flute makers
I’m on the search for a good quality key flute maker .
Can anyone recommend the top 4 or 5 makers ?
I’ve been told Watson is good ! what is your opinion ?
all advice much appreciated.
Rgds
p
I’ve had great success with Casey Burns, he added five silver keys to my flute, I already had the Eb key in place. Beautiful work, rapid turn around time, easy to discuss your needs with, honest. He’s very skilled, knows his business.
Cheers,
Don Morgan
Well if have you patience, and are prepared to wait a few years for some, there are makers such as Chris Wilkes, Pat Olwell, Michael Grinter, Glen Watson, Hammy Hamilton, Tom Aebi, Terry McGee, John Gallagher, Eamonn Cotter, Casey Burns, Martin Doyle all making very good timber keyed flutes that are in tune, made of good quality materials, and nicely finished.
I’ve heard that Glen Watson makes very good flutes. Haven’t tried one myself yet. Sounds fine on Glen’s website where Harry Bradley plays some tunes http://www.watsonflutes.com/products.html
http://www.aebi-flutes.com/index.php/en/
http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com/cat_silver.php
http://www.hamiltonflutes.com/Catalogue.html
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com
http://gallagherflutes.com
http://wilkesflutes.co.uk/Site/Home.html
http://www.martindoyleflutes.com
Couldn’t find a website for Cotter, Grinter (just a page with address, tel.nr.)
Aside from the maker’s quality, there are other variables to consider, such as wait time, price, and customs charges/exchange rate for international orders. Where are you located, what’s your budget, and how long are you willing to wait? That’ll narrow the options some.
To the markers above, I’d Dave Copley. Fine flutes, competitively priced, and quickly delivered. I’m very happy with mine.
And to widen the options again, here’s Jem’s list:
https://sites.google.com/site/cfwoodenflutemakerslist/
I hear Rudall Rose & Co made some pretty nice flutes. 
Ah, those old things ?
Best wishes.
Steve
There’s a 6 key Eamonn Cotter for sale in Co. Limerick just now if you’re after a good keyed flute.
http://www.donedeal.ie/brassandwind-for-sale/eamonn-cotter-flute/5570814
There’s also an 8 key Grinter for sale in Co. Roscommon
http://www.donedeal.ie/brassandwind-for-sale/grinter-flute-fully-keyed/5542401
and a 6 key Murray for sale in Co. Clare
http://www.donedeal.ie/brassandwind-for-sale/sam-murray-6-key-boxwood-flute-mint-cond/5559178
A 3 key Martin Doyle for sale in Wexford
http://www.donedeal.ie/brassandwind-for-sale/martin-doyle-3-keyed-flute-in-d/5497990
and a 6 key Hammy Hamilton for sale in Co. Clare
http://www.donedeal.ie/brassandwind-for-sale/hammy-hamilton-6-key-custom-flute/5371408
I would buy the Grinter. Then you would have anything you need 
Provided you like it and it suits you..
Instruments are a good example of things you shouldn’t by based on brand/maker alone IMO.
This an old discussion we had already. You have the choice to buy or to try at a session which doesn’t give the full expérience. In order to find out if a flute suits you, you would have to be able to try them all out for an extended period of time. Like Frank said once : I did it my way…
I’m very much hoping to see the name David O’Brien start showing up on these lists. I just received the flute I commissioned in May (only three months, folks), and it’s fantastic!
I believe the O’Briens, (father and son), make as good a flute as any maker out there — at a fair price, without the drama. We are lucky indeed to have a lot of good choices these days.
"I’m very much hoping to see the name David O’Brien start showing up on these lists. I just received the flute I commissioned in May (only three months, folks), and it’s fantastic! " crooked tune.
Nice sounding flutes, and nice playing. I hadn’t heard about these flute makers before
A few years ago, looking for a desk for the teenager in hope he’d study, we were in Ryan’s furniture in Ennis. It was a dreary saturday afternoon and the furniture displayed in a big,damp, hall at the back of a small industrial estate.
Finding nothing we wandered around when a woman came in with a little girl carrying a flute case. The shop attendant asked the girl what she had there. It was a flute they had just collected from the O’Briens in Barefield. ‘Can I have a little try?’ the man asked and commenced to fill the hall with lovely powerful fluteplaying, bouncing it of the walls from end to end.
Sometimes you find beauty when you least expect it.
Now that is a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it.