Okay, so I’ve finally found myself in the enviable (?) position of having the following flutes here at the same time:
Patrick Olwell
Rudall&Rose (my own)
Chris Wilkes
Clementi-Nicholson
Thomas Prowse Sr.-Nicholson
John Gallagher
R.S.Pratten (original)
Let me say this. It’s a footrace to decide which is best. Very difficult indeed.
So, rather than indulge my own verbosity (new word!), I’ve decided to make sound recordings of each and post them (with photos) onto my website sometime in the next several days for you to hear and decide yourself.
I’ll play the same tune on each flute (I’ve chosen the Green Mountain since it carries range from high A to low D).
Of course, nothing substitutes for actually playing the flutes yourself, but you get the idea.
Looking forward to hear the comparison. Are any of those flutes for sale, or are they all keepers?
There hasn’t been an update for awhile.. is this flute comparing project still on? Looking forward to it!
yep, still is
i’m recording the remainder (although the Gallagher slipped away from me before I could track it!)
Hopefully on line shortly
Okay David, so where’s them files? 
Doc
well, doc, they WERE up once!
I wonder if my 'puter at home still has the clips. If so, I can pass them along.
cool Dave, let us know when it’s on.
can’t wait.
e.
Yes, it’s always interesting to hear what folks think of different flutes, especially “top end” flutes such as these, although at the end of the day the “best” flute for David may not be the “best” for another musician. I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ll always remember hearing a flute player, Pat Mahan, in Tubbercurry, standing up in the pub, playing on some no name, rough looking stick, and making the most wonderful music I’ve ever heard anyone play on a flute. Just spellbinding.
I think the attempt is further complicated by recording the flute properly. I doubt that one can tell the difference between flutes based on a home recording, much less a studio production. Much more depends on the player and his comfort level with a given flute. I assume DM will sound best on the flute he likes best and plays the most.
And isn’t the Hammy a C flute? How could that possibly be compared to a D flute?
Well, for one thing, it’s longer.
(sorry!)
Levine, the original note I posted 2 years ago (look at the date).
This stuff was up at one time on the Fyfer-Restorations site, then I took it down as it was taking so much space, etc.
Anyway, there wasn’t a Hammy on the original list, either. Yes, the Hammy that I have now is a C…but didn’t look to put that up.
Too, the original idea was merely to have available a variety of flutes playing the same tune in the same manner. Hopefully done antiseptically enough that folks got an earful of what it sounded like. You’re right, though. In person, and playing it yourself, is much much better!
still looking for the clips!
dm
Do you remember the file name (names?)…might be archived somewhere…(nothing ever dies on the net)