Dominic Allan 8 Key Review

Irish Flute
1

Well, having had a month or so now to play a new flute by Dominic Allan, wanted to post my thoughts on this excellent instrument. First of all, the flute is a small holed model, requiring a relatively minimal amount of air to keep a strong tone going - while not a session powerhouse, it nonetheless projects quite well in a group of instruments. I had Dom specially design the embouchure to match the dimensions and depth of an M&E. It’s blackwood with faux ivory rings and cap inset. The workmanship is outstanding, on par with any of the popular top makers out there, and the tuning is spot on. The keys are pin mounted quite ergonomically designed, and even the low C plays very strong. This is the first keyed flute I’ve owned, and am surprised how quickly I’ve been able to adapt to using them and start learning new kinds of tunes. The tone has a sweet, reedy cast to it, at least the way it comes out to me, and I’ve uploaded some tunes to http://www.tinwhistletunes.com/clipssnip/flute.html to give an idea how it sounds played by an amateur - This flute fits me to a tee and is highly recommended to anyone who is looking for top craftsmanship and playability (This is BTW a lefty model) Having gone through quite a few of the top name flutes out there, I’m down to this flute and a Jon C customized keyless RR M&E to cover my range of playing - Tod

Headjoint (Custom eccentric)

Long & Short F Keys (single hole)

Low C, C# keys

2

I got to place this baby the other day, this is a very nice flute! It’s design is very close to the D’Almaine that I have, at least as far as the hole spacing and size of the flute.
The keys are very artfully done. The leaf shaped touches and the combo long/short F keys is very interesting. I couldn’t get into the keys, as they are on the other side of the flute… :blush: The craftmanship is top notch!

3

I have an old Mollenhauer flute with the same F mechanism – the long-F is just a lever that lifts the short-F key. I found it curious, too, I guess it allows them to drill one less hole and mess with seating one less pad. I like it because the short-F key points away from you rather than toward you, which I always find clumsy.

4

Looks like a nice Flute.

5

Tod, the flute looks really nice, and the sound samples are great too, great woody tone.
why did i think you got the flute long time ago? did it take longer then you initially expected?
anyway - really nice, a flute worth waiting for.
eilam.