I am looking into purchasing a ‘Bb’ flute, I currently own a prattens six keyed flute in the key of ‘d’ made by Terry Mcgee of which I am thoroughly pleased with. I know that Terry is now making ‘Bb’ flute which I am leaning towards (based on the performance of my ‘d’ flute) but I was wanting to get some input from others before I head in that derection. So if anyone has played or seen his flute played (or any others for that matter) I am asking your opinion. Thanks
If time and budget are major factors, I’d recommend Casey Burns’ Bb flute. He has several options in that key at probably the best prices and the wait is short (though growing). John Skelton and Grey Larsen are notable players who have Casey’s Bb flute.
If your budget and patience are bigger, you have a lot of options. Since you have experience with Terry McGee, I’d put him top on your list. Other Bb makers I can think of are Olwell, Aebi, Wilkes, Le Hart, Grinter, and Hamilton. I can’t say how current that list is.
My Bb flute desire is being waylaid by some border pipes at the moment but a mopane Burns with vented foot and silver rings would be what I would get.
Cheers,
Aaron
Just a thought - if you get a low A flute you can play a lot of tunes in a D session fairly easily. !
Check out and see if it’s still for sale.
Tom Aebi Irish Flute in low-Bb boxwood <flutes@ltlink.com> - Buhl, ID USA - http://irishflutestore.com - Thursday, September 15, 2005
Beautiful low-Bb flute in boxwood and sterling silver by master Tom Aebi. Mint condition. Sterling silver tuning slide and one key (to play the Bb flute version of a C nat key on a D flute). Asking $1700. Go to Irishflutestore.com for other wonderful Irish flutes and whistles.
I do love my Burns Bb. It’s really nice, and everyone else who’s played it has loved it too. They all want to keep it! I haven’t played any other Bb flutes so I can’'t compare it to anything very well, but I did once play a B flute (don’t know the maker), and the Burns Bb is far more comfortable to play than the nameless B.
I had the chance to mess with a Grinter lancewood Bb over the summer. (No, not Mr. Crawford’s)
When a capable player drove it, it sounded fantastic. Plenty of volume, good tone. I myself couldn;t get a peep out of it.
As it happens it’s on eBay today. Belongs to our own lovely and talented “Whistlin’ Dixie” Mary.
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZpjandlbj
Doc
Carl Bell makes them also I know somebody around here has one of his.
Wormdiet, they definitely can be tricky to get a sound out of. I heard it described once as needing a ‘soft lip’ which is a good way to put it. My experience has been that a focused embochure is needed but without tightening your lips as much. Sounds wierd to type, but that how I’m able to get sound out of one of these beasts. The one I’ve played took remarkably little effort to sound very well when I’d figured this out - octave transitions were noticeably easier including 3rd octave notes when compared to other D flutes.
My palms are sweating waiting for a Wilkes Bb right now, it’ll be a few years yet 
For whatever it is good for (as there is a huge waiting list etc) I have a
Wilkes Bb and it is very very easy to blow, smooth lovely sound to
hard edgy, a real beauty. I seem to recall one for sale 2 years ago, I think that it the last time he made any Bb (mine is from that batch).
Good luck to you, the Aebi one looks quite nice allthough I dont really see why one would need a “Bb” key since you can easily cross finger the “Bb”…
Nicolas
Why thank you, kind Sir!
This really is a gorgeous flute. The boxwood is absolutely yummy.
The reach is quite manageable, and you really “don’t” have to use the key if you don’t want to…
A cross-fingered C is good on this one, although the key makes it much nicer…
Well, I guess it’s not really a C…
I’ll bow out now and remain neutral .
Mary
There is a small learning curve. You’re not gonna believe the size of these pups, unless you’ve already seen or played one, that’s first off.
Then, the sound. Oh, Yeah…
You do have to work the embouchure, but it is just as “spittle” says.
Take a listen to Brad playing his Bb ~ where are those sound clips?!?!?
Another thing, once you’ve played a bit on the Bb, your D flute will feel like a toy.
M
(I really am going now)
Yeah, I had about 40 seconds to try and get a sound out of the Lancewood Gronster before its owner had to run somewhere. I do have a big lefty flute on order from Terry, so I’m confident that with some practice it’ll fall into place.
A lad from Newcastle had a Wilkes Bb keyless at Tubbercurry, Sligo a couple of years ago. I was getting into flute playing and found the Wilkes very easy to blow, a lovely flute.
I visted Terry some months ago and tried one of his Bb flutes and it was surprisingly easy reach and responded well to a small handed person like myself. I find Terry’s flutes to be very easy playing, very responsive and I am inspired to get one of his Bb when I can afford it.
I have no other experience with Bb flutes other than large Indian bansuris (cylinder barrel) which are too much for me and a cylinder barrel PVC Tipple Bb with custom made “ergonomic” tone holes which I own (but which I might consider selling soon because I have come to the consclusion that lower hand pipers’ grip is more ergonomic in the true sense of the term).
I am a sucker for boxwood (appearance wise) but after all the things I have read I think I will ask Terry to make me a delrin Bb flute when the time comes.
Good luck with that!
Delrin is also 20% heavier than wood, so on a big flute it’s probably ergonomically bad.
Hey Presto!
Back to Boxwood!
Down with Delrin! 