Who has a John Gallagher flute (Pratten or R&R)? Any feedback? How do they play etc?
Thanks,
Ted
I think they have been up here quite recently. A quick search might get you some info.
Cheers
This thread has about the most info I’ve seen in one spot on John’s flutes.
About a dozen posts down I related my experience from when I took delivery of my keyless Pratten back in April, and Sonja was nice enough to put up some pics of my flute as well.
I love this flute exponentially more than when I first got it. Dark, reedy tone, powerful and yet well-mannered but will bark with the best of them. (If I push it, I can hear myself easily in a session with 4 fiddlers, a piper and button accordionist) The flute is quite responsive and the last several months with it has really turned it into a whole other beast. In the intervening months, I’ve had the opportunity to play a couple of Byrne’s (which were Rudall-like models), but also a Olwell-Nicholson and a Wilkes-Pratten and they have nothing on my Gallagher (The machined rings on the Wilkes are amazing though 
). Now, had I either of those flutes for many months of playing I’m sure I’d say the same of them, but John’s flutes are in that league without question (evidenced by his ever increasing wait times).
Give John a call - he’s great guy and will answer any questions you might have,
Cheers,
- Ryan
I’ve played both the Rudall (8 key) and Pratten (8 key) quite a bit. I currently own the Pratten 8 Key.
I first ordered the Rudall - then prefering a smaller holed flute - but as I’ve been lately very influenced by some of the heavy hitters (in terms of tone) out there like Paul McGrattan and June McCormack, I found that the Pratten was a better match. John was kind enough to let me exchange my Rudall for his Pratten and hold onto the Rudall until a Pratten was made!
His flutes are without a doubt some of the best out there. As many of us know by experience, a headjoint can make or break a flute… Well, John’s really been making some incredible headjoints… Mine on my Pratten is so responsive and really sends the flute “singing”. I’ve talked at length with John about his methodology with headjoints and can say that he knows what it takes to produce great ones consistantly. For the record, I’ve played 6 of his flutes (7 headjoints total) and they have all been great and consistent.
I guess John makes it easy (or easier) to decide which flute to purchase as they are so different from each other. The Pratten is a BIG one with a BIG bore and BIG toneholes with BIG FAT WIDE sound. the Rudall is a small hole flute - the smallest of all the Rudalls that I’ve played - and has a narrower / smaller sound. What is interesting is that both put out the same or similar actual volume (in db - I’ve measured). The Pratten is the obvious choice for noisy sessions as it takes up more of what I call “sonic real estate”… The Rudall a great one if you have very small hands or prefer a more “reigned in” tone.
That all to say, if I could afford it, I’d own them both. I would reach for the Pratten more I think…
In comparison to an Olwell Pratten (or the others for that matter) it definitely has a bigger sound - makes sense as it is a copy of a large holed Pratten while the Olwell is a rendition of a smaller holed example of a Pratten. Also, the embouchures differ (of course) but are both - on a scale of 1-10 - 10s (I’m sure there are some 11s out there - at least in heaven!) The main thing that I noticed is that you don’t need to change your air direction on the low D as much on the Gallagher Pratten as on other flutes such as the Olwell… John’s Rudall however does like a significant downward change in air direction to achieve the hard d - for what its worth anyway…
In terms of hole sizes… Be advised… The Pratten takes some time to get used to as the holes are so large - be patient and your body will adjust… The Rudall on the other hand takes time to get used to as well (as any fllute) - more for the smaller embouchure requirement.
As far as workmanship - sometimes I get as much enjoyment by just looking at it as I do playing it (I know… pretty sick eh?!) His attention to detail is amazing - I keep finding new detail each time I pick it up…
To Olwells credit, I think that his Pratten is easier to play “out of the box” than John’s due to the size of the toneholes and outside diameter of the flute - John’s is a bigger flute. The payoff once you get used to John’s is great however. I was at a session recently playing with a couple other fluters with Pratten Olwells - when we were tuning, one of them turned to me and said “what the hell is that? - it’s brilliant!” (he’s from England) He could tell just by one note from the Gallagher what a great flute it is… He continued to say complimentary things throughout the evening…
Well… that all to say… John is no doubt one of our “best kept secrets” - and for the record I’m also on Pat’s waiting list for a 6 key so don’t hear me saying that one flute is “better” than the other - Both makers are “brilliant!”
Cheers,
Great review, thanks.
Great info! Thanks to all… John wrote and said he will try to come to the San Francisco Piper’s Club tionol in February, with some examples of his flutes to try. I will post about it when he confirms his comming. There will be a flute workshop at the event.
Ted