you all have way more experience, knowledge, and opportunity. is there such a thing as a left-handed keyed flute that is on the market without a long wait list? i only started playing the flute and am pleased with my progress. if i keep this up, i’m going to need a flute that is more than a key of d flute. have i limited myself by learning to play left-handed?
for all those folks who are going to suggest re-learning to play right-handed, please save yourself the trouble. the only way i’m going to re-learn is if i have another major illness and get to take 6 to 8 weeks off from work again.
you all have taught me so much, thanks.
mutepointe
IN a nutshell, probably not. I too am a lefty and am looking for a good keyed flute. They crop up occasionally on Ebay (I think there was an Olwell a while back but I might be smoking crack on that).
Henke has a keyed M & E, lefty, keywork by Michael Cronolly himself. I’m sure he’ll chime in eventually.
Since pretty much any lefty keyed flute is a custom order, I highly doubt that any makers would have them “in stock,” just lying around. So, you are looking at any respected maker’s typical wait list. Unless you can find one used (before I find it, that is!). I have been playing around a year and am just starting to feel comfortable with the idea of plunking down cash for a really good keyed flute. I have a short list of makers drawn up. . . the only thing left is the calm before the plunge.
Just for shoots and giggles, what are you planning on using keys for?
thanks for the reply. i’d be using the keys to play music in keys besides D & G. the people that i regularly play with don’t mind when we transpose to these keys. there are some other people that i occasionally play with who don’t get transposing and don’t want to transpose. like singing in D rather than Eb, will cause their heads to fall off or something.
Contact Dominic Allan… I have an 8 key lefty that didn’t take any longer than other maker’s keyless - he makes both excellent Pratten and small bore styles - highly recommended
Talk to Michael Cronnolly about it. He might be able to arrange something for you. He always goes out of his way to please any customer. And because most if his orders are keyless polymer flutes that he has in stock ready to send off whenever an order arrives, you’re probably not looking at more than a few weeks wait.
The deal I got on my 5-key was amazing, and his flutes sing like the best of them.
If I were you, I’d ask if he has any of that beautiful Cocobolo wood left, then ask him if he could make you a 6-keyed cocobolo flute with an unlined head (similar to the one I’ve got). That would be one awesome flute. You would probably have to wait longer for that one than for a polymer though.
I don’t know how Jon C is doing with his plans to start making keys. That would be another great option for a flute with short waitlist.
Or maybe a Copley. I think Dave Copley has made lefty keyed flutes before and he’s got a pretty short waitlist.
dear folks: thanks for letting me know this is possible. i’m not planning on buying a flute soon. i used up my last favor with my wife when i said the irish flute would be the last intrument i buy until i learn how to play the beohm flute that was given to me. and right after i said that, my family brought me my brother’s electric guitar. i have to lay low for awhile on purchasing instruments. i’m pretty certain i’m not even allowed to buy pvc pipe. mutepointe
I talked to him in August as I was thinking of buying a wooden Fltue from him, at the time he had the Cocobolo and Bloodwood available. Although I did ask him if I could get a keyed Wooden Flute and his answer was no because he doesn’t like to put keys on a Wooden Fltue for fear of splitting. So even though that would be nice, it won’t happen soon.
Okay then. A wooden head and a polymer body would be a good bet then. I really love mine, and I don’t think a wooden body would make any other difference than a slightly different look, a little different feel and harder maintenance anyway.