I recently got a Dixon Three piece polymer flute and i’m really finding that the E is pretty naff.
I’m fairly new to the transverse flute so i don’t expect miracles, but is this E normally a problem on the Dixon.
Thanks for any help.
The E is a little dicey on conical flutes in general. I don’t recall the E being a problem on the Dixon that I used to have.
hmmm, i have a dixon 3-piece and have not noticed any problem with the E. perhaps its time to ask the seller for some advice.
The Dixon is a pretty low level flute, even as plastic flutes go. I own one that I use for practice when I am travelling. I enjoy mine, it is in tune up and down two octaves, and gets a few third-octave notes as well. It is fast and can get a groove going. The “E” is definitely a problem with the one I own as well. But for under $200, I’m not about to complain (too loudly!).
if contacting the seller doesn’t make you any wiser, then contact tony dixon …
but first work on it for a little while, look for your hand postures and try to work on relax your fingers and grip.
that does a lot for this flute (also have one I play dailyand sounds fine now.)
berti
I’ve owned two of these; no problem with the E.
Contact Dixon, I suggest, too.
I thought the Dixon 3 pce was around £190 sterling.
It is if you buy it in the UK from Tony or through Hobgoblin (where I bought mine originally)
Hi All
Thanks for your comments. Duly noted. It seems a couple of people have noticed a problem with the E and the rest haven’t.
The flute in question i got second hand for £35 (bargain bucket).
Anyway, i took it all apart yesterday and gave it a good looking over and found some roughness inside the head, so i sanded it out with 600 grade wet and dry on a dowel. I thought it was the actual wall of the flute that was rough but once i started sanding it it seems that it was some gunky stuff that had got up in there and set hard. It’s all removed and smooth again now.
While i was on i gave the whole flute a good scrubbing inside with detergent, and also replaced the tenon wraps so they’re good and solid again as they were quite loose.
Anyway, to cut it short, i’m getting a much clearer sound overall on the lower octave and the lower E is sounding much better and in line with the other notes. But i’m beginning to see that it’s when i can’t hit the notes cleanly that it’s the E that suffers the most probably through having the smallest tone hole. My upper octave is still pretty lousey and the upper E is still sounding a lot worse than the surrounding notes.
Once again, thanks for you advice. I think that it’s me who has some practicing to do. 
Flute is not an easy insturment just keep working.
But the dixon really is not hard to “get”, wait and see where you are in six months! you are in for surprises if practicing long enough every day… 
SO…dive in!!!
berti