Recently, I acquired a new Low-A bamboo flute from Sunreed and, overall, I am quite pleased with it. Even though it is a bit of a fingering stretch, playing it keeps getting easier each day. The tones are wonderfully mellow and the tuning is quite good for such a large, yet relatively inexpensive instrument. I had previously acquired another Sunreed Low-D on eBay and thought it good enough to take a chance on the Low-A. Zacciah was more than helpful throughout the entire process and it was a distinct pleasure just communicating with him. He apparently takes some care with manufacturing, and really seems to stand behind his work.
I have several Olwell bamboos that I really do love. But, when I was looking for a possible Low-A acquisition and asked Patrick about Sunreed, he indicated something to the effect that they did seem to be worth checking into.
To date, my overall impression is that the Sunreeds are easy-playing and just nice solid instruments to have around. And, once I master the Low-A, I expect the fingering of almost any other flute should be a piece of small cake. : )
Prior to this, I knew next to nothing about them. So, I was wondering if anyone else has had some experience with Sunreeds?
Your experience at Sunreed seems to echo my own.I acquired one of Zacciah’s D flutes with offset holes for both hands.Even with offsets I still have to pinkie play instead of using my ring fingers.I’m used to it on the right hand but it will take more than the hour or two I’ve had so far to get the left hand used to it.Like you said, good tone and in tune.
For those of us with small hands Steven Cox at Tallgrass Winds makes a D flute with small holes and spacing similar to the Dixon three piece delrin.The tone is markedly different from Zacciah’s flute,which figures.One is a large diameter large hole while the other is smaller diameter& smaller holes.People with small diameter fingers might “fall in” the holes on the Sunreed flute.The same thing goes for Erik the Flutemakers D flutes,large holes and large diameter.But I love that warm woody sound.The G to A stretch isn’t as severe on the Erik T.F.M. flute as the Sunreed flute.
I’ll always like bamboo flutes but so far the easiest flute for me{3 months experience} has been the Dixon three piece.With all the fun to be had with these inexpensive flutes will my enjoyment rise exponentialy with the price of a quality wooden flute?Maybe, but today I’m having a good time and if the "bloom on rose fades"in the future then I’ll have to solve what’s no more than a money problem involving a want instead of a need.
It would be interesting to know if a small handed person has had any long term success with bamboo flutes.
Bruce
I have a regular “low” D flute from Sunreed. I don’t play it much. Tuning is reasonable, sound is okay, but the diameter of the tube is so big, and the holes so offset, that I can’t in any reasonable way hold and play the flute. Olwell bamboos are a whole different matter though, but even those don’t get much play time compared with my regular wooden flute.