I’ve been playing some Casey Burns flutes lately. Just felt moved to say what a fine fellow Casey is and how terrific his instruments are. I’m particularly fond of his Rudall model but they’re all good.
I was playing a Burns Rudall today (which I find myself doing more and more lately) and was amazed at how well it half holes f-nat. The cross fingerd Bb is great as well. G-sharp is OK-ish and the C-nat is lovely. If a guy got an Eb key he’d be in pretty good shape for about any tune (I don’t seem to use G# much in my repertoire any way).
They have a particularly rich and warm tone that I find very wonderful. I ripped off a few tunes on a Rudall in the post office today (Old marble building with bare floors and high ceilings…best acoustics in the world!) it was an amazing experience.
Anyway, just gushing a bit about a fine fellow who makes a fine tooter.
I once owned a Casey Burns folk flute. Given to me as a gift by Casey himself. I’ve loaned instruments from the C&F vaults over the years. I once got a call from a musician I didn’t know at all who was driving from Florida to Nashville to go into the recording studio and realized he had left his whistles at home. I met him in a parking lot in Birmingham and loaned him some high end whistles. He recorded with them and promptly returned them. Loaned a Burke composite to a rock musician who toured with it and returned it in beat up condition, which I didn’t mind because he had probably used it to trash a hotel room, which makes for a great story, even if not true.
In all of these loans to strangers or near strangers, I’ve only been burned once. Loaned the Burns flute, and it got loaned to someone else in turn, and I never saw it again.
I couldn’t agree more, Doc! Casey is a real nice guy, and he makes some great flutes! Value for tone$dollar, it’s really hard to beat his slideless flutes. In fact, I’d have to say he’s my favorite flutemaker, since his flutes are the only ones I seem to have more than one of at any given moment. I’m very lucky to have three now. It seems my main weakness is definitely for a Burns Boxwood flute, in just about any model Casey might make one! I’ve got the new Folk Flute, a Pratten and a low Bb, all with no slide or rings. What they may lack in features and frills (like tuning slides and rings), is by far made up for by their amazing tone and playability-and each is as good as the next, but with a distinct character of its own. Personally, I like the ergonomically offset holes, especially for the upper hand-makes for a very comfortable hand position for me. Besides, Casey’s are some of the most aesthetically pleasing flutes to just look at, let alone hold in your hands, and then of course, play.
Anyway, my hat’s off to Master Flutemaker Casey Burns too! Thanks Casey, for the many hours of pleasure you’ve given me in the playing of your flutes! I hope this finds you well, and with more orders coming in to enable you to keep making these lovely instruments!
Good time to support the independent wooden flutemakers in these tough economic times if you are able to do so, because where would we be without them? I’d hate to think about the prospect of losing any of them, and especially Casey, who’s been responsible for helpling new fluters get started on good wooden flutes, simply by having great choices in the lower price ranges. I wouldn’t want to be without at least one of Casey’s flutes ever-they really are that good! Too bad we don’t all have jobs like Doc Jones, who can play as many as he likes! (and in Marbled Halls, no less!)
I agree that they are one the the most beautiful flutes. I love his work, and I prefer his folk flute over many others. I let John Kelly play my folk flute once, and he was blown away. He was so amazed at it. I actually prefer his standard flute over his Rudall though, but they are all great flutes. I am just saving some money to buy a standard flute from him.
I would like to try one properly. I remember having a quick blast on one in Dusty Strings a few years ago and seem to recall it being quite chunky in the hands. The boxwood and mopane look lovely.
I’ve always preferred Rudalls or, better yet, my much beloved McGee GLP. But, I’ve been playing Casey’s new Large Hole Standard and I just can’t believe this thing! It has gobs of power if you want it but the tone is so rich and complex and warm…really lovely. If I keep this up, I’m going to have to eat crow and switch my Burns preference from Rudall to Large Hole. I would love to try one of these rascals in boxwood.
Some others have mentioned Casey’s boxwood flutes and I’d have to agree that something truly magical happens when Casey’s design is matched with that wood.
I also really like his keywork. I’ve personally always liked the flexibility of post-mounted keys.
Anyway, my hat’s off to Master Flutemaker Casey Burns too! Thanks Casey, for the many hours of pleasure you’ve given me in the playing of your flutes! I hope this finds you well, and with more orders coming in to enable you to keep making these lovely instruments!