Currently offered for adoption is a Reviol flute of Rosewood with brass rings and 2-piece body. SOLD.
This is a very well made flute and I really like the Rosewood & Brass. She’s also very light and feels good in the hands.
The tone is lovely and the intonation is very good. This is definitely a big-bore flute, with a big clear tone. I think this is the 2nd most powerful flute I’ve ever played (#1 Original Hawkes). The upper range is surprisingly sweet and the response is incredible (for this large of a bore and holes).
I think this flute would best service a competent unabashed session player, looking to be heard!
The flute is in excellent shape and doesn’t even have a scratch on it. The original varnish finish has been removed and an oil finish applied. The tennons have been threaded. I personally prefer these two modifications.
First I use Refined Flaxseed Oil (Artist Grade) to penetrate into the wood. Then after that oil drys, I rub the flute with Walnut Oil and remove the excess. Caution, if you apply a heavy coat of Walnut Oil and allow it to dry, you get a really sticky mess.
Refined Flaxseed Oil is the best penetrating oil I’ve found for most woods. It is also a drying oil, which I like. It can build if you paint it on. But I’ve had flutes for years that never developed much of a surface with regular anointings with Refined Flaxseed Oil. The only real downside is that some find the odor offensive.
Walnut Oil (Food Grade) is very nice and provides more of a glossy finish. It also seeps into the grains and provides good coverage. The resulting texture is also very good, not slick nor tacky.
I tend to think of the Refined Flaxseed Oil as a finish and the Walnut Oil as a moisturizer.
BTW: I believe the Reviol is still available. I have a trade offer which I will accept if no one comes forth ready to buy her.
Thanks for your info on the oil. I use food-grade Almond Oil with some Vitamin E added. I’ve never tried Walnut Oil.
How is the finger spread? Like, how many inches from embouchure hole to farthest hole? In a trade, are you looking for just a flute?
I also consider Almond Oil a moisturizer. But I never cared much for it, it didn’t seem to soak into the wood. I reguarded it as a wipe on rub off proceedure, where very little oil remained.
Hey Aanvil,
I’ve got some flutes that I’ve been using Walnut Oil on for over 2-years and they never get tacky. This is why I used the term annoint the flute with oil, a very light coating and even then excess is rubbed off within an hour.
Walnut Oil was recommended to me by Mark Hoza.
Hey Jon,
The commercial bore oils taste horrible, so they are not for use on the exterior of the flute. So the debate continues!
Seriously, the bore of the Reviol is in excellent condition. When I pulled the cork from the head, the contrast between the top section (cork to cap) and the down-bore end was minimal. There appeared to be minimal bore erosion. I would venture to say there was less erosion than typically occures within a year of use of most of my other wooden flutes. This Reviol flute was made in Dingle, so it is at least 3 years old and I would venture to say at least 4 years. So I believe the condition of the bore is a testiment to the commercial bore oil that was originally applied.
