i want to prepare myself for low bflat flute, so i am asking members about tipple low b flat flute, any experience?(except mr. tipple, of course!)
i have interest to buy one made from dimple bore.i was listen michael eskin clip made on tipple low c flute, impressive!
i prefer inline holes (have enough big hands!)
any opinions are welcome, marin
Does Doug make a low Bb flute?
And, if so, why the heck don’t I have one?! 
Doc
I would have thought the reach would be too much to do a Bb on a cylindrical flute.
it seems, that he make.check his web page.
marin
Amazingly enough, there’s one in my home right now, waiting for me to review it. I believe it’s a new model. It’s in 3 pieces, with the copper tenons like his D flutes, and has ergonomically-placed fingerholes.
I really should have PMd Doug before i posted this, but i think he’ll forgive me. It’s been a busy week.
I’ve played a few (slow) tunes on it. The sound is beautiful, very full, loud and i guess some people would call “haunting”. No “wedge” for this one, so you have to give the higher notes an extra “push” to play them in tune.
The problem for me is the finger stretch. I have small hands. I can manage D flutes, but this one is beyond me. I can play it by using my pinkies (of both hands) in place of the ring fingers, though. Ironically, the ergonomic fingerholes are making it worse for me, because they force my hand to twist and stretch in weird ways.
The flute is very responsive, even in the low notes. If it wasn’t for my fingers not being long enough, i could easily play fast stuff on it.
I guess, if you have long fingers, give this flute a try.
I’ll try to get my act together and post a sound sample later this week.
Like Glauber, I am unable to play a cylindrical bore low Bb flute using my ring fingers. I also have small hands, so I have to use my pinkies. However, in Asia the solution to fingering large cylindrical bore flutes is to replace the two top index finger holes with two bottom thumb holes. I have a Vietnamese low C flute that is made this way. You finger the flute with your thumbs (merely rocking them to open the holes) and index and ring fingers of both hands. The middle fingers rest on the top of the flute to secure the flute and to hold your position. With this hole configuration it is very easy to finger a low Bb flute, even for a person with small hands.
Well, Doug, does this mean you are making a low C and a low Bb flute as part of your regular offerings?
Now, I’m wondering, since Glauber says he has a hard time with small hands, Michael Eskin had to use his pinkies too on the C, because he has small hands, and you, Doug have trouble with the Bb too for the same reason; did anyone get to try them that has normal size hands?
Oh, no! Just what I need, another Tipple Temptation!
(Repeating rapidly to self) "I have enough flutes. I have enough flutes. I have enough flutes. I have enough flutes…)
Barry, my webpage now includes my larger flutes with specifications. To partially answer your question about fingering, I am able to comfortably play the low C flute with the offset finger holes, without using my pinkies. If anyone has other questions about my flutes, please send me a PM or an email rather than ask the question here. Thank you.
Recently I sold an A bamboo bansuri flute to Hans in Scotland. It is a very large flute. It was an impossible flute for me, but Hans has large hands and can play it, he says.
Wow! Is that a low D fiddle you got sitting in your lap? Do you use piper grip on it? Or is that, like, the low C or Bb?
Next thing you know, somebody will come out with an Ipod the size of a toaster.
Thanks for your question, vomitbunny. The stringed instrument in my avatar photo is actually a 1/4 size cello. I have shifted the strings so that it will play an octave below the violin. I call it an octave fiddle. I have an article about it on my webpage for anyone who is interested.
thank’s to all, for your replays.
i only have one doubt now, to order low b flat with inline or offset holes?
i prefer inline holes to prepare myself for some wooden b flatflute in future. i played before (only short time!) chris willkes b flat flute and i haven’t any problem exept only D note in first octave (ring finger on my right hand).i supose that after i while a could play that note properly.
i play with pipers grip and i am almost 2 m tall ((1,97!)
maybe offset holes will be better to play D note (ring finger on my right hand), but i supose it will be not so good solution for G note (ring finger on my left hand)?
marin
Yes, now I remember reading about it. I must confess though, that I thought a cello played an octave below violin as it were. (we don’t have a lot of orchestras in the south, and I’ve very rarely set in with any cello players)
Sounds as if it would be mighty handy in a session. Sounds cool when fiddle players double parts in octaves as it is.
The cello is normally tuned an octave below the viola, which is tuned a fifth below the violin. The violin’s open strings are G, D, A, E. The strings for both the viola and the cello are C, G, D, A. The 1/4 size cello is such that you can remove the C string and add an E string to get G, D, A, E, which will be an octave below the violin.
Almost looks small enough to hold under your chin…
Let me guess. You can. If you use piper grip.
Not having tried the Tipple Bb, but judging from the measurements on the website, and comparing them with my bansuri low A, I think that it is possible to play the Tipple Bb if you have large hands and if you use piper’s grip. For that the holes should be inline rather than ergonomically offset. But if you prefer using the fingertips you need to use your right hand pinky instead of the ring finger, and then it would be better to have holes 3 and 6 slightly offset. But as I said I have not tried this flute, and all I say is without warranty that it will actually work for you 
. Consider ther Bb a mighty big beast. I think the low C is much more managable.
~Hans