I play the whistle but prefer the tone and aural characteristics of the Irish Flute. Which would be better for a beginner; a Tony Dixon Tuneable Polymer Flute or a Doug Tipple flute made out of PVC?
Which one is better to learn on? Easier to play? Has better tone? Is a better value?
Thanks.
I’ve had several of each. Get the Tipple..no contest…
I’m new to both whistle and flute.
I bought my Tipple in Nov. 2007 based on C&F reviews & recommendations. The fit, finish, and tone are great. Incredible price/performance. I’m very happy with my Tipple and play it every day.
I haven’t tried the Dixon but also hear good things.
Tipple!
Without question.
I’ve had both - TIPPLE!!!
Pat
I’ve tried both, too. Go with the Tipple.
The Tipple get rave reviews, and there’s probably no contest which is the best player (unless you mean the 3pc conical polymer Dixon, but I figured you meant the 2pc or 1pc cylindrical pvc?)
However, I would just like to add that I started out on a Dixon 2pc, and I’m very, very glad I did. Because it makes a wonderful learner flute, it’s quite difficult to play, and it forces you to develop a good, strong embouchure. I think it has had a huge impact on my playing, for the better.
I thought I would record myself on the Dixon 2pc and write a thread in honor of it, but then I forgot about that and poured myself another glass of
whisky 
I started on a 2-piece Dixon, too. The kind that came with both low whistle and flute headjoint. I, too, am glad that’s what I started on, but I don’t know that there’s a big difference between that and the Tipple, IMO. After the Dixon I tried a Tipple for a little while and didn’t really find it to be an upgrade. So they’re pretty much even in my mind. I suggest the Tipple because you get more choice with it. Lip plate or no lip plate, wedge or no wedge, offset holes or not, 6 or 8 holes, color, key and a nice man to do business with, etc. 
You don’t get any of those choices with the Dixon.
*Edited to say that Henke, I’d love to hear you play the Dixon and read your thoughts on it. Put the whiskey down and give 'er a go. 
I haven’t played a Dixon flute, but I have a 3 pieces Tipple flute without wedge nor lip-plate, and I can assure you that it’s a great flute…
Think you might have caught Henke just a little too late, Tiff! He was probably sawing wood by the time you wrote this, 3 hours later! 
And to the point of the post:
Get a Tipple!!! You’ll never regret it!!! There is something to be said for an easy playing flute (which Tipples are), versus the little harder to play 2 piece Dixon (A beginner will be less frustrated by the easier playing flute, unless they are a much more driven musician (probably Henke fits this description).
Besides, the Tipple sounds better too, in my opinion. Get a flute, and let 'er rip!
Unless you have tiny hands, then you might have to rethink it-like possibly starting on a higher key like F or Eb, but then I’d surely go with the Tipple again.
PS Denny, or anyone else-are you seeing what I’m seeing-my font is larger than the rest? What the?
Danged doubled magnified, and petrified post!
Yeah, I’m seein’ it. I thought you changed it on purpose. All I can think of is to make sure your “Font size” drop-down box is set to normal.
Thanks Tiff, (and double too!) yes it was set to normal! I changed my regular email setting this morning, when I wrote to you about an unrelated matter-so maybe this is connected? Dang’ computers!!!
Oh well, I don’t care now-it’s back to normal! Just a little frustrating, that’s all!
I was wondering about the double post…17 minutes apart
was the 2nd one large font before you edited it?
Yep! Looked identical-didn’t see the time thing, and don’t know how it reverted either! Gremlins! That’s my theory.
thought so!
what did you do, font wise, between 6:45 & 7:30
or whatever the times are on the first post and the edit of the 2nd
I’d blame it on microsoft…whatever is goin’ on…(SOP)
I assume we’re talking about the cylindrical DIxon and not the three piece conical model.
If we’re talking cylindrical black PVC, Dixon I’d vote Tipple too.
Doc
It’s this sequence of tags with [/b] on the end
[quote][b]This is a test[/quote][/b]
like this
This is a test
that seems to leave everything after it … uh, swollen. Like this. 
Strictly nesting the tags like this
[quote][b]This is a test[/b][/quote]
seems to fix the problem. Like this.
OK, I like your Gremlins explanation better!
Thanks MT and Denny for the help! No, I like your explanation better, MT-it feels better knowing what fangled thing messed it all up! Still don’t know how I managed it, and the double post, but…that we’ll leave to the gremlins, OK?!! 
you are such a smart a..
okay, I didn’t see the closing tag order error 
so how ya want to handle the times for the double post? 