Well, when I first saw Jordan’s post about the new Murray flutes at Doc Jones Irishflutestore.com , I thought, wow, can it really be true-a Murray flute that is just waiting to be bought-without a wait?!!
I also thought that I already had enough flutes, and could probably be happy with them, so no need to upgrade to a more expensive flute. So I went on my way, content in my resolve to just play what I have.
But, as time went on, I realized that maybe given the opportunity, I should check them out anyway-since this is the first I’ve seen them readily available for the asking. Given the rave reviews of Murray owners, it only seemed logical to find out about them while I could. So, I decided to ask Doc to send me one, if he had any left of the 3 he had gotten in of the first shipment of Murrays. Lucky for me, he had (only) one left!
Maybe I could have been happy with my flutes, up until trying the Murray! At the same time, one of the senior members of the fluting community here suggested in an email that I try one of the top makers flutes (flutes that many pro players use and record with), with Sam’s flutes included, just to see what it is that they have over the intermediate level flutes I had been playing. Now, I find that he was absolutely right, for me-there is a tangible difference I can hear and feel in tonal quality and playability that I now know from playing this new Murray. It’s not even broken in, and I love it! I imagine 25 years of making flutes has to account for something, and it seems Sam has got it down!
Maybe for some it will be an Olwell, a Hamilton, John Gallagher, Grinter, McGee, Byrne or another one of the top makers about. I’m just here to tell you not to hesitate to find out about the top makers-there is a reason that they have gained that favor-every time that I pick my Murray up, I’m reminded that sometimes, it’s good to go with the best you can afford and find out what they have to offer. I think my playing will only be enhanced-as I can hear the difference in expressiveness already.
Thank you Doc, and thank you, Sam-WOW! I’m very impressed and grateful~!
Anybody else buy one of the new Murrays? I hope you like it as well as me. Got any good pictures? Mine didn’t turn out so well (first digital experience). But, I loved the warm brown color and grain of new Blackwood!
Edit: Here’s a picture of mine (thanks Doc-that is my flute! I just lightened it a bit to show how it looked when it arrived):
