I know this question is probably asked a lot here, but I wanted to ask what would be a good first flute with my background in mind. I already play quite a few instruments, including open-hole concert flute and tuba, so breath support isn’t an issue for me. I am a broke university student, so I’d rather not go above the 500 euro range. Delrin is ok, but I’d prefer wood. I live in the US. I have fairly large hands. Thanks in advance for answers!
Hi ! If you’re in Europe, I’d recommand to buy from a local maker in order to avoid tarrifs.
If you don’t mind playing a delrin flute, François Baubet in Ireland makes delrin flutes that are easy to play, in tune and have a very good tone. Michael Cronolly ( M&E flutes ) is another option, good sounding, maybe less easy to play for some due to a larger diameter. I own both models and like them. Check out the detailed demo videos of these two flutes by Martial Benoit on you tube.
If you want wood, there’s limited choice under 500 euros for a brand new instrument. Rui Gomes in Portugal, Tim Adams in Sweden and Davy Angus in Northern Ireland are in your price range. There are few reviews of these flutes unfortunately on the web. There might others I haven’t heard of.
The other possibility is to buy a second hand instrument, provided it’s been made by a reputed maker.
Avoid the Pakistani made flutes that are so commonly found on Ebay, and it seems that Mc Neela models have very mixed reviews as well. Good luck !
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Since you are limited in budget and in the US you are best to figure delrin and used. Three D printed might be another option. I have heard some fantastic fluting on a 3d printed Boehm model. I didn’t really focus on who made it since I fill my brain with whistle and simple system flute trivia. Check out the 3d printed Zeng option at the Irish Flute Store in Greeley Co. Blayne can give you some sense of the sound of these. They are firmly in your price range. Make sure you get to the real Irish Flute Store. (There used to be a clone site out there. I am not sure if it is still up, but it looked just like the IFS with silly cheap prices) Blayne can perhaps play it for you. I have never seen nor heard this flute so I can’t speak for it. You may be looking in the used delrin market for the $500 price range. They come up more word of mouth and friend of a friend sales. There is the Irish Flute and Irish Whistle Marketplace on FB. But I have honestly not seen anything in that range there. And I agree to avoid the pakistani made flutes and the bit about McNeela models having pretty mixed reviews. So proceed with caution there. There is an Irish Flute Players FB page that has a bunch of good players. I know FB is the past for many folks, but for niche markets like Irish fluting it is one of the ways you can communicated across the world with sound and visuals. There are many detailed discussions of precisely this question if you run a search on that page.
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Dave Copley makes a great Delrin flute right about at your price range. His wooden one without a tuning slide may be close to your price range as well. Also check out the Irish Flute Store online. There are often multiple used flutes to choose from and they are out of Greeley Colorado. The tariffs are a mess…I would avoid buying overseas new from a maker right now unless you are ok covering the 10% tariff.
Eric
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McNeela gets very mixed reviews because most of their stock which isn’t credited to specific known European makers is from Pakistan. Ditto Hobgoblin and most mainstream music shops.