From all my whistles I love playing the Bb the best, so I am pondering ordering a flute in that magic key. I am thinking of a keyless and slideless flute in wood, which should be easy to play. I do have long arms and big hands, so that should help.
Can you recommend any European makers making good Bb flutes with a waiting list of less than a year, say?
Thanks and happy tooting!
Hans
Tom Aebi is making Bb flutes now. Not sure how long his waiting list is, but his flutes are fantastic and I’m sure you’d be happy with it.
Tom Aebi is making Bb flutes now. Not sure how long his waiting list is, but his flutes are fantastic and I’m sure you’d be happy with it.
Tom has a couple of ready B flat flutes, that plays very easily. They are without tuning slide. You jusy have to contact him at flutes@freesurf.ch. It’s a great choice, if you don’t want to wait for a B flat from Chris Wilkes. He is a genius.
Regards
Lorenzo
The Aebi Bb flutes are conical including the headjoint, which is why they have no tuning slide. But this totally conical design allows the finger holes to be placed closer together than on other Bb flutes. So for people with small hands, the Aebi flute is an excellent choice.
As Lorenzo said, Chris Wilkes would be another excellent choice, although if you want keys you’ll most likely have to wait a few years. I’d also recommend Gilles Lehart for Bb flutes, and I think Hammy Hamilton is making them too.
Definitely Gilles Lehart, if you’re looking for Europeans. Why limit choices to the fine Old Worlders though? There are other good American or Austrailian choices, that are also world class. For time though, Lehart may be the best bet on any continent.
G
Just sent a second message to Tom Aebi–no answer so
far to the first. Best
So, how does one reach this fellow? Best
So, how does one reach this fellow?
Thomas Aebi
Breisacherstr. 68
Basel
Switzerland
flutes@freesurf.ch
Telephone number: international_swiss_phone_code + 061.692.55.82
Cheers
Lorenzo
Thanks, I’ll give him more time to
answer his e mail. If he doesn’t answer
I’ll look elsewhere. Probably skip
the transatlantic phone call.
If I do get some
info about his flutes, I’ll share it here.
It’s worth waiting for Tom. He’s one of the world’s leading makers of simple-system flutes. I’ve only seen one of his instruments myself, but it was fantastic, and I know several good flute players who say Aebi flutes are among the best they’ve ever played.
Still nothing. Oh well, my wife is pleased. Best
I’m looking to get on a maker’s list for a D flute and just contacted Tom Aebi per the recommendations here (thanks Lorenzo!).
He sent me a response with an attached price list - it reads as follows:
Keyless D and Eb - 896.00 Euro
Not too bad! He said the wait for a keyless flute is 6 months to a year…hmmmm, maybe I have a new contender on ‘the short list’ 
The pictures are gorgeous - very-nice looking indeed. I’m sure they sound just as fantastic.
Regards,
Here’s Tom’s response to me. I take the
liberty of posting it as I can’t imagine
he would care. Helpful fellow.
Hello
thanks for your mail and interest.
I did have one bb for sale, but it is taken already.
It would be a pleasure to make you one.
At the moment my Bb documentation is not yet finished (that’s sort of
planned for my holidays)
but I can give some info in a few notes:
I make a “narrow” bore Bb of my own design. It is made for ease of
playing, hence with rather a short finger stretch and rel. small holes
(compared to Bbs of other makers). It has a very meaty and warm tone,
quite different from those Bb s of the 19th cent.
In a further attempt I’ll try to make a large bore Bb, but such one will
be rather hard to play without extra keys (like on the fl. M.Molloy
plays on his albums). But that’s music of the future.
My design is thought for playing tunes like on a D flute: with a rapid
response, rich tone and a strong low end.
currently I make a head and barrel in one piece without tuning slide.
New generation heads with slide are planned but not yet available.
Long foot or short foot (option: with register = short slide at the
bottom)
I can offer Bb flutes in blackwood or boxwood. Box is much more light in
weight and very responsive in tone. Blackwood is very sonorous.
Some of these details have not yet been fixed on my pricelist (see:
attachement).
For further questions, don’t hesitate to contact me again.
Best wishes
Tom
jstone@uno.edu schrieb:
\
Hi, I’ve heard on chiffandfipple that you have some
B-flat flutes available now. Any info is appreciated,
how much is one? What are they made of?
Whatever you might tell me would be helpful. Best, Jim Stone
Attachment #1: Pricelist neu Sept 02.doc
Attachment #2: Bild1.jpg
Jim, any chance you could post the contents of the pricelist (and perhaps even the picture) here?
Jens
I’ll try but I’m an idiot when it comes to
computers.
OK, I’m typing this in.
D and Eb keyless (no blocks) Euros 896
keyless with blocks 1105
Bb keyless euros 1035. Best