Thoughts, recommendations on a top shelf F flute?
Check with Tony Milyard. Please note he makes Marching Band flutes tuned to A=452 Hz. This may not be for you. However, he also makes traditional flutes pitched at A=440, and occasionally has flutes in F on hand.
Bob
edit to add: I see Dave Copley also offers flutes in F.
I have an M&E keyless ‘delrin’ type in ‘F’, nice player, quite loud, but also quite heavy - cost about £200 when bought a few years ago, not sure if you would call that top shelf…
Ian Corrigan
https://soundcloud.com/holmesflute/tap-room-reels-on-corrigan-f-pratten-oct-2015-d-wood-guitar
https://soundcloud.com/holmesflute/acrobat-hp-f-pratten-corrigan-copy
I have a lovely one from Hammy, but he is not taking orders. I also have a (Ralph or Walt?) Sweet one (available for sale…) which is nice too, though I like the Hammy more. The difference in price is reflected in their quality.
I have one of Dave Copley’s in delrin. It is awesome!
John Gallagher - the best F flute I’ve ever played.
Lots of people are playing the Carbony F flutes, which are a good price - I think in large part because Sean Gavin plays one.
I’ve personally been curious about F flutes by Millyard, Lejeune, Copley, and Gabos (there’s one on irishflutestore). Maybe I’ll order one someday…
If you’re on FB, here’s Kevin Crawford playing a Lejeune: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.crawford.106/videos/10221719198756588.
I’ve heard great things about the Gallagher F flutes–I wonder what a typical wait list time might be. I’ve also heard great things about the Copley.
Thank you all for sharing your experience and recommendations.
The best way to find out the waiting time is to contact John Gallagher.
I honestly don’t think you can get a better F flute - probably you can get ones equally as good.
It is my fortune to be the proud owner of an original 8 key Rudall and Rose F flute from 1832. It is an absolute corker!!!
Flutesoftheforest, wow. What a treasure, indeed. I wonder what venue would have used an F flute in that era? Orchestra?
I would have thought that most early to mid 19th century flutes were intended for orchestral or at least band use.
There are more tenor Bb flutes by Rudall and Rose that have survived than F flutes. In fact I know of no other 8 key F flutes by R&R!
It is only in the 20th century that these early flutes were adopted and adapted for ITM.
Flutesoftheforest
An 8-key version of an F flute does seem unusual. Back in those days, one tended to see flutes made for military purposes, and flutes made for concert purposes (hence the expression “concert flute”). Military flutes were in the keys Bb, Eb and F (to go with the brass instruments). They were cheaply made, in boxwood with (typically 4) brass keys and fittings, whereas concert flutes were in D (xxx xxx), in cocus with silver fittings, until later when German (nickel) silver snuck in.
BUT, there were exceptions, and perhaps yours is one. Sometimes military flute players reached a level of performance that they were sought after as concert performers (they had jumped the fence!) and so they needed flutes with wider range and the full key compliment.
Tell us more about your flute. Cocus? Silver keys? Serial no and address?
My Rudall and Rose F flute is #2021. The address is No. 15 Piazza, Covent Garden, London. It is cocuswood with ivory rings and ferrules. I have a R&R D flute in the same style (#3632) which is medium /small holes. They are a stylistic match to the tenor Bb flutes you (Terry McGee) saw at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester on your tour some years back. Because I have links with the RNCM I was able to access their collection and photograph the three flutes (F, D and Bb) together. If you were interested I could email you a copy of the image. I find putting images onto C&F such a pain!
Ah, so more in this style:
(This one the 6-key Bb from RNCM Manchester) Clearly a much up-market flute from the military boxwood and brass instruments.
Because I have links with the RNCM I was able to access their collection and photograph the three flutes (F, D and Bb) together. If you were interested I could email you a copy of the image. I find putting images onto C&F such a pain!
Always interested in interesting flutes, so yes please! terry@mcgee-flutes.com
I have this cocus and silver Hawkes & Co flute that was restored by Hammy Hamilton:
It’s nice player. The long f key was lost and the hole has been plugged. Hammy made a new adjustable crown cap, and reworked the embouchure.
Does the Hawkes play at 440? Are there tuning issues with F flutes so that era. They sure are beautiful antiques.
The Hawkes & Co does play in 440, but the tuning slide needs to be out a ways - 12 or 13 mm.
I received it in pretty rough shape and sent it right off to Hammy for an overhaul. He re-shaped the embouchure and worked on the tuning (internal/external). It’s pretty smooth after a 10 min warm up. It feels great in the hands…responsive, dynamic. I’ve used it quite a lot in a Scottish Country Dance band.