Noble sentiments, Conical Bore, but you should not feel the least bit guilty. Let’s imagine a case of sweet young Miss who has been successfully playing whistle, and decides to take up flute. The flute elders at her session convince her she needs a Prattens, because that’s what they all play. They overlook the fact that they are hulking 6 foot monsters, with barrel chests, enormous hand-spans and big fat fingers, and she is a diminutive elf, with tiny hands and not a lot of chest capacity. So she buys a Prattens.
And, to avoid bringing in other makers who may not enjoy being part of our discussion, let’s assume she buys a McGee Prattens!
She struggles, and she struggles and she struggles and she struggles. And she blames herself. She’s obviously a crap flute player. And about a year later, as she still struggles and still blames, a chap shows up at her session with a GLP (sorry - shorthand for a McGee flutes Grey Larsen Preferred. Small bore, small holes. The other end of my range from the Prattens.) Looking at the finger holes, the Prattens Elders make some snide comments about it, but she sweetly asks the owner if she can try it out. He quickly obliges, and goes on to play his other flute. Um, let’s say a McGee Rudall 5088.
Suddenly she’s entranced. It’s like magic in her hands. Everything she asks it to do it does. She sets it down for a minute and tries her Prattens again. Too big. Back to the GLP - just right. OK, she needs one.
But what to do with the Prattens? On her salary, she can’t just keep acquiring flutes. The old one has to go before the new one replaces it. This is where we need an ecosystem to move flutes along until they find their right home. Someone will love that Prattens, we just have to find that person. And that’s why an organised, knowledgeable, safe and reliable second-hand market such as the Irish Flute Store is essential, not just for players, but for makers too. We makers do our best to match players and models, but we’re not on site. There’s a limit to what we can discern and advise. Especially if the purchaser is a newby and doesn’t appreciate the differences bores and fingerholes bring.
I’ve often said: there is no “best” flute. There is the flute that suits you best. It’s your job to find it. A good second-hand market will help you find that flute.
P.S. As an unapologetic romantic, I’m hoping the young Miss and the visiting flute player chap exchanged phone numbers and stayed in touch. And a relationship grew. And, that any minute now, we’re going to get an update. Great, says Terry McGee the flute maker. Those kids are going to need flutes…