your input. I agree that I would probably really love a wooden flute and I’m sure that I’ll own one at some point. And I agree that I need to really play one flute for several months to a year to really know what’s going on with it (and me). I can get some reedy tone out of the Dixon with the right embrochure but not much volume on the low end. If I had the extra money right now I might consider going to wood but I feel like I really want to try the larger holes on the Pratten before making the investment. I also have a hectic household right now with the kids and such and I have visions of a nice wooden flute getting ham-fisted by the wrong party if you know what I mean. :wink: Food for thought nonetheless.

edit — oh and to answer your question, I have the Dixon 3 piece conical bore.

-Kirk

6

Well then, save your pennies then and one will pop up.

You ever look at Doc Jone’s site?

https://www.irishflutestore.com/newsite/products.php?pf=1

He’s got a couple Seery’s I think now but you might really want to consider a Burns large hole standard. He has a few up there now too.

I hadn’t played one until I came up with really good one of his.

Its good flute for the money although they tend to be rather robust in construction. You could probably defend yourself with it rather well in a pub brawl. Mine was very easy to push to much volume and there was plenty of buzzy goodness in that thing.

Is sold now not too long ago. I didn’t want to part with it but I wasn’t going to play it. I think it has a good home now.

Perhaps Doc will take your Dixon in trade?

Its worth asking at any rate.

cheers

7

Aanvil,

Yes, I’ve seen Doc’s site but hadn’t thought to look there recently. Thanks for the heads up, I’ll check it out.

-Kirk

8

Thus it Begins… :smiling_imp:

Clinton

9

I’ll be in Oberlin, OH last week of June at the college doing some music stuff. If you’re in Western PA, it may be only a few hour drive. If you want to meet up and play my Forbes to try it out, let me know.

10

Mark,

Thanks for your kind offer. I’ve sent an email to Forbes inquiring about wait time but I haven’t heard back yet. If I’m still up in the air at that time I might take you up on your offer if my schedule permits.

BTW, did you buy your flute directly from Forbes? If so, how long was the wait time?

Thanks again,

Kirk

11

It took 3 months from the time I ordered it to when it arrived. To be fair, he was dealing with a broken lathe motor during part of that. Also, I had him do custom rings (brass) which may have added time.

He said he tends to do them in batches so I guess it’s where he is in a batch. He might even have one on hand. He’ll tell you where he stands in the process. He’s easy to work with.

12

Thanks for the info Mark. Much appreciated.

Regards,

Kirk

13

i say upgrade. dont look back. it sounds liked you’re psyched about the forbes. i say go for it. $400 is not a lot in the world of flutes, and i dont care who you are–you cant make a bad flute sound like kevin does in that video. players like that dont make sound clips on instruments they view to be inferior. as i like to say, “noel hill doesn’t play a pity concertina.”

seery is a great flute as well, but i say go with your gut. go with the one that has you really excited. you’ll be happier with that decision.

i base this advice on research cited in the book how we decide by jonah lehrer , as well as other research i am familiar with in the similar vein (details of which i will not bore you with).

14

Edit -

Agreed! I got ahold of Rob last night and got the ball rolling. :slight_smile:

Thanks,

Kirk

15

Hi- I have been a lurker for a while on the list. By way of background, I had classical flute training a number of years ago, but now have devoted my efforts to the Irish flute.

I can give a strong endorsement for the Forbes flute. I have an Olwell Pratten, and was looking for a delrin flute for travel, and for playing in harsher climates. I tried several delrins by other makers, but chose the Forbes because it came closest to my Olwell in tone and response, and it requires little or no adjustment in embouchure, so I can alternate between flutes almost effortlessly. I find that the Forbes flute has and especially rich, reedy tone when pushed.

Hope this helps–

Kieran

16

Thanks very much Kieran. It sounds like I made a good choice. I placed my order a few days ago so it’s just a matter of waiting now.

Regards,

Kirk