Has anyone had an opportunity to play this flute? I’m a new to the flute and looking for a first serious but not too expensive flute. Especially one that can knock around because these things are addictive and get taken everywhere.
The Dixon polymer is a great choice…real bang for the buck. I’m fairly new to Irish trad, but I’ve played classical flute for 14 years, and I really like the Dixon. Nice tone, plays easily, comfortable finger spread/tone holes aren’t too big, and it’s probably indestructible.
The Whistle Shop offers them for under $200.
This is my main practice flute as it’s indestructable. I also have a Copley Blackwood. The dixon will teach you proper embouchure and it has great tone and is easy to fill and play. I have had many people responde with surprise at how wood like it sounds. It’s a great flute and I highly recommend it.
I’ve had my Dixon poly. for about four months now,and i love it! nice tone,fairly easy finger spread,small holes-great if you don’t have ‘hands like shovels’! Its maintenance free,so no worries about cracks developing,weather too dry,or too wet, etc.If you want a good sounding,worry-free flute that is SERIOUSLY GOOD VALUE,then i reckon this is it! MY only problem is that i don’t practice enough!
Micah, Craig, Kevin,
Did you record any sound samples? I’m quite interested in the Dixon but I’d like to hear it, first.
\
The only talent I believe in is the ability to persevere in one’s studies.
Miyagawa, professional Go player
[ This Message was edited by: ChrisB on 2002-07-16 06:09 ]
Hi Chris,i personally haven’t recorded any samples yet, but i CAN direct to one.It’s on the ‘clips and snips’ site - if you haven’t visited it before,then just follow chiff links,or the link in any of tony Higgins posts on this site to reach a whole load of fellow flute,whistle,pipes and whatever enthuisiasts.check under the jigs listing for a jolly little set ,"what would you do if you married a soldier/the road to Ballinakill"recorded on 05/28/02 by Matt DIAZ(a fellow chiff & fipple contributor)who is playing the Dixon poly.,oak d whistle and guitar,though not all at once,i hope!
I havn’t yet posted anything and I don’t have any recording equipment. I might add that when I played with others they mentioned my flute a bit off key. I didn’t hear it but like a good student I let my instructor take my flute and exended the tuning slide all the way out revealing lots of cork. It looks very lame that way so I don’t play with groups anymore. I play along with Kevin Creavens album using slowCd transciber by adjusting the pitch to be in D rather than Eflat. When I play along with that albums or any other I think I sound in key. (by the way I think my ears are good because I always sing in key). I think that experience might have been a result of my embouchure because I was new.
Anyway It’s a great flute and It sounds great to me and others that hear me play.
Good luck.
- Craig
[ This Message was edited by: CraigMc on 2002-07-16 17:04 ]
I’m glad to have found this forum. I’ve thought of picking up the flute too (in addition to the other instruments I play), but as I don’t really know anything about flutes I need advice from knowledgeable people… My main alternatives are Desi Seery and Dixon, and today someone suggested M & E, however the Dixon are available in Sweden (where I live), and from your postings, I can see that it might be a good flute for me (as a real beginner).
Jeff Lindqvist
Hi Jeff,i hope my comments regarding the Dixon flute have been of assistance to you.I haven’t tried the Seery or M&E flutes personally,but if you search the archives of this forum you will find lots of information on these makers’ instruments from more experienced players than me. May i particularly draw your attention to 'peeplej’s own website (link on his posts onthis forum)-he gives his opinion of the pros and cons of the Seery and the ‘old style’ M&E., plus some sound samples to help you compare.The Dixon is quite a bit cheaper than both of these flutes,though i DO like the look of the new M&E ‘Rudall and Rose’ flute! Whatever choice you make,from what i have read,you should end up owning a very enjoyable instrument.Welcome to the board!
If you’d like to here the dixon in the hands of a beginner, I made a recording of Ned of the Hills (Eamonm a Chnoic) using a Dixon 3 piece polymer flute. You can find in
Clips](http://nwparalegal.com/clipssnip/new.html%3EClips) and Snips - New Players area
Hope this gives you an idea. It actually sounds a lot better when I’ve had other’s play it.
Hi Lee,
I’d be happy if I could be able to produce music like that as a beginner… Yes, I’m thinking of getting a Dixon.
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for the warm welcome. I visited James Peeples’ site which you recommended. As I’ve said, I’m thinking of getting a Dixon to begin with. In 10 years or so, I might have found out whether I’m going to be a flute player or not…
Thanks Jeff,
I got the flute last Christmas, so I am definitely still a beginner. I haven’t been able to practice as much as I would like to; but, that’s about to change. I hope, when my wife and I move to our new house next months. I’m trying to arrange it so I’ll have a ‘music room’. Even if it’s just a converted small bedroom, it’ll be a place where I can practice without disrupting other folks.
You might want to do a search. A while back one of our members did a review of the polymer/composite flutes: Dixon, Seery, and M&E flutes. She owned and played all three.
Good luck, hope this help you …
Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh
[ This Message was edited by: LeeMarsh on 2002-07-25 22:10 ]
Hello again Jeff, pleased you found James’ site helpful’i certainly think that he provides some good information, both there and on this board.A poly. flute would probably serve you best as a beginner- you don’t have those maintenance ‘problems’ of wood-possibly something to consider if the Swedish climate is very variable (i don’t think we covered that in school geography lessons!).The Dixon suits me fine,as i think it will also take me AT LEAST ten years to be any kind of a flute player,and i know that in a decade’s time it will still be as good as new! Also, thanks to Lee from me too for his ‘Clips and snips’ posting on the Dixon.
Someone asked me off-line about finger spacing on the Dixon 3 piece polymer. First let me say its much easier than the on piece PVC that dixon makes. The 3 piece is conical designed flute that is machined from polymer rod stock (the 1 piece model is made from tube stock).
I made the measurement with just a regular ruler so rather than guese at 32nd or 64th if it looked somewhere in the middle I put the range, if it looked almost exact I put a single measure.
Here are the approximate measurements in inches.
Finger => hole size.
- left hand index =>4/16-5/16
- left hand middle =>4/16-5/16
- left hand ring => 4/16
- right hand index =>4/16
- right hand middle = 5/16-6/16
- right hand index = 4/16
Approximate distance between holes on center.
- left hand Index-middle => 1 6/16 - 1 7/16
- left hand middle-ring => 1 6/16 - 1 7/16
- right hand index-middle => 1 5/16 - 1 6/16
- right hand middle-index => 1 7/16
This should give you an approximate feel for the stretch. I don’t have large hands and I don’t have any problems with it. I do not use finger tips in playing, I rather use the meat of the pad. This is mostly be cause the left hand tips have thick callouses from playing stringed instruments (guitar) using the pad of same joint instead of the tip gives me a better feel for getting clean seals on the finger holes.
Hope this helps you …
Thank you everyone for your responses. I have decided to get a Dixon. I placed my order with the Whistle Shop. They sent their usual note about not knowing when they will have it in stock and that they will have to contract Tony Dixon to find out when he will ship. I have come to the conclusion that they order when we order, good business practice on their part a little frustrating ours but nothing we can’t live with.
Hi Wizzer,nice to hear that you are going for the Dixon poly.,i’m sure that you will be very pleased with it when it arrives.I bought mine direct from Tony Dixon,and also purchased a very good fitted hard flute case from him for £24 sterling,which i think is good value.I’ve just posted ‘Boolavogue’ on ‘clips and snips’ which probably sums up the standard of my flute playing so far(weak second register and all!),but it might be of interest to you,as to what the Dixon poly. sounds like in the hands of a beginner who doesn’t practice enough!
[ This Message was edited by: kevin m. on 2002-07-27 02:32 ]
Hello all. New here too.
I was going to ask what would be a decent but inexpensive Irish flute to start with but now I know. I’ve been playing traditional flute for 23 years. Have been into all different types of music focusing mostly on the hammered dulcimer, flute, autoharp and harmonica.
I’d like to get into the Irish flute. Can they be purchased in stores or only online?
I bought mine direct from Tony.As i’ve mentioned before,Tony has provided a great service both times i,ve dealt with him,service was quick(nothing’s worse than waiting for a new instrument is there?),and he seems to be a genuinly nice guy.What more could you want? regards.
I know, this is just more of the same, but I got my Dixon just after Christmas and I love it. Very soon, I was getting a good sound (nice enough to entertain myself and not drive my family away–actually, my wife likes to hear me play).
In February, I was involved in an accident at work which cost me my leg. During my recovery, I have had lots of time to practice and I found another benefit. There were times when the pain was hard to endure, but it seemed to go away when I played the flute, so I spent a lot of time playing it. There were days when I did little else. I came to call it my “magic flute” (after Mozart) due to that quality. It has been well worth the cost.
One final note is in response to a previous post about being off key. Using my electronic tuner, my Dixon is in tune with the head joint out slightly. That allows me to tune to other instruments if I need to.