New flutes for the smaller stretch ideas anyone?

Irish Flute
1

So now I can tell myself I told you so, but I had to find out the hard way, my lovely 6 keyed Giles LeHart flute is perfect in responsiveness, volume and tone is still hurting my hands 5 months on, despite my pipers grip, this is not the flutes fault but I have a smallish stretch, anyway this is holding me back from flying, so I am facing the facts and am after a loud (if possible,) responsive flute ergonomically arranged for the smaller stretch, any ideas on best maker for me, opinions, reviews on Copley, Burns, the elusive Gallagher? budgetish four keys…I await a myriad of opinions… with thanks Lisa

2

Well, talking ‘budgetish four keys’, Dave Copley does a four-key flute in Delrin for $1590 (or $1350 without tuning slide) with no charge for closer-spaced and/or offset L3 + R3 holes. Definitely got the volume and responsiveness, and he’s done a great job on customising for my troublesome left hand. Haven’t tried the Burns or Gallagher, but Casey Burns certainly believes in ergonomic, small-handed flutes!

3

gallagher is not so elusive, his small hole R&R model is amazing.

4

Yes the word elusive is a bit strong, just couldn’t find a contact for him on the net! Sad reflection of these modern times of wanting information instantly, do you have a contact please? thankyou Lisa

5

Thanks Peter, got to be wood, checked out his website, nice looking flutes, Casey Burns look nice too, decisions!

6

Look in this thread for Gallagher’s contact info.

Also, I have a Copley keyless with closer spacing. It is quite playable but the venting of the smaller holes is different than on the two Copleys I own with his standard hole size and spacing. So I cannot lazy finger some things that work well on the other two flutes. But talk to Dave an see what he can/will do to possibly rotate the holes to make things more comfortable for you.

Feadoggie

7

Why?

While mine’s customised for left (top) hand only, I tested both standard and closer L2–3 spacings (with rotatable L3 mini-joints to establish offset) for my D body extensively, agree about the venting there, but still chose the closer spacing (almost identical to the Eb ‘standard’ that suits me fine) when finally settling on a ‘permanent’ LH configuration…

(See also Dave’s Flute for the Undecided post, but note that I’ve since deleted the videos linked there!)

Peter Duggan wrote (2012-04-07 16:59):

Re. the new D upper body, I’d definitely like the thumb hole, but am
still evaluating the L2–3 hole spacing, find myself maybe 60:40 in
favour of the tighter spacing, but may need some help to make up my
mind. So here are some pros and cons from extensive testing of As,
OXOXXX Cs, sequences of cuts, strikes and rolls on A and G, fingered
vibrato on A and so on…

For the standard spacing:

  1. First octave A may be louder/clearer/fatter when blown really well.
  2. Same note seems more stable under fingered vibrato using the full R1
    hole.
  3. This stability seems confirmed by it being marginally harder to
    produce multiphonics from XXOXXX, XXOXXO etc. (not that I’m getting
    these by accident with either spacing)!
  4. It’s ‘standard’, so obviously chosen for good reasons.
  5. It’s difficult to convince myself that any of my isolated tests (even
    repeated ones) are proving me to have less control this way.

Against the standard spacing:

  1. It’s undeniably stretching my pinkie that tiny bit more where I
    possibly need all the help I can get.
  2. Despite my failure to establish any definite ‘problem’ through all
    those tests, I’m still left with the gut feeling that I feel the stretch
    more when tired and possibly also when simply playing tunes (which can
    obviously lead to tiredness when minutes so often turn into hours or
    days!).

For the tighter spacing:

  1. My pinkie can’t be less agile (or whole hand less comfortable) this way.
  2. Second octave A might even be sweeter this way (possibly subjective).

Against the tighter spacing:

  1. First octave A may not be quite so good when blown really well
    (possibly subjective).
  2. Same note can suffer (being pushed into a slight ‘gurgle’) from
    fingered vibrato using the full R1 hole (first noticed when practising
    An Cluinn Thu Mi Mo Nighean Donn for YouTube video and still repeatable).
  3. It’s theoretically compromising your established optimum hole spacings.

So that’s that, and I’m left with no clear views on the A tone/stability
v. spacing trade-off except ‘if in doubt take the tighter spacing rather
than regret the bigger stretch later’ and just wondering what you (as
the maker) make of it all?

Peter Duggan wrote (2012-04-14 21:28):

So my latest thoughts about the L2–3 spacing are that the tighter
spacing would be ‘safer’ (with the keyed flute in mind) if everything
bar L3 is set up inline, but the standard spacing might still be a goer
if the whole left hand’s rotated outwards. Might add that I’m not quite
so bothered about the first A breaking up under full-fingered (XXOXOO)
vibrato any more because I can also make that happen (not quite so
readily, but it’s there) with a well-focused tone on standard D and Eb
body spacings, so we’re really back to judging the potential of the
larger-holed open A against the increased agility brought by the
modified spacing, and I’m afraid no amount of further testing is going
to give me the magic answer when I’d ideally have both!

Peter Duggan wrote (2012-05-05 16:12):

Think (when pressed for a decision) I can’t commit to the standard L2–3
spacing and have to stick with the closer spacing I’ve been playing
more. So let’s say the closer spacing, with L3 and thumb hole offsets as
per the Eb body.

8

Peter, and others, I don’t want anyone to think that I am saying there is anything wrong with the close-hole-spacing Copley models. There isn’t. It’s a dandy little flute (mine’s a short foot), well tuned and responsive with plenty of volume and a very nice sound. All I am saying is that it’s just different from the standard Copley design and has to be played with the smaller holes in mind. If you are not one of those players that anchors their index finger on the the BH1 hole (as I do on some tunes) you won’t know the difference. If you need the closer spacing, it’s a good flute choice.

Wonder what the OP is thinking now?

Feadoggie

9

Not suggesting for a moment that you are! Just thought my observations (in backing up and amplifying your own) might be of interest here…

Wonder what the OP is thinking now?

Speak to Dave about trying that ‘special’?

10

are you REALLY having small hands at all? you could save yourself some money, you know.

did you know that kids in ireland are given full size flutes to play and have no problems with that at fleadhs?
have you measured your hands spread? if its smaller than 7 or 7,5 inches you do have small hands.
have you considered your grip, and whether you relax enough while holding your flute?
also, have you considered the bore diametre?

just some thoughts.
(for the record, I am a woman with average hands and have no problems anymore with spread)