I do not know what it is, but I sure like some of the awesome sounds that I hear from the Irish Flute. I am learning to play the Irish Whistle and find it enjoyable but years ago a I used to play the basic concert flute and am thinking about giving the Irish flute a try. It seems to me that the sounds of a side blown flute may be able to produce more expression and or some really neat sounds as compared to the whistle. Please correct me if I am wrong. Don’t get me wrong. The Irish whistle can produce some beautiful sounds also that is why I have four of them and enjoy them very much. I am thinking about selling a whistle or two and picking up on an inexpensive flute so I thought before I did that I would see what type of info or advice I could get from some of the members of the flute forum. Thanks for any advice.
Scottie
well we’re certainly not prejudiced toward the flute here…
a somewhat US centric look:
Get a Doug Tipple ( ≈ $100 ), or a delrin: Dave Copley ( ≈ $400 ) or Rob Forbes ( ≈ $400 )
someone will come along in a bit and explain all of the pros and cons to delrin… I would say that it requires no maintenance and sounds like wood.
Not that there’s anything wrong with having a couple of Billy Miller bamboos about the place…
But you should see if you put the time into developing yer embouchure
before ya spend too much on something that you’ll end up passing on.
Seems like a lot of whistlers take up the Irish Flute at some point, so you’ll walk a well trod path.
I’ve looked at Tipple Flutes myself, they get great reviews and are really affordable.(And he now makes them in black PVC.)
http://sites.google.com/site/dougsflutes/
Casey Burn’s Folk Flutes are wood and less than $400.
I’ve spotted them at my my local session and they are beautiful looking and sound great
http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com/ff.php
Sooo…What whistles ya gona put up for sale? 
So-o-o, welcome to the hard, dark (tone) side. 
Bob
While I know some great whistle players who stick with whistle, for many of us it’s a gateway instrument to the Irish flute. I’d say go for it…jump right in. If you played concert flute in the past, you have a leg up on many new Irish flute players.
There is no versus. There is only do. 
[yodavoice=“MTGuru”] Whistle or Flute not. There is no try. [/yodavoice]
I’m pretty new at ITM too and started with whistles and have a Copley delrin and Ward Mopane flute. Maybe you should keep your whistles and go for the flute too. Both are equally expressive you just can just say things differently with each of them. The Copley delrin is awesome, but I’m prejudiced.
Enjoy the ride!
I agree with janmarie. When I got into the whole ITM thing back in April, I started with both flute and whistle (actually, started with fiddle.. then saw a McGoldrick Vid). I practice the flute more at home, but take the whistles when I go out or work late, as they are considerably more durable and relatively maintenance-free.
Thanks to everyone for your advice it is greatly appreciated.
Scottie