Every once in awhile I can’t seem to fill my Olwell at all. It sounds as if there’s a crack in it somewhere, but after checking I’ve ruled that out.
I THINK it MAY happen when the air temperature is really low (comparatively). Is that a possibility? Any other suggestions?
Thanks,
Jeff
When air temp is cold, condensation builds up faster in the bore, which can make the flute less responsive.
However…
If an Olwell is playing like it has a leak, it probably has a leak.
Check the head cork, tuning slide, and any pads.
–James
What do you mean by “sounds as though there’s a crack somewhere”? If the crack is anywhere cracks are common – nead, neck, i. e., places where there’s metal inside the wood – the first symptom would be really sensitive octave jumping at the bottom. If, OTOH, there’s a hissing sound, then I would concur with the theory that it’s related to temperature and condensation. I have a dickens of a time in the winter with condensation on the blowedge. I have to blow the damn thing out every set of tunes or between movements. I hope that one of these years I can play for an hour at a stretch, toward the end of which the flute will be fully warmed up and I won’t have to blow the damn thing out so often.
As usual, Charlie is right. If the flute sounds muted and is less responsive, chances are there is condensation in the bore and/or on the blow edge itself. Both are constant trouble for me. I find my flutes like it hot 
…which is a real problem where I live.
Paul
The problem is in getting a good tone. The e and d notes are particularly difficult. At times the d doesn’t even really sound. I adjust emboucher, not much change. I know there exists, bad emboucher days, in which for whatever reason, my mouth just isn’t going to produce a good emboucher.
It also slips into the second octave when I don’t want it to. Basically, I blow it out and try again. I can get the tone for a second but then it “leaves.” I’ll check more thoroughly for a crack. I’ll need some crisis intervention if my baby is broken.
Thanks for the input.
Jeff
Sounds like a leak to me. Maybe in the cork or upper section of the flute. Try doing a “suck test” on the head joint. Are the joints loose? Is this a keyed flute? If so check the keys to make sure they are sealing.
I’m with those suspicious of a crack. There are extra sneaky cracks in sockets that only show up when the pieces are put together, so do the suck test on each piece as Jon has suggested, then do it on pairs.
To test the condensation theory, play it till it’s well lined with water droplets, run your cleaning rod through it, reassemble and play again. With the surface pores filled with water, but no droplets to cause aerodynamic problems, it should play like a rocket.
Have you had another player try it to see if it’s you or it? Or are you having better success on another flute?
And try blowing down more towards the centre of the flute (as if trying to dislodge some rice on your chin). That can help avoid overblowing into the second octave.
Terry
Please let us know the outcome.
Yeah, if it’s not your embouchure, I too would suspect one or more leaks. Headjoint cork, cracks, leaky pads on keyed flutes, leaks at the socket/tennon connection due to torn or ill fitting cork or not enough/uneven threading. Sometimes a pin hole leak can occur where a maker previously filled a tiny defect hole in the wood, and the plug has become dislodged. Previously fixed cracks re-opening, and so on.
Cracks/leaks can come in all sorts of forms.
OTH, lots of condensation in the bore does cause significant problems for some folks who blow a certain way, so take Terry’s advice and swab out the headjoint when the problem occurs, and then try again - if you can immediately play those bottom notes solidly again after swabbing, then most likely it’s you, and not the flute.
Good Luck,
Loren
Well, we’re having a real cold streak here. It simply doesn’t get any colder than it is now and I was able to fill the instrument w/ no real problems. This tells me it’s an episodic problem and not a crack. Maybe I just can’t bear the idea that my prized possession is damaged.
I’m thinking maybe when I’m real tired my emboucher just falls away.
Thanks to all who took the time out to respond.
Best regards,
JeffS
In both cases we get to choose the ink
I think that maybe you have something there. When my lips get tired, I can’t get sound out of a coke bottle, much less a flute, although it’s much, much better than it used to be. Now I find that after I get settled in, I can play with little effort, other than the never-ending battle with breath control. The longer I play, the easier it gets, up to a point… After that point, everything seems to fall off (tuning, tone, lips…).
dow wrote: “Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently motivated fool.”
I’ve seen something similar, attributed to Henry Ford: “It’s difficult to make something foolproof because fools are so ingenious.”
I concur with the embouchure going to hell theory. I’ve been playing mostly in short spurts for some time, and find that I totally lose the bottom if I play for much more than half an hour straight. At that point I can feel the tension in my lips – there’s no relaxing but still keeping the airstream directed.
Consistent (daily) practice of Looooooooooong Tones with proper breath support and mindfulness on keeping a precisely focused, but somewhat relaxed embouchure, can help tremendously with this. Try 2 x 15 minutes a day for 10 - 14 days, you’ll be amazed at what a difference it will make.
Loren