In a couple of months I should be able to put a deposit down on an 8 key and I am considering a Flute by Peter Noy as they look nice and the price isn’t too bad. Before I buy one I was going to see if I could stop by his workshop as I go to Seattle a couple times a year so I figured I would ask next time I plan a trip up there, but that probably won’t be until around December/January. I have never tried one of his before and will not place an order before I do. I would like to know who on the forum has or has played one of his Flutes. A forum search uncovered little info which is why I am starting a new topic.
I was also considering one of Terry McGee’s Flutes as I tried one a couple years back and it blew me away, but with the current exchange rate it would cost more than I would like to pay. The upside to one of his Flutes is that I have enough money saved to put the deposit down right now, but I would like to try one of Noy’s Flutes before I do so as it would cost me close to $2000 less. Also if there is anyone in my area (in the burbs of Portland, Or) who has one and would be willing to meet up or if there is anyone around Dublin who has one as I will be back there come September send me an email or PM.
I currently have a a Martin Doyle keyless which I love, but am looking for a more Rudallesque Flute which is why I am not considering getting a keyed one from him. I will keep the Doyle regardless of what Keyed Flute I get though.
The exchange is a killer theses days so looking at a US maker makes sense.
If you’re not stuck on an 8 key you also might want to consider a Patrick Olwell (Nellysford, Virginia) flute. A 6 key flute (don’t think he makes 8 key) according to the price list I have is $3050. The price list was from October 2007.
I now have two Noy flutes, one small-holed with Rudall-style embouchure cut and one brand-new Grenser model traverso. I’ve had the small-holed for a few years now.
I would recommend his flutes without hesitation. The small-holed has a little less edge to the sound than my small-holed Olwell. That’s not to say it can’t be played to sound like the Olwell, it most definitely can. My favorite feature is that it cross-fingers really well – as well as any traverso I’ve played. So I got a foot joint with an E-flat key for it.
You’ll definitely have to visit him, preferably a couple of times, because he offers so many different options. He treats heads and bodies totally separately – so you can get any of about four different embouchure cuts on two different bodies, a few different kinds of rings, etc. Mine is my “trophy wife” flute – boxwood, pounded rings, a fire opal in the endcap.
If I’m ever out in Seattle again, I’ll definitely look him up; he’s an incredibly nice guy to talk to.
I agree that hands-on testing is the ticket if you can swing it. Everyone’s going to get different tone and individual pitch idiosyncrasies out of flutes, and Peter’s flutes seem to me particularly fine-tuned and sensitive; in my case his bottom D was sharp, so I fitted a little extension ring of silicone tubing to the foot tenon to extend the foot and flatten the pitch. For your money you may not want to have to to that. Me, I’d already bought the flute, and I didn’t mind doing that.
BIG DISCLAIMER: I’m assuming the pitch thing was due to me and not necessarily the flute. A local gal has two Noy flutes and no such pitch situation with her bottom D on those.
Thanks for all the comments. From what I have uncovered there are two people with Noy Flutes out here in my area (not on the forum) and one of them I already knew but never asked what type of Flute she played, but I always wondered. Next time I am in Seattle I will contact Mr. Noy first and see if I can pay him a visit.
Regarding Flute by other makers I have had a lot of recommendations for John Gallagher and Bryan Byrne Flutes. The downside to these makers is that both are far away which means I can’t just go and visit them and I have never tried their Flutes. As far as Olwell, I ain’t waiting for one of his because I am impatient and the majority of his Flutes that I have played I didn’t really like. Most were Prattens and the only one I did like was a Cocus Nicholson.