I just ordered the no-frills, 3-piece delrin flute from Dave.
I have no doubts that the flute is crafted with excellent intonation. I’m more curious about the user interface. Obviously each player is different but I’d just like to hear what others have experienced.
From any experienced embouchures out there, how is the tune-ability with just the head and tenon? Is it very forgiving to rolling in or does it go noticeably flat?
Cheers,
Aaron
Well, I’ve had one for five and a half hours. For Irish flute I play small- and medium-holed Olwells.
I picked this thing up and have made as far as I can tell zero adjustments, and after seeing your request took it to a tuner. It’s spot-on (in equal temperament) for me with the tenon out about 4 mm. As far as I can tell, the C# is maybe 10c flat, which is within the uncertainty of blowing, and if it’s real is easily lippable. I’m really taken aback, as I would have thought the modern-cut embouchure would require some adjustment, and I had one of Dave’s wooden flutes awhile back that had what I thought were some severe tuning issues. I was a novice at that point, so likely I was a major contributor, but I think if the tuning had been the same as this flute, I wouldn’t have had nearly as much trouble.
I played a C&B delrin 3 piece intensively for a month, took it to a couple of sessions. I found the flute to be very in tune, probably some of the best tuning of all the flutes I’ve tried and played.
What surprised me was how tunable the flute was. Not having a slide was no issue for the flute. I think this is due to how thin the tenon is that connects the body with the head joint–I could pull it out 1/2 inch and still have solid sound/response/intonation, giving the flute a wide range of tuning options.
All said, you should have no worries about the intonation and tunability of a C&B delrin.
Jason
As said above, there seem to be no real tuning issues for me either. I think it’s one of the better tuned flutes I’ve played, but you can vary the pitch quite a bit by rolling in and out, if that’s what you meant. And yes, I guess everyone has to answer that one for themselves-how it works for them.
I had an older Blackwood Copley too when I was just starting out, and the tuning seemed fine (I just couldn’t get the hard low d then), but it was as easy to play with his elliptical cut, as this one is with the rounded rectangle. But I think I like this newer cut even more. I don’t know if the new cut is responsible for the excellent response (Dave’s really clean workmanship probably helps too), but it certainly is easy to get a nice solid, fat tone on it. Whatever the reasons, the whole package works!
Hope you and Charlie like yours as well.
Well, I got mine today. On first blow this thing is very forgiving to cranking the head in. With the blow edge lined to the center of the tone holes I can pull the head out about 3/8 of an inch and be in tune. Push it in about 2/8 and turn it in a little more I can lower the pressure and still cut glass.
I’m looking forward to getting to know this flute.