I’ve finally switched over to playing my antique 8-key and want to find a good home for my keyless McGee. It has an unlined head, cork tenons, and is made of gidgee. It is somewhat small holed, extremely easy to blow and has a lovely sound. Its also extremely light and the reach is very easy for someone with small hands like me.
I’m not sure which model of the current McGee’s it would be, I’ve been told its an early version of the Grey Larsen Preferred, but I can’t be sure since I bought it used many years ago. Its been a good friend, but its time for me to concentrate on the keyed and not look back.
I played some tunes on this flute a couple months ago when I was in San Diego. It surprised me with its full tone and responsiveness. I think it’s a GLP because the holes are on the small side.
A very fine flute–would have to be for a player as strong as Michael to use as his go-to flute.
If this is ANYwhere as good as my (relatively) new GLP, it’s a superb flute (and the gidgee looks really cool). You need to go to Terry’s site and check out his analysis of the smallish-holed flute versus the bigger ones - turns out the volume isn’t affected that much by finger-hole size.
I’d also like to point out that Terry has recently been forced to raise his prices a bit. It was sure nice of him to wait until I bought mine!!!
“At the time I called it the Medium (sized) Rudall & Rose, but that had to go when I added another model between it and the Perfected. So these days it would be called a Rudall Refined. Based on the 5047 in Edinburgh; the same model of Rudall & Rose played by Chris Norman, but tweaked for modern pitch. Thinned head, Integral foot, Gidgee timber. An ideal flute for someone starting out, or someone struggling with their current flute.”
I can confirm that, as someone who is slowly struggling to learn flute, this flute played very easily for me the time I tried it. If I had the money handy I would buy this one in a heartbeat.
I agree - this would be a nice flute for someone setting out on fluting, or who wants a nice step up from the cylindrical and delrin collection, or who is fighting a german or difficult antique. Played it once or twice myself - it plays easily with good tone - an enjoyable instrument.
I’m going to miss having the McGee flute around town. I’ve been borrowing it from Michael for the past few years whenever my instruments have needed repair. It’s a very lightweight, free-blowing instrument that is a pleasure to play. It has a warm, even tone with enough power for session playing and the intonation is solid.
I have played Michael’s McGee before and it blew me away. Loud, warm, silky and as easy to play as anything I have ever tried. You know how a lot of flutes have some resistance in the second octave when you are hopping between notes, and you have to slyly puff harder or slide a few notes to stay in pitch or keep clarity? None whatsoever from this flute. You can literally do almost anything you want and the flute lets you. Extremely forgiving. And it is light, too. Wish I had the dough for this instrument, but I am suffering from too many instruments as it is! Whoever buys this little gem, you will not be disappointed!
