I’m thinking of making that transition from low whistle to Irish flute and would be interested if anyone could recommend a good flute to begin with? My budget is around AU$1000… that’s about US$800 or €550.
I have a recording of Matt Molloy playing A Fig For A Kiss // Poll Ha’penny // Merry Ladies and his flute sounds so beautiful… what key is that? I want that one!
Thanks for any advice you can give!
This chap is in your neighborhood. I hear that he makes good flutes.
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/
The particular track you’re refering to from the Shadows on Stone cd is played on an antique Bb flute. I suggest you get something in concert pitch (D) to start with. You can get a Bb later, you’ll have trouble enough with the concert flute when you start out, and it’s much more useful for almost all occations.
Why is it nearly always a weekday? No time for
whisky 
I wish I was in your situation! Go visit Terry McGee! I think he’s about 4 hours down the coast from you (Malua Bay)… His GLP is AU$1,020 and is superb…
Pat
Buy locally!!!
McGee’s GLP is a pretty amazing instrument. I’m a Pratten guy myself, but every time I try a GLP, I am very tempted.
I still have my McGee Rudall Refined up for sale on the following thread, its a perfect instrument for a newer player looking for a nice instrument:
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=62434
Cheers,
Michael
Yes, that’s a lovely instrument.
Thanks guys for the replies - that sure is good to know!
Just out of curiosity - how does the finger stretch on flutes compare to low whistles? Is a Low D equivalent in stretch to a D flute, and so on?
i think the finger stretch on a low D is much harder than on a D flute. especially when you consider supporting the flute and such. if you can handle a low D, i would recommend a mcgee rudall or pratten. in my experience, even a big holed flute (a pratten) is easier than a D flute or even a tenor recorder.
daiv are you sure that you kept yer flutes & whistles straight?
Daiv’s absolutely correct (at least as far as a Burke Viper vs. any flute I’ve played). In fact, the GLP that I love has NO finger stretch problem. I don’t even need to use a pipers’ grip with it. I did need to use pipers’ on my Cochran and Copley flutes. My Tipple needs pipers’ as well…
Pat
Makes sense, if you absolutely can’t wait, to go for a McGee as they come recommended and Terry is near you, but you could also learn more tunes on the whistle, save up an extra 500 USD and get a Sam Murray keyless. You’ll get an instrument you’ll be able to grow into as you become a better flute player, that’ll do anything you want it to do as you become more experienced, is easy to play in tune, has solid bottom notes and all the volume you could wish for, and is also a solid investment should you be hit by the hard times that are fast approaching
(edit to say that the following was not meant to sound harsh, and absolutely no disrespect for any of our makers)
Or you could save some and buy an Olwell, or you could wait 10 years and buy a Wilkes, or you could skip the whole wooden flute business and buy a solid gold Boehm flute for $20 000.
Just curious, what makes Sam Murray a step up from Terry McGee?
Maybe one of them is more fond of the
whisky 
I agree with Steampacket that hard times may be fast approaching, especially when I look at my retirement savings that are partially invested in stocks and bonds. I’d say that it may be a good idea to sell those stocks and bonds and buy flutes, all kinds of flutes, not banjos or violas, flutes, I tell you.
I also had the same thought as Henke when it was suggested that the $1000 flute from Terry McGee might not be good enough for a beginner.
I bought a Copley in delrin from someone else on this forum just a few weeks ago, and in MHO, this has got to be the best bang for the buck.
I think that there are several reviews already on the forum about them.
If I had the chance to start again, rather than purchase a number of other flutes that were OK, I’d buy this one first.
Chuck
Just make sure you CAN play the flute before you go dropping the big bucks. If you’ve already played a little and know you’re ready to buy an instrument, mozel tov! But if you simply love the sound and want to make that sound, perhaps take a couple of beginner lessons if there is a teacher in your area experienced with simple system (as opposed to boehm system) flutes. I have an experienced and skilled whistle and other wind instrument playing friend who said that because of the shape of her upper lip, she can’t get a decent embouchure and can’t play flute.
Also, for just checking the water, I bought a Hammy Hamilton practice flute for just about $100 US and then took a few lessons. Things clicked for me, and I’ve just bought a Casey Burns mopane keyless.
Have fun!
TED
Just make sure you CAN play the flute before you go dropping the big bucks. If you’ve already played a little and know you’re ready to buy an instrument, mozel tov! But if you simply love the sound and want to make that sound, perhaps take a couple of beginner lessons if there is a teacher in your area experienced with simple system (as opposed to boehm system) flutes. I have an experienced and skilled whistle and other wind instrument playing friend who said that because of the shape of her upper lip, she can’t get a decent embouchure and can’t play flute.
Also, for just checking the water, I bought a Hammy Hamilton practice flute for just about $100 US and then took a few lessons. Things clicked for me, and I’ve just bought a Casey Burns mopane keyless.
Have fun!
TED
"Or you could save some and buy an Olwell, or you could wait 10 years and buy a Wilkes, or you could skip the whole wooden flute business and buy a solid gold Boehm flute for $20 000. Just curious, what makes Sam Murray a step up from Terry McGee? " Henke.
What´s your problem Henke, flute envy? Who said the Murray was a step up from a McGee? I certainly didn´t.
Johnnyboi asked for recommendations for a flute as a beginner. I recently purchased a second hand Murray and found it to be an excellent instrument in every aspect and a very good buy for a beginner as it is easy to play, or for an experienced player as it´s as good a flute as you´ll ever find. So going by personal experience I´d recommend a Murray to Johhnyboi if he´s prepared to wait and save for a Murray. Otherwise as said people with experience of McGee´s flutes have given them good reviews, and as Terry is near Johnniboi geographically, that´s also an option. Now the flute market being what it is I believe a secondhand Murray, Olwell, Wilkes or Hamilton will always be in demand, and you´ll probably get what you paid for one of these flutes, prehaps even more, if you should find yourself in dire straits.
Who in the world would want a solid gold Bohem flute - the horror!!!
FWIW - I played the concert flute from an early(ish) age up until year 9 at school, when I gave it up to focus on the highland bagpipes… so in a way it seems things have come full circle for me since I became more interested in Irish music!
I say this because it might influence the type of flute I buy if the whole embrouchure thing for the beginner isn’t so much of a worry (as in, I know I can do it, even if I haven’t got it now).
Looking at Terry’s website, I listened to the samples of the various flutes (or at least, the GLP compared to the Rudall Perfected) and I must say, however easy the GLP is, I’m more attracted to the sound of the Rudall… it has that dark reedy tone I would strive for (here we go again with the “dark” “reedy” stuff! ) heh
Would you advise against a beginner (Even one with previous flute experience) buying a large-holed high-volume flute?