Better loose rings in winter than a cracked flute in summer.
I cannot see that as a problem of manufacture, but an environmental thing. Am I missing something?
No. You’re right. Wood seasoning has a certain influence, but wood never completely stops moving, so loose rings, stuck keys and cracks may happen even to the best flute made from 200 year old cocuswood. My Aebi pratten has a cracked barrel, too, and I saw rings coming off a Grinter, a Watson and a Hamilton. It just happens, or it doesn’t.
…and hopefully there won’t be any other questions, either!
Rings come off! Wood’s organic, and moves! That’s what a drop of glue is for.
This thread is borderline ridiculous. Its designed to validate those of us who have the intelligence to recognize the flute as an imperfect instrument from the beginning, and put down OC eejits, who’ll always be OC eejits.
The caveat:
If the flute is “out of whack,” e.g obvious care forgone in the making of the instrument, then bitching is, in my estimation warranted.
“Bitchers” Beware, though! Because you bitch doesn’t mean you won’t be pegged as the above mentioned, “OC eejit” (or a pain in the hole). That’s the risk. Makers take their craft v. seriously and MAY take offense to a perceived “attack” on their work.
All of this has some inherent risk. Not like parachuting, but a risk nonetheless. Even for a maker there’s the risk of the wood failing 3/4s of the way through construction (something like that happened to my Hammy Eb cocus mid construction). This “sh*t” is predictable up to a point. That’s the danger, and the beauty
That’s just the Johnny McGory (story)… period. So, like I said, “Rings come off! Wood’s organic, and moves! That’s what a drop of glue is for.” Serious construction flaws should not be taken in stride, but taken up w/the builder, in a kind, inquiring fashion!
Finally, I recommend reveling in how “perfection” can live in the larger world of imperfection (e.g. a great flute), and to stretch a Zappa quote into trad land,
…Shut Up and play you f’n flute…!"
The thing is is that to many people aesthetics matter. I do think that there is some room for aesthetics, but function comes first. I have known people that have bought cars because they were “cute” and the right color. Number of cup holders? Safety? Comfort? Handling? Working breaks and acceleration? All secondary. One of the innovations that Ford’s competitors made was selling a vehicle in colors other than black.
LeCrusett charges a premium for pretty cast iron skillet that cannot compare to the Griswold that people hang on their walls as “rustic decoration”. Enameled like a bathtub in every color imaginable the finish can chipped and scratched and the cooking surface is rough. Yet the stuff sells.
Right or wrong aesthetics is always in the background. Do people really discuss the relative protective merits of rings/ferrules*? What about the material they are made of? What is the purpose of engraving on the rings? What merit does silver and gold hold over stainless steel or brass for keys? What is the need for an end cap? Balance? Resonance? The stick itself usually has bumps and flairs and other embellishments instead of just a simple tapered stick. What about the choice of wood? Argue about sound all you want but how many just prefer the look? This is in spite of functional problems with warping (yes this can cause problems even if not in sound quality), or allergic reactions. I would venture to bet that 90% of the time these are not decisions made for purely functional reasons.
So the question is when does one draw the line, and when does aesthetics either cost more than they are worth or get in the way of function? In other areas I have seen a grading system by makers that gave first, second, and third, depending on the finished product. I think lumber has a grading system like this. Some people like this system, others reject it as they do not “compromise” when it comes to quality ever.
*For the Copley & Boegli Polymer Flute it is a difference of $80. What warrants a 22% increase in price? It isn’t function, it’s looks.
Didn’t someone on this message board have a flute she nicknamed “the banana”?
I’m still waiting for the first customer complaint about sudden acceleration, but unfortunately there’s nothing to report yet.
Dave Copley
Loveland Ohio
I believe that complaint is mostly attributed to sessiuns
Cathy Wilde
I own a $150 splitting axe. It is perfect. And times I can’t get my flute to sound as beautiful as it looks, I never regret having that axe. I just head to the woodpile. Exactly the right heft, it sings on its arc, and is sure to amputate cleanly if I slip. If I want to feel like I’m good at something in this world, the $$ on the axe is better spent than the $$ on the flute.
Jennie
I like that one! Personally, I chose not to weigh in on this subject. Being so close to something, it’s often hard to keep perspective. 
What I will say is: Wooden flutes are as perfect as a musical instrument gets. They take my breath away, (even when I’m playing correctly).
Yeah, Cathy. She really liked that banana. I think I read that little fountains of water would spray out of it after a while, too. Goes to show that it doesn’t really matter if the flute is perfect or not.
Box is famous for warping.
Rule book? There is no rule book requiring makers to drill perfectly round holes, but then there is also no rule book requiring customers to expect less than round holes. Manufacturers may influence but not dictate consumer expectations in a free market.
Here are some nonstatistical Google statistics of C&F:
Search term / Google Hits
craftsmanship / 8880 (e.g. Google site:forums.chiffandfipple.com craftsmanship)
craftsmanship flute / 5130
workmanship / 12200
workmanship flute / 6600
finish / 233
“beautifully made” / 1540
“beautifully made” flute / 847
“fit and finish” flute / 910
Seems there’s quite a bit of interest in aesthetics. And lets not forget the top sticky.
Susan Boyle.
be well,
jim
Alice Cooper
Lou Reed
Bob
Nope. A flute that’s got talent trumps any imperfection, even if you can’t get a portable case for it.