Terry McGee’s website mentions that he offers a C-nat thumb hole as a no-cost option on his keyless flutes. The main purpose is to provide a C-nat with improved tone and intonation over the cross-fingerings. Sounds like a good idea to me. Have any of you had any experience playing such a flute? Is this comfortable?
I want one!
Skip Healy in Rhode Island also makes one.
BillG
Skip Healy in Rhode Island also makes one.
BillG
Skip Healy in Rhode Island also makes one.
BillG
Skip Healy in Rhode Island also makes one.
BillG
I’m sorry, could you say that again? 
You can go back and delete those additional posts, but I believe there is a time limit.
Loren
How How does does that that happen happen??
I only posted once.
BillG
A number of makers will do this. Hammy Hamilton and Peter Noy both agreed to make my upcoming keyless flutes with this option.
Heather M.
Heather,
I’m curious - Did they say they will adjust the position of the top hole as well, so that both the Cnat and Csharp in tune…or are they actually positioning the Cnat hole in such a way that keeping it open as a vent brings the (normally) somewhat out of tune Csharp in line when the flute is played all fingers off?
Loren
Loren -
They didn’t say that specifically; however, I’ve heard that the addition of the C hole improves the intonation of the often flat C#, which is another reason I want the extra hole. In addition to it making The Gravel Walk a hell of a lot easier to play!
The Noy I played was beautifully in tune, and I’ve heard only good things about Hammys, so I don’t anticipate any intonation difficulties.
Heather M.
Thank you very much for the replies. The McGee site mentions that the thumb hole also improves the intonation of the C# (or the equivalent “all fingers off” note in a non-D flute). Your replies suggest to me that the thumb hole is not an unusual option. I now have more confidence in ordering such a flute. Right now I NEED a low Bb flute. This will make my life complete (at least until all the COPS episodes come out on DVD). I’m considering Noy, Olwell, Grinter and McGee. Olwell does not currently offer tuning slides on low Bb flutes, but this is probably not a problem for me.