Hey all!
I have been playing tin whistle off and on for a couple months, mainly to transition into flute because the fingerings are the same…I tried a search and didn’t find anything really, but my question is: are flutes like this any good? I know pakistani flutes for 45 bucks are a joke, but what about this one, its closer to $150.
http://cgi.ebay.com/IRISH-FLUTE-Wooden-ROSEWOOD-Flutes-CASE-INCLUDED-New_W0QQitemZ120175397158QQihZ002QQcategoryZ10183QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem
My advice? Run away as fast as you can. My guess is that this is a $45 Pakistani flute for an extra $100. You need to find a way to spend the money necessary to get a reliably playable flute. In the beginning it can be hard enough to get a sound out of the thing without having to fight the instrument too. In my opinion buying a cheap no-name flute is a false savings.
Clark
I looked at it, but I didn’t see a maker’s name, so in all honesty it seems like a flute to avoid, regardless of price. Moreover, one of the great features of this, the C&F FF, is that there has been quite a bit of open discussion in regard to just which, and whose, flutes are successful. So, I’d suggest that you search the threads, here, and then post any specific questions you could have. Good luck!
Edit: BTW, there are some highly rated flutes as currently available for less than $150, as a search of these FF threads should provide.
ok, so tipple it is.
Anyone got a low d they’re willing to part with?
EDIT: I didnt see Cork’s edit. thanks, I will look. I really don’t want a PVC flute (no offense, Mr. Tipple or anyone who likes them) I have my heart set on a wood one, but I don’t want to pay $300+ for a decent one when I’m just starting off, so I probably will pick up a Tipple.
Great choice, and allow me to recommend one of his D flutes with both the lip plate and the Fajardo-Tipple wedge. It’s a great flute to get started on, and can easily be sold whenever you feel it’s time to upgrade.
Thanks for the help. By the way, do you know how close the embouchure of an irish flute is to a Boehm flute? My girlfriend plays in the WSU concert band, and has 3 flutes, I might be able to borrow the headjoint of one of her older flutes to get my embouchure right, if its the same on an irish flute
The lip plate on the Tipple flute creates a flute embouchure which is similar to “mainstream” Irish flutes, and to Boehm flutes. To get into a discussion of the similarities and the differences between the embouchures of Irish flutes and Boehm flutes, however, could involve a long discussion, but for practical purposes, please, the lip plate on a Tipple flute will go a long way toward getting you into a “normal” embouchure, and from there whatever difference becomes more a matter of artist preference.
IMO, for what he offers and at the price he offers it, the flute world owes a tip of the hat to Doug Tipple. It’s a great flute to get started with.
Thanks alot! that pretty much answered my questions
I would also suggest the offset fingering for a Tipple “first” flute, especially if you’re going to start off with a D instrument. I had an “in-line” instrument I simply could not manage. I traded another C & Fer for his with the offset holes (He’s a piper and likes inline fingering.) and we’re both happy.
You will be pleasantly surprised by the Tipple. I was. I’ve even had a fussy flute connoisseur take a whack at it and he was mighty impressed.
I also have the Folk Flute and it’s got such a warm, lovely sound. It’s worth way more than the $300 it costs.
It doesn’t hurt to get yourself started blowing on a Boehm. It’s not the same at all, really, but it’s my opinion that if you can get any sound out of any flute in the beginning it’ll help you figure out how to get a sound out of any other flute.
You might want to pick up a tin whistle and start learning tunes on it as well. The fingering is quite the same as an Irish flute, unlike the Boehm.
Thanks, I already play the tin whistle…sort of. I basically was just going to learn the proper embouchure on the Boehm headjoint while learning fingerings on the tin whistle, and get relatively decent and make sure I am going to stick with it before buying a flute
I contacted the seller once. All their Irish Flutes are Pakistan-made.