I received my Olwell bamboo Eb flute a few days ago, and have had enough time with it to be very impressed.
I thought it’d be fun to have an Eb to mess around with, and to play along with some of the (surprisingly many) tracks and albums out there recorded with an Eb instrument. But since I wouldn’t often use it outside of the house, I didn’t want to drop a grand or more on a blackwood Eb. I took a chance on one of the Indian keyed “ebonite” Eb’s from Ebay, and not surprisingly, it was worth what I paid for it (that is, not very much). So I called Pat.
Really nice flute. Very responsive, great tone, and maybe the easiest second octave of any flute I’ve played. Just a slight adjustment necessary to bring the octaves in tune, as is the case with any cylindrical keyless flute. Very easy reach, perfectly comfortable. Ornaments are crisp, reaction is fast. A lot of fun. For $90, I really can’t see how it can be beat.
I’ve seen a lot of people suggest an Olwell F for beginners waiting for their wooden D flutes to be ready, or to see if they like flute at all. I wonder if an Eb would be a better choice. The reach seems more similar to a conical D instrument, and there are a number of recordings on Eb instruments one could play along with, and there are even the occasional Eb sessions out there. Seems like a good alternative, to me.
Playing the Olwell also got me to play my Tallgrass Winds flute by Steve Cox (in F) to compare. The Olwell embouchure cut is more elliptical and looks like more work, but the care taken in the rest of the flute seems identical on both – very good work by both makers. Steve wraps his flutes in thread at three points and gave the bamboo a nice light flame treatemnt, which is a nice touch. Pat has applied a darker flame treatment, and the flute is pretty highly polished with some kind of oil and is also very pretty, a rich brown-red color. Each produces a great tone, with the Olwell being perhaps a bit more flexible in the second octave (for me). Both are quite powerful, with the Olwell being perhaps a bit more so. Playing the famed Olwell Bamboo has, in short, also confirmed for me that Steve Cox is making some really fine instruments, as well, using his own design. Both are makers worth considering if you’re looking for a really good bamboo instrument.
I may have to get on Pat’s list for a keyless D in blackwood, though; that’s a nice embouchure cut!