Hi Gang!
In the past I owned a marvelous Pratten, but sold it because my hands simply could not make the right hand span comfortably. I was wondering, does anyone know of a decent Pratten which would accommodate someone with smaller hands? Thanks in advance…
Dave Parkhurst
Just finished repair of a Copeland 6-key, short foot, Pratten for a friend. Has the tonehole size, bore diameter and single center section of a typical Pratten, but hole spacing seems more like a Rudall. Strangely enough the bore on the headjoint/tuning slide is smaller than I’m used to seeing on any of the other conical Low D flutes I’ve come across (closer to 17 mm than 19). Not sure if he is still making flutes, but if so it might be worth consideration.
I would also contact Casey Burns who specializes in flute ergonomics http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com/ergo.php. One of his large hole standards might suit.
I do have rather large hands though, so can’t really be definitive regarding personal experience.
What you need is a Siccama flute.
Once you get used to resting R3 and L3 on a flapper key instead of a tonehole - really no big deal - what you end up with is a big, butch flute that handles like an Eb Rudall.
Rob
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think hole spacing on Prattens is significantly different than Rudalls. I think it’s about the size of the holes themselves. You might try developing a modified piper’s grip, which is to say, a flat-fingered style of playing that covers the holes better and allows for faster fingering of notes without trying to center the tip of the finger over a hole that may not be sufficiently sealed in any event. Whether or not I am correct about the spacing issue, I’d give a flat-fingered approach a try. When I switched, it made a significant difference for me.
Also one can do piper’s grip just with the rt hand.
I always use a piper’s grip (I started out in GHBs). I’ve noticed that my Bleazy as well as a Copley I used to own were easier to play than the Cotter I had. I had to really stretch to cover the bottom two holes. In its defense, the tone of the Cotter was heavenly.
Dave
I think the holes on the Cotter are uncommonly demanding for a Pratten.
Yes, they sound very good. The Olwell is easier.
The Hammy is a handful.
I have small hands, thin fingers, but have no problem playing an Olwell Pratten or a Wooff C chanter. Piper’s grip comes naturally as I play the pipes. To play using the fingertips would be just be too weird and wrong for me. Maybe there are other fluteplayers with flutes by different makers nearby you that you could try out to see how they feel?
Michael Copeland makes/made his flutes based on a Prowse (Nicholson then) design, if I recall correctly. It’s still a good suggestion for Dave. I’ve played a Copeland for many years now and it is a really nice flute, IMO. I have smallish hands, play with flat fingered grip and I have generally had difficulty coming to terms with the typical Pratten-esque flutes but the Copeland is a bit easier on the stretch, again IMO.
Feadoggie
Here’s your big chance - a nice Siccama for sale:
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/fs-siccama-flute/79293/1
I’ve played this flute, and you couldn’t ask for a more powerful instrument. It’s a big-bore cannon, but with the Siccama keys I bet even a child could play it.
Rob
This might seem off the mark a bit, but I’ve been playing a Terry McGee Grey Larsen Preferred (GLP) and for me it plays like a small Pratten. I can produce a very projecting tone with it (e.g. I did an acoustic gig with my fiddle/guitar trio plus a boudran a couple weeks ago, and the GLP had no difficulty being heard) and it’s super easy on the hands. I’ve noticed that even though the holes on the outside are small, the under cutting on the inside is extreme; thus, the holes are not as small as they appear. It’s not a canon, but it’s not a wimpy flute either, and the increase in comfort, speed and playability makes it well worth it.
Anyways, just thought I’d throw that in there.