I’ve just received word from Dave Copley that my mopane 6-key is ready, so I am offering my Casey Burns ergonomic standard keyless mopane flute for sale. This is an all-wood flute (no rings or slide), chestnut-brown in color with a lovely dark grain pattern.
I’ve been playing this flute almost daily for 6 months (I am the original owner). It is capable of a wide range of tonal colors and has a very warm, woody sound. Response to tonguing and finger articulation is quick. Volume-wise, it fares well in a session of moderate size. It has a comfortable finger stretch and medium-sized tone holes.
The flute has been carefully and fully broken in and has been carefully cared for (including regular applications of almond oil). It’s in excellent condition and resides comfortably in a foam-lined plastic pistol case.
I’m asking $380 including shipping in the US.
If interested, please email mbswiss AT hotmail.com.
Micah
Check with someone who knows for sure, but i think it should be easy to remove the almond oil using alcohol or acetone, then you could quickly apply some other kind of oil you’re not allergic to.
This is, in fact, a very nice flute at a good price,
and I do think you can get the Almond Oil off
it, as mentioned. I’ve played these; quite likeable.
This thread http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?p=216998
discusses the 2 main plastic “Irish” flutes (Seery and M&E). McGee makes plastic flutes on demand too, for a ton more money. The other model is the Dixon, which i particularly don’t like (but others do). I have a traditional M&E with split embochure that i like a lot.
Back to almond: my experience with acetone is that it removes the surface oil quickly, leaving the wood very dry. You should apply some other kind of oil or finish soon thereafter, to protect the wood. Many different kinds of natural and mineral oil can be used. I don’t know anything about allergies, though, so i won’t even try to suggest another kind of oil.
Casey’s flutes are very good, and the mopane wood is pretty.
In your line of work, you should also check the “Praise Whistlers” forum!
(Google for it)
We use acetone on intruments quite a bit. It is fine on some instruments and problematic on others, because it can leech the natural color from certain woods, leaving the flute discolored or multi-shaded Best to test a small area on a tenon or socket before applying to the more visible areas of the instrument. As Glauber mentioned, one should oil the wood after applying acetone.
Painthinner is another option, it tends to be a little less harsh and is less likely to cause discoloration. Look for the odorless stuff.
I find it makes a difference which kind of Almond Oil you use. At first I was using the medicinal, cosmetic kind and found it to tickle my lips - not in a pleasant way. I discovered it on my Casey Burns Boxwood flute. I switched over to salad/cooking type Almond Oil and mixed in a jelled cap of Vitamin E for a preservative (not sure it needs it though). I keep it stored in the fridge. In the second application - quickly applied to prevent tickle - the stinging/ticklilng sensation was gone. I would think it might do the same on Mopane although it is a tad harder wood.
My problem is that when I had chemotherapy, they just about killed me with serious overdosing of the chemo drugs. One of the drugs used was a derivative of almonds. One of the other drugs was a derivative of walnuts. To this day I still have serious reactions to anything with almond or walnut products…in a matter of minutes it will blister and peel the meat off the inside of my mouth…roof of my mouth, gums, lips. Not fun.
In your case, I’d stay away from anything that even touched almond oil at any time. Even with the acetone, you’ll never get it all out, and it will slowly leach out over time. Your safest bet would be to get the flute directly from the maker, with strict instructions that almond oil never be used anywhere near it.
The more i think about this, Rev, the more i think you should consider a plastic flute. No need worrying about oils. Accepting plastic as a suitable alternative to wood may be a bit of a challenge to some. If you’re concerned about historical authenticity, there’s always ebonite! But seriously, M&E/Seery for an entry level flute, or a McGee if the offertory’s been good.
Allergies to nuts and pulses are common and can be life-threatening. Playing a nice wooden flute is important, but not that important. You might have mentioned it, I’m not sure, but bamboo doesn’t require oil and there are some seriously good bamboo flutes around which cost very little for what you get. Try an Olwell, and if the stretch on a D is bit much, try an Eb or F.
I like some of the bamboos I’ve heard. I have one by John Niemi that is absolutely fantastic. It has that “bullfrog in a hollow log” kind of booming echo sound. Quiet, but haunting. I have another bamboo that’s a bit on the sucky side for sound. I have two Hall G flutes, but would like to also find a good bargain on a D. I don’t have an Irish flute in my collection and am on the prowl for an inexpensive one that’s in need of a good home.
My biggest concern about actually playing the flutes is that I like going out to the park, the woods, down to the ponds and playing. I don’t want to be carrying a flute that I’m going to be worried about if it gets scratched or dropped in the mud or take a small tumble over a cliffside.
You could drive a truck over half the flutes I have come across , and they wouldn’t be much worse than they are already ! I would like to sponsor somebody to do it .
I agree with glauber about the durability and lack of allergic problems that come with the polymer flutes. M&E, Desi Seery (he also makes a small hands version of his flute if you need that), and Tony Dixon’s 3 piece polymer flute (if you call him he’s also making this flute with an optional tuning slide head, but it’s not on his website yet) all make good flutes. I quite liked my Dixon 3 piece, but his only flaw in my opinion was that he doesn’t plan on adding keys on his flutes at this time. I play a Seery now, which I love, and have heard lots of good things about M&Es.
My Seery is constantly being knocked over by rambunctious dogs (of the 50 lbs variety), has fallen 4 feet off a shelf onto a concrete step with no damage, and I wouldn’t hesitate to take it anywhere.
Andrew, if you’d send me those flutes I’ll give them the old Ford Escort test…
Best to test a small area on a tenon or socket before applying to the more visible areas of the instrument. As Glauber mentioned, one should oil the wood after applying acetone.