I ask this because I was hoping to receive a tester flute from him in October of 2005, and it still hasn’t come. After talking to him a bit, and finding out that he has had some skin problems, I began to wonder if he’s really far behind schedule. So, has anyone received a flute from him, or spoken with him recently?
I sure hope he’s okay.
Matt
P.S. It’s too bad you can’t play a mountain bike–I’d be in heaven!
Hey Baggins,
I corresponded with Mr. Tom Aebi last month, he said the wait on a new flute would be about 18 months, no mention of complications.
He was exceedly prompt about answering my email enquiry.
e-address: flutes@freesurf.ch
All the Best!
Jordan
deleted
He’s making me a flute at the moment and generally responds to messages within a day or two in my experience. Like every other very good maker that I know he has his priorities and preferences, and his own relative concept of the space/time continuum 
It really seems to be the prerogative of great craftsmen.
Regards,
H.
Snap he’s making me one to, I don’t think I’ll bother him, he’s best making flutes rather than fielding e.mails and such!
…And I won’t bother him if you don’t.
Regards,
Harry.
Harry, are you suggesting that I am not a “priority”, and that perhaps he hasn’t finished my tester flute because of a preference issue?
Yes. My flute is late of the quoted time as well too, so I’m not suggesting that I or anybody else that I know IS a priority. Many things outside that flute world (if we can imagine thus) demand priority too.
Regards,
Harry.
Hi there
I recently took delivery of a lovely boxwood flute from Tom Aebi. It was a few months later than expected but worth the wait.
Yes, I just assumed that it was a health issue. He’s been great on email and on the phone.
Matt
Yes, I just assumed that it was a health issue. He’s been great on email and on the phone.
Matt
I too have an Aebi keyless on order whose estimated delivery time has slipped by a month. Tom is quick to respond to e-mails, helpful and polite, and direct. It wouldn’t surprise me to find the delilvery time slipping some more, but I too am deciding to try patience over interruption.
Trish, thanks for saying the flute is worth the wait. Did you get the large hole version or the small hole version? Any comments you care to make?
Hugh
Do all his flutes have lined heads or does he also make unlined heads?
My low Bb Aebi flute has an unlined head.
Here is un unlined Aebi Bb:
http://www.firescribble.net/flute/aebiflutes2.pdf
How does one pronounce that? Is it “Eb Bb” or “Ab Bb”?
I think it is pronounced “Ääbi”
Hugh, you asked for comments on my new Aebi flute… It’s the large hole version, with the modified bore. It has a beautiful sound, with lots of projection. People have commented that they can hear me clearly across the room, even when I’m playing next to a border piper. In fact, even more so than when I was playing my previous flute, a Hamilton. The intonation is very good indeed and the flute responds well to a flexible embouchure & is capable of nuanced playing. It has lots more complexity than I’m able to get out of it yet. I was unused to boxwood, and I do find that it swells when playing for long periods. This causes a problem with the Eb key in particular binding on the block. Maybe its the price to pay for boxwood, which is fab in every other respect(I think this problem has been discussed on the forum before) I’ve corresponded by email with Tom Aebi about this, and he has been very helpful. Oh and I should say that the flute looks absolutely gorgeous and I have never had so many ‘oh what a beautiful flute’ comments before.
By the way, I think I’m about ready to sell my Hamilton flute as this one suits me better. If anyone’s interested do PM me.
Well, yes, and no. Boxwood IS naturally much more temperamental in terms of movement due to changes in moisture content. But this can be controlled very well, with proper conditioning and sealing of the wood. Unfortuntely, many makers of “Irish” flutes don’t use boxwood enough to have learned either the need or process for this, where as the top traverso (and of course recorder makers), who use Boxwood as a staple, usually have this well under control.
That said, and in all fairness to Mr. Aebi, who may or may not treat his boxwood effectively, some movement can still occur in properly treated boxwood instruments, so by choosing a boxwood instrument, you do have to know this going in, just as you have to know a blackwood flute can crack.
Loren
Thanks for this, Loren. Is there anything you’d suggest that I do to avoid such problems? My instruction was to oil it regularly, with Almond oil.