That would be awesome! I love the durability of polymer. I want to love my M&E Delrin flute, but my left wrist says otherwise… but I got to try out a small-hands Folk Flute once, and it was not uncomfortable after just a few minutes (and IIRC, the holes worked out better for the size of my fingers, as well).
Ok fair cop!
I did not know the rules about posting prices in discussion.
Sorry, Nanohedron.
Thanks for the clarifications.
To Kevin K, sorry for my overreaction, I was and always will be your fan!
Here is how I got the reco.
On Facebook among my many friends I have several professional trad musicians. So I elected to ask
one of those about beginner flutes.
" Hello ( Name removed) , I am going mental here with all the different Irish Flutes for sale on the internet. For a keyless conical bore in African Blackwood 250 euros, plus shipping in Germany, next 150 US dollars same thing on Eaby, next McNeela’s Arie De Keyzer student model in the same wood for US 780 dollars."
and asked which the person thought the best deal - considering that the person lives by fluting the person should know -
to which the person replies " the keyless African Blackwood "
Now I do not know if the person actually ever tried one of those flutes, I just took the comment into my notes for future reference, and I am still searching for a nice conical bore synthetic model IOW thanks for the reco, but I pass on the selection.
In view of the above revelations, especially the abusive behavior of this Mohammed pushing his suspect product, I am now editing my notes with a caveat emptor ‘Pakistani flute’ caution for this Musikhause website, so withdrawing my reco on that.
Note to self and others, please do not jump on newbies here because you think they are being nasty,
it may that they don’t know the rules, or are in some kind of personal crisis causing them to spike
your evaluation of their sin.
In my case I am eating the edge of my fingernails off awaiting the return from the repair shop of a recently acquired Crabb C/G Anglo . Made in 1965, owned by a female, now deceased, rarely played, in very good condition but with valve and bellows leaks, plus the Air-valve falling apart, it had to be repaired.
Before you ask, yes I paid more for it than a really nice wooden flute would cost. So why not buy the flute instead? Well I am not much of a flute player, and a far better Concertinist, if that makes any sense. Oh and BTW these particular era Crabb tinas are rare because they have brass reed shoes with Sweedish steel reeds in them, as opposed to the more common aluminum reed shoes. All original as this one was when I got it, yes it is very collectable and worth about four times what I paid for it.
Other BTW, I have some seasoned Texas bamboo here which I am procrastinating over, to make a couple of low flutes, L apprx 24 inches of stick… Lazy yes! horrid flautist, guilty, but stoat thrower, most certainly not.
I don’t understand… you say you are and always will be Kevin’s fan yet reject his list of some of the best polymer flutes available because of ‘reports of wimpy sounding E, B and almost silent C natural’. When I tell you my Copley (NB the only one of these I’ve tried or I’d probably be backing up the recommendations for others too) has none of these and make a light-hearted quip about your constant stressing of your Irish roots, you jump on me…
You ask if I’m as nasty a player as I am a person, and the truthful answer is much nastier; I’m a rotten player but people tell me I’m really quite nice!
Well, I’m glad to see that things are getting cleared up - sort of. Communication, especially on the Internet, can be tricky at times.
I’m not sure you understand them fully, yet. What we don’t allow is public “price policing” over items offered by members of this Board. Let’s say a Chiffer has a $30 whistle for sale here at the price of $100: If you find it questionable, discuss it by PM or email, not on public threads in the forums. Average going prices are easily found thanks to the Internet, so if a member is willing to buy a normally-$30 whistle from another member for $100, that’s their business. If you can’t find the average pricing info you’re looking for as a guide, you can always ask for input on the forums. That is certainly allowed. Just don’t use it as a price policing tactic in the wake of a FS post asking a high price, because nobody will be fooled. It can be a fine line, so when in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of discretion. It’s why we have PMs.
The rest hinges on common sense and/or courtesy. As for the prices of items outside of C&F - companies in particular, or eBay items offered by nonmembers, that sort of thing - then those are fair game. We can certainly make price comparisons among makers - you don’t see it often, but it can be a useful thing when arriving at decisions, because price isn’t everything - but pointing something out is different from criticizing it. For example, a characteristic of Noy flutes is that they are going to be notably more expensive than the usual prices, but that is a case of “You want it good, fast, and cheap: pick two.” In Noy’s case, you get it good and fast, so you pay more accordingly. That’s perfectly fair.
Any clearer, now?
Does anyone know about blackwood Seery flutes? I was offered one of those as well, but I don’t have all the particulars yet. The only information on Seery I can find is relative to the Delrin models. The person offering the blackwood one said that is about 40 years old. I’ll post more when they get back to me with details.
I said, ‘I read reports’ of whimpy E,B and C, correct. Is that not enough?
Sorry for my lack of clarity on the point.
Have a great weekend.
That would be one made by Desi Seery himself, and they’re based on a Hudson Pratten. Plenty of flute players were ordering wood flutes from Desi, and pretty satisifed. You might see some cosmetic changes in design (rings, outer profile) over the years since those earlier models. The following photo has flutes from about 2000-2002.
While I don’t want to prolong this, no, it’s not, or at least wasn’t at the time I replied. You said:
At which point I offered you the opinion of someone I know pretty well (me), though Scottish born and bred, over atypical and unattributed reports relayed by somebody I never met but on the Internet (you). Of course you’re perfectly at liberty to disregard my opinion because I’m equally somebody you never met but on the Internet, but I’d suggest further research will confirm it to be in line with the collective weight of experience here.
God rest ye merry gentlemen…
Best wishes.
Steve
Is this a debate about intent and utterance on C&F Flute forum?. I think that may be OT so I reply to you in PM.
Happy Weekend.
And, since there’s nothing in that PM that you couldn’t just as well have said here, I choose to heed Kevin’s advice and quit this discussion. So don’t expect a reply!
Okay, then! Let’s move on.
(said the moderator)
Amen !
If this discussion hasn’t totally changed your outlook on flutes, there’s a Casey Burns Boxwood flute for sale in the Used Instruments Exchange at https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/fs-boxwood-folk-flute/101482/1 that is inexpensive and a solid instrument that would last you well through your learning process and beyond.
Best wishes.
Steve
Thank you all for your help. I went with the Casey Burns blackwood flute. I’m just now trying to s..t…r…e..t..c..h my fingers to it. That G is a bit a bear for me, not at all like a concert flute. My embouchure is adapting rapidly, especially since I haven’t even played a concert flute in many years.
Thanks again for all your help.
Go raibh maith agaibh!