I am selling a used low A Bansuri bamboo flute in mint condition made by Jeff Whittier in California. Jeff has been making bamboo flutes for 30 years, and he has sold flutes to numerous performing musicians around the world. Here is more information about Jeff and his flutes. http://www.shakuhachi.com/F-Bansuri.html
Specs for the flute: length = 31 inches, bore = 26 mm
Fingering: X (50mm) X (50mm) X_____X (35mm) X (58mm) X, inline holes
I purchased this flute from John here at C & F last week, and I paid $165 including the shipping expense. I am selling the flute (preferably in the USA) for $165 + $10 for priority mail shipping. The only reason that I am selling this beautiful and great sounding flute is that I am not able to cover the finger holes with any degree of comfort. This is the largest bass flute that Jeff makes, and it would be suitable for someone with larger hands than mine.
John told me that he purchased this flute directly from Jeff at his shop and that it was a flute from Jeff’s private collection. Jeff told John at the time that he believed it to be the finest low A Bansuri flute that he had ever made. The flute has a wonderful clear tone, and the bamboo is straight, beautifully textured, without a joint throughout its length, and thin walled, so that the flute weighs only 3.9 ounces. There is a cork stopper in the bore of the flute. The flute comes with a nice hard shell case, which on close inspection is actually a case for a pool cue.
The flute is a special flute bought directly from Jeff Whittier’s collection, not one of his general for sale models on the website.
He sold it to me for $150, then I bought the case. He also redid the binding for me.
The other aspect is, like I said, he felt it was the best low A bansuri that he ever made in 30 years of flute making, which may account for the price. I am not sure on the source of the bamboo. I believe he considered it to be his premium grade.
As far as fingering goes, you need to use the so-called piper’s grip, not the pads of the finger tips, Use of the second finger joints on the first two fingers of each hand and the finger tip pad of the third fingers makes the stretch more manageable. I have medium size hands and seemed to be able to manage fine. I measured my hands. From the base of the hand to the tip of the middle finger is 7.5 inches. The finger holes are a slight stretch but not uncomfortable to me. This is the kind of thing that develops with practice also.
It really is a superb instrument. The amazing thing is the incredible rich bass tonality of the flute. It also plays through 3 octaves, with fork fingering used for the high octave. This is because the bamboo naturally tapers at the foot, providing a natural conical bore.
The flute has been played but has no cracks or flaws.
It would appear that the A vent is not at the end of the flute but at a seventh “finger hole” on the side of the flute. Of course “finger hole” is academic because the hole is not reachable by any digit. If this is the case I would not be interested in this flute because I would prefer the unreachable A vent on the underside of the flute so that it can be played.
Yes thats standard. If you covered that port (I call it the A vent) with sticky tape or something you will get low G#/Ab. Personally I would prefer that vent on the underside so that it can be played in concert. If you were performing any raags with a D tonic on that flute (classical bansuri 3 finger tonic) in any of the following modes you would be able to play that low G#/Ab:-
Kalyan (Lydian)
Marwa
Pooravi
Todi.
If ever I ask you to custom make me a flute I would request that unreachable vent (port) to be on the underside.
Talasiga, since the small vent port is unreachable, in order to play the low G# you need to cover the hole. I assume that you do this with tape, while you are playing tunes that require the G#, and removing the tape for other modes. It goes without saying that the hole can be covered with tape wherever it is located. I don’t understand why you prefer it on the bottom and how you are able to cover it there if not with tape? On the current flute the small hole is located on what I would call the backside of the flute, not visible to anyone facing the player.
The bansuri flute doesn’t know it yet (It is still resting in its case), but it is about to be sent on a long journey across the Atlantic, though I am afraid that it will have to compete with bagpipes and get accustomed to having a little scone breath in its bore. Happy journey.
No! If you cover the hole with tape for the G#, you won’t be able to get the A. That’s why that unreachable hole is on the underside. Harsh Wardhan makes bansuris like this for Hariprasad Chaurasia. I don’t know about the smaller ones but the D, B and A all have underside unreachable hole.
The player who sits on the ground in a cross legged (or variant) position lowers the long flute so that the unreachable hole is covered when it touches some part of his leg, as and when required. It is an exquisite master touch.
Thanks for the information, Talasiga, about the unreachable vent hole. You confirmed my suspicion that the player must have to use his leg to cover that hole.
I admit, Talasiga, that I took your report at face value. If not with the leg, then just how do you cover the (unreachable) port on the underside of the flute?
No no. Its true. I have seen an expert bansuri player do this at close quarters. The large flute with the unreachable on the underside. Six holes covered on the bass A flute and next thing I hears the low G#. “How did you do that?” I asked - “you were playing A but you got G#!”
Smilingly the player showed his subtle manouver lowering the flute so that the underhole touched his right leg just above the knee. He also had D key and low B key flutes with the unreachable underhole.
For the privilege of your consideration for your future 8 vent flutes. …
Thanks, Talasiga. As my dad (90 years old) is fond of saying, a hint to the wise is sufficient. However, with the vent ports on the underside of the flute, I doubt whether many of my stateside players are going to be aware of the possibilities of using the right leg. And, as well, we are not accustomed to playing the flute in a cross-legged position. It is a good thought, anyway.
I am not trying hard to convince you of anything - you know your market.
When I hinted that to you I had in mind Westerners seated on a chair and just tipping the D flute ever so slightly for that very occasional low C# or C grace note against their thigh. The flute could come with a little screw in plug for the “excess” underside vent given that it is most unlikely that both the C# and the C would be used in the one piece in ITM.
Sorry about this - I just noticed the mistake probably due to me camping in the bush at the time and doing the quick response one day when I came to town to get supplies.
I meant:- Kalyan (Lydian).
(Khamaj = Mixolydian)
I will now edit the post where this error occurred
