I have heard great things about Olwell’s bamboo flutes. But it doesn’t seem that they are to easy to get a hold of. Any other makers of Bamboo flutes? A man named Steve Cox makes flutes, any experince with his flutes out there?
Yes. I have one of his D’s. It is a very nice flute at a very nice price. It has nice tone, is in tune, and blows easily. Steve is very pleasant, offers advice readily, and you’ll have your flute quickly. (www.tallgrasswinds.com)
If you have not yet played a flute, keep your hand size in mind. If your hands are small, or if you have a bit of stiffness or arthritis, you may find that a bamboo flute or a Tipple is too big for you. My hand measures 8 inches from thumb to pinkie with fingers outstretched, and I still have a hard time covering the holes on large-bore instruments without suffering for it afterwards.
Casey Burns makes a good flute for beginners called a “Folk Flute,” which comes in small-handed and ergonomic versions. They’re very comfortable. The price on one of those isn’t extreme – $250 or so, I think – and it’s easily re-sold later if you have taken care of it.
I do not personally have a Folk Flute, but I have one of his other flutes in a small-handed model, and it’s wonderful. Recommendations for the Folk Flute on this board have been good. (www.caseyburnsflutes.com)
I have read that the folk flute is a decent flute and also have heard that it is on the low side of decent. The resale of the flute is a good point though. I am an uilleann piper currently expreriencing the winter reed problem blues and at one time had a flute nearby that I could mess around on when reeds were mis-behaving. That flute has moved away and I’d like to get a cheap/decent flute pronto (this winter) and then a better one in the future. i guess if anyone had folk flute to sell I’d buy it now, but otherwise a bamboo may do me.
As for hand size, i haven’t tried many flutes, but all felt on the big size, but none were too big. (nine inches thumb to pinky)
My hand is the same size, and I had no particular problem handling a friend’s Hamilton, which is on the large end of the scale.
If all you want is an inexpensive flute to experiment, why not a Tipple polymer? They’re inexpensive, rugged, have a good reputation, and are readily available. Or go to http://irishflutestore.com/ - Doc Jones is a board member, and has an enviable reputation (and a large inventory of available flutes).
However, I really like my Casey Burns Folk Flute. Not at all fancy in appearance, but a wonderful flute for the money - in tune, good sounding, and remarkably easy to handle. I’m currently considering a second (poly) flute for travel, but it’ll be years (if ever) before I outgrow the Burns FF.
If you play pipes you should be able to handle a bamboo Olwell. He takes bamboo sabbaticals in the winter so he can concentrate on his enormous waiting list. I’d keep hunting for an Olwell bamboo. It’s an Olwell flute for the fraction of the cost. The only real downside is that it isn’t tunable otherwise it rivals many wooden flutes.
Cheers,
Aaron
Well, certainly the folk flute I recently played was anything BUT the “low side of decent”…
In fact, between the Tipple and the Burns Folk Flute, you’d be more than fine.
In my humble opinion, anyway.
And I have played lots of flutes.
M