Need a flute, I am a beginner. Love McGees ruddal refined...

Irish Flute
1

Hello, I am looking for a good flute, one with a sound Chris Norman uses
in his album “highlands”. I’v always loved the flute but never
learned… As an experienced drummer I find my interests wanning, and
with a Scotts Irish grandfather and grandmother (grandfather long gone
now) I wan’t to learn something associated with my ancestry. A flute is
small, mobile, you can take it anywhere; as a 23 year old American I
think it would be better to have a mobile instrument since it is the age
of mobility what with ipods and cd players… So I ask of you a
recommendation on what flute I should begin with. Seems good flutes are
very expensive so perhaps a reccomendation can be made on where to
begin. My impression is that a flute maker is better to purchase from
than a dealer… I’m going to purchase a flute, I’m just not sure what kind I should get. I am ok with spending
a bit to get something worth it, after all I don’t want a crappy
beginner flute but something I can enjoy once I’v established some
skill. So if you were me what flute would you get? I really like Chris Normans style, especially his album Highlands.
Thank you for your time and your thoughts. Brian.

Ps, Looking for a Rudall.

2

I HIGHLY suggest you start with a Tipple - his flutes are easy to play (well, as easy as flutes ARE to play) and are inexpensive. They are also quite usable as your knock-around once you spend some bucks on another. I would also highly recommend that you figure out if the flute is for you before you put out a lot of bucks. On the other hand, getting a used decent flute is a good option becasue you can probably get close to what you paid for it if you find you should have stuck to percussion.

Good luck!

Pat

3

Well, I began this question with Mcgee, he recommended I speak with Doc at the IFS. I really like his rudall refined and my favorite flute player is Chirs Norman. So IF i cuold get my hands on a used ruddal refined that would be awsome. Doubtful indeed, but I would like one… So I pose the question this way, what is the closest thing to a mcGee rudall refined lol? Thats what I want considering it’s cheaper. Doc at the IFS recommended I get a Copley Delrin. BUT they run almost 400. And last but not least… If any one would like to donate a flute to a struggling college student… I wouldn’t mind. heh heh heh. :puppyeyes:

4

It might require a few years of learning to play flute before which flute you play matters.

There is plenty of time while you are learning to play to find one that you like & can afford.

5

First you say that you don’t mind spending a bit on a good flute. Then you say that $400 is a lot. Sorry, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. You need to be more realistic about the price of flutes. On another forum we get asked all the time if the $95 dollar violin is a good instrument. Sorry, for that price it just can’t be done. With the exception of the rare pawnshop or garage sale fiddle, sure. But a wooden or Delrin flute probably isn’t going to be at a pawnshop. This means you mainly need to buy new or from musicians, and they know what their instruments are worth. The odds that you find a good Irish flute for less than $300-$400 are pretty low. If you can’t get to that price range, start with the Tipple.

6

alright, I will yeild on trying to find a sweet deal. I notice tipples flutes aren’t bad, good sound and are only 55 bucks. Now I wonder… Copley delrin or tipple.

Both will last a long time, any one have a sound sample or a link to a sample of a copley delrin? I’v found a fipple D on youtube so i know what that sounds like and im impressed. Still, to decide I would like to hear the Copley delrin.

7

if you think that you are serious just get the Copley in the first place

I have two Tipples, they can not be beat at price point for indestructable, playable, etc.
Great flutes!

They are not a conical flute.

8

There are new wooden flutes to be had in this price range. Casey Burns and Sweetheart, to name two.

The Copley delrin (no frills version) can be had for 375 including shipping direct from the maker. http://www.celticlands.com/page3.html Not sure what Doc sells it for.

9

He was selling it for 450. But I have found it considerably cheaper. I just wan’t to make sure the flute I buy will give me the sound I want… when I get some skill. I’m unsure how much better wood really is, most say it’s not that big a deal.. However, all the high priced flutes are wood. SO i wan’t a wood flute. But i feel like bottom end flutes are a different category all together since so many are plastic. I guess I am way over thinking it, atleast I feel that way, but I always been very particular about my instruments and want to make a good decision.

10

A good decision would be to buy a Tipple and learn to play flute for 6 months or a year while you save up for a good flute. Another good decision would be to buy a Copley, Burns, Sweetheart, or other decent flute, whether wood or Delrin. Meanwhile you save up for 3 or 4 years to buy a really nice flute. Financially, both make sense.

The bottom line is that you won’t be able to get the tone you want for at least a couple of years. And even then, your taste in tone will change over that time. The flute you choose to learn on now is mostly irrelevant. As long as it’s a decent instrument. You’ll sound like crap at first like the rest of us at the beginning. As such, you can sound like crap on a cheapie or an expensive instrument.

If you break out your kneepads and start begging friends and relatives for Christmas cash instead of gifts, you could scrounge up $400 pretty easy.

p.s. most of the sound comes from the musician rather than the instrument. Kevin Burke sounds like Kevin Burke on any fiddle. Matt Molloy sounds like Matt Molloy. I’m pretty sure Chris Norman would sound like Chris Norman even on a Copley Delrin.

11

I’d say the Burns Folk Flute is probably closer to the Rudall Refined than the Copley. Burns’ flutes tend to be more mellow and Copley’s tend to be more egdy. I have two tunes recorded on the Copley delrin on the link in my signature below (Out on the Ocean and Castle Kelly). The mic I used cuts out a bit of the hiss of the instrument, but gives a fair representation of my sound on the Copley. (I tend to play with a more rounded fuller tone than an edgy reedy tone). Wood, though, in my opinion, is definitely better than delrin when it comes to pure tone.

But like others said, you could have the same exact set up as Chris Norman, whose flute I believe was custom made by Rod Cameron, and sound completely different. In fact, you probably will sound completely different than any other player on that flute. Each flute player has one’s own tone, I think even more so on conical wood flutes.

Cheers,

Jason

12

Somethings happend, I think I’v made a decision… Yes I have, copley delrin. Jasons playing convinced me after hearing the burns folk flute. Plus if I’m waiting to get a ‘good one’ then I might as well get a rugged model first.

Thanks every one, the excitement begins!

13

it’s still on the first page on a weekend…whaddaya thinkin’? :wink:

good plan. :smiley:

14

There are other Delrin makers out there, most in the same general price range. No need to limit yourself. Jon C, Rob Forbes etc.

15

Sorry to throw another fly in the ointment - I went through what you’re going through (almost exactly) about a year ago. I’ve owned a Dixon, Cochran, and now an M&E flute in delrin. The M&E is the delrin I’ll keep (at least for now!). It is more of a Rudall & Rose model (smaller holes, etc) and plays REALLY nicely. I also own a McGee GLP in blackwood and just got a Bb in boxwood from Casey Burns. Previously, I owned a Copley in Blackwood. I find that I prefer the R&R type flutes - the Copley was great, but was closer to a Pratten (although it is billed as a mix). I like not having to do pipers’ grip on the right hand - seems that I can cover the holes a bit better. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the Burns in Bb - I can use “regular” fingers on it!

Anyway, my bottom line: I recommend the M&E in delrin and the McGee in wood.

Pat

16

I"m a bit concerned about this statement. As a (hopefully) recovering beginner of three years, I can understand your enthusiasm and and remember it well. My advice to you (and it’s hard to hear and sometimes harder to follow) is to spend a little now to find out if you really want to learn this beast. the flute can be immensely gratifying to play, as well as immensely frustrating… often during the same playing period. Like you, I “really liked” how player X played, and I wanted to sound like him. Because of that I wanted a flute like player X plays, so that I could get that sound. Well, it’s three years down the road, and I don’t sound like player X at all, and I probably never will. Is it because I’m not a good player? Not really, What it is really about is one of the simplest and hardest lessons that we all have to learn: Within reason, we all sound pretty much like ourselves regardless of what flute we play. By within reason I mean that if the flute is in good working condition, in tune with itself, etc., and if the player is playing up to form at that point in time.

An example: I had a class with Kevin Crawford in 2007 and during the week, he played several different flutes owned by different people in the class. He played at least one Olwell, a Rob Forbes, his own Wilkes, and some others (I can’t remember if he played my McGee or not). Kevin sounds pretty much like Kevin whether he blows on a Wilkes or a garden hose, and you will sound pretty much like yourself as well. If you don’t have the embouchure and diaphragm support necessary, then you’re going sound weak, regardless of the flute, especially when you’re starting out. So at this stage, the brand of flute and even the materials won’t really matter, as long as it’s well made. So get yourself a Tipple (WITH the wedge and lip plate) or a Casey Burns folk flute or a Rob Forbes delrin or a Copley delrin, and get started. All of these are wonderful flutes and great to learn on, and are available at or below $400. The first time I played a tune all the way through, I was elated, Of course, I still sounded like an asthmatic power smoker after a ten-mile run, but I finished it. Nowadays, I sometimes sound good even to other people :smiley:.

Pat said:

I HIGHLY suggest you start with a Tipple - his flutes are easy to play (well, as easy as flutes ARE to play) and are inexpensive. They are also quite usable as your knock-around once you spend some bucks on another. I would also highly recommend that you figure out if the flute is for you before you put out a lot of bucks. On the other hand, getting a used decent flute is a good option becasue you can probably get close to what you paid for it if you find you should have stuck to percussion.

Denny said:

I have two Tipples, they can not be beat at price point for indestructable, playable, etc.
Great flutes!

awildman said:

A good decision would be to buy a Tipple and learn to play flute for 6 months or a year while you save up for a good flute.

I’d send you my Tipple to try, except that it’s currently loaned out to a friend for exactly the same reason. It’s a great starter flute and darn near impossible to damage.

Good luck with your search, but don’t get so caught up in the “buy a flute like Chris plays” thing that you forget to learn to play. It’s really NOT about the flute and ALL about what you do with it. Do your part and eventually you’ll decide whether you like prattens or rudalls or something in between.

Your profile doesn’t say where you’re from. If you’ll post that, then maybe someone near you could loan you a flute to try out, or maybe even teach you some things that might help.

Hope this helps.

dow

17

That will be a good choice. Dave makes a nice playing flute.
Best,
Jay