Im looking to buy a Delrin flute. I like the look of Rob Forbes flutes. Before I order, has anyone had one of these, or has an opinion on Delrin flutes they have played etc.
Cheers
Ballygo
Copley without a doubt. Wish I still had mine! I have a Garry Sommers Pratten and it’s great, but I think the Copley suited me better. Oh well, seller’s remorse (X 2)!
Pat
I also vote for a Copley. I also agree with Pat. I have a pratten as well. Great flute, but a Copley suited me better. Like Pat, oh well.
Rob Robison aks skyspirit
I just had a look and listen to Copley, very nice. Did you guys find them easy to play, especially bottom D.
Ballygo
I have a large holed Rudall from John Gallagher in delrin that is great!
Vincenzo Di Mauro flutes are good too. Seems a lot Murray style.
Are we giving opinions on the best sounding Delrins, or on which flute is preferred for its body-type, regardless of Delrin? If you want a Pratten, the Forbes is an amazing flute, and fully tunable at a lower price. The Copley, which fully deserves the high praise it’s received, is based on a Hawkes, not a Pratten, so it’s a bit easier on the hands, especially if you’re not a Pratten player. Both these flutes are at the upper-end of workmanship and sound, but beyond that are no more comparable than wooden flutes of different types. The new plug for the large holed Rudall from John Gallagher by kmag, or Vincenzo Di Mauro by OldHag - both assuredly great flutes - are cases in point.
Gordon has a very good point there. The Forbes flute is a fine flute. Go for it if you like it. It’s not a bad suggestion to actually play the flutes to see how you sound on them. Each flute is going to sound mostly like the player anyway. Some flutes suit some players better than others. If you can’t try 'em all then start with a Forbes. Keep it if you like it. Try the others in your travels and sell/trade as you see fit.
I do like the Copley Delrin flutes. I favor the tone of the long foot model with the slide over the three piece model. But the three piece model is a great bargain, IMO, and a nice compact design.
Hmmm? Is that the three piece Copley I have, Rob? Should we talk?
Feadoggie
Can anyone compare the Copley to the WD Sweet Shannon? I’ll be choosing btwn these two if finances eventually permit.
I love my Somers medium-holed Rudall model. Great balance between power and responsiveness, fully tunable, and a lovely woody sound. And cheap!
Of the instruments people have named here, there are no bad choices. Just some that suit certain players better than others – you’ll just have to try one and see. The good news is, any of these instruments will be easy to re-sell later should you decide to move on.
Regards,
Mick
I have a large holed Ruddall from Terry McGee that is fabulous, there might be another out there.
Copley without a doubt. Much better flute in terms of craftsmanship and playability.
Copley with his elliptical embouchure gets my vote.
My preference: Cochran Rudall-style Delrin flute by Jon Cornia (Jon C.). The others mentioned above are all decent, too, at different price points, slide & ring appointments, design & finish.
Additional Delrin flutemakers to consider: Desi Seery (based on Hudson); Paddy Ward.
If you want a big sounding, large hole pratten, the Somers’ pratten model is a great flute (and did I mention inexpensive). Copleys have a great sound, are not as powerful but are priced right. Hammy Hamilton and Terry McGee make excellent delrin flutes but you will pay “wooden flute” prices.
P.
Ok, i will add Francois Baubet to the grid. Absolutely lovely flute! Confirmed by Kevin Crawford, Brendan Mulholland and Marc Löfgren 
at 340€ it’s a steal! I have owned Forbes and briefly tried a Copley so i do have something to compare with.
i think you ought to listen to these clips:
http://youtu.be/ezpCBCOFkxM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6NjDq0Nk-0&feature=share&list=UUpoHOXtTPgCTerSGqicsEyw
Cheers!
Have only owned an M & E, a Copley, and a Forbes. With apologies to those who love their M & E’s, I found the Copley and Forbes suited me much better. The Copley plays easily with a rich warm tone. It is just a great flute for the money. I have the three piece model with the modern cut embouchure. The Forbes is a bit sleeker, is tunable, and capable of a very nice reedy sound–but it is not as easy to get it going just right. The Forbes’ holes are bigger and it is a bit slippery, but it was still a very fine flute. Right now, I just have the Copley and it is all I need in a delrin flute. Wish I were so monogamous when it comes to wooden flutes.
Yep, same one. Yes, if you are interested in parting with it? I still have the Somer’s Pratten. Sending PM
I personally found the Copley to be an easy player.
Hope that helps
I will second the Baubet recommendation.
I haven’t been at flute playing for very long (roughly 1 year), or tried a great number of flutes, so take it for what it’s worth, but I was completely blown away by the Baubet. I intended for it to just be a second flute in Delrin to serve as a backup, to take places I wouldn’t take a wooden flute, or for everyday practicing at work. I ended up liking it so much that I think I’m going to switch over to only playing Baubet flutes now, and I’m looking at getting one in mopane.
I’m very happy with it. I don’t know how it compares to all of these others, but I think it’s fantastic. It’s easy for me to play, and most of all, at the same time I feel like I have a much better control over the sound and variety of sound I get from it. Good volume, too (at least as loud as my LeHart, for me), but I am able to get a much stronger low end out of it. I really liked my primary flute very much, so for me to like this more is saying a lot from me. Very pleased with the Baubet! Pretty affordable too, considering what you get, at least as far as I can tell so far.
I was pretty amazed after how much I’d struggled with some aspects of flute playing to just pick this up the first time and hear the sound I was getting out of it. I also thought it was very comfortable to hold, at least for my hand shape.
What most seasoned flute players will like, I don’t know (though it seems at least a couple view it favourably, as well!). But, for someone in my situation of being a rather newbie flute player, I can’t really imagine being too displeased with it. Pretty snazzy looking, too.