Hello,
I am a lapsed classical flute player interested in playing Irish music. I’ve been having a lot of fun with whistles but I’d like to get a traditional flute.
I’ve read many of the postings here and elsewhere which seem to suggest that a polymer flute would be good, probably the M&E or the Dixon since I would be wise to buff up my embouchoure and breathing before attempting to “fill” the Seery or before investing in a higher-priced wooden flute. (Although I did briefly try a Seery and LOVED the sound). However, there is a possibility of getting a recent Casey Burns small-handed Blackwood flute for not too much more than the M&E. I like the idea of the smaller spacing of the holes (I have some problems with my right hand), and I’d very much like to avoid a long wait for an instrument if possible. However, I haven’t read much here about the Casey Burns flutes, and I am quite attracted to the durability and very low maintenance of the polymer, at least for now.
Any advice out there? Should I wait for a Dixon or an M&E (or does anyone have one - or a Seery - for sale??) or go with the Casey Burns?
Casey Burns flutes are, I think it
fair to say, not thought terribly
well of on this board. At least they’re
not mentioned in the list of
flutes that people think are
quite good. You might
do a search and you’ll get some
comments. However I’ve played
CB Blackwood and Mopane flutes
and as far as I can tell, they’re
very good. But I’m a beginner.
I confess if I were in exactly
your position, given my experience
with these flutes, I’d buy the
CB blackwood. There’s one for
about a thousand at Music Folk,
that I think is lovely.
The Burns “small hand” model is very satisfactory. I have played that and his regular model, and I didn’t see much difference between the two other than the differences one would expect between any two flutes by the same maker.
If you are going to play with other people, get the model with a tuning slide is probably a good idea, although not usually essential. Clarinets don’t have tuning slides, after all, and you can flatten a flute the same way they do; i.e. by moving the head piece and/or tuning barrel tenon out of the socket at bit.
Why do you need blackwood? You can save a hundred bucks or so getting Mopane, which is a great flute timber and makes a much more handsome instrument. A year after you get Mopane will oxidize to a rich mahogany brown that looks like Cocus where as blackwood will oxidze to a jet black that looks just like …well, like plastic!
If I were you I would deal with Casey directly. He will space the flute holes and offset them exactly the way you want them, and for no extra cost.
I do think the CB blackwood flute
will sound signifcantly better than
any polymer flute you mention.
If I may express my preference, I think blackwood sounds better than mopane–
though mopane sounds quite good.
As to caring for a wooden flute,
you might as well get used to it.
In other words if you can get
a pretty good blackwood flute
for about the price of a
polymer, and you like the
small hands flute, well, it
sounds like a good idea.
I have a CB Mopane flute. I haven’t compared to any of the big name wooden flutes, but I’m reasonably satisfied with it. I play Boehm flute primarily, and I sound much better on that than I do on the Burns. Is it because my silver flute is a better instrument? Because that’s what I study more and actually take lessons on? Not sure…
It looks lovely. The workmanship is very good. I have no tuning slide or rings. Against my tuner, and with my Boehm flute loose embouchure, I’m slightly flat on nearly every note, even with the head pushed all the way in. The 0xx 000 fingering for C-natural is very sharp. 0xx x00 is reasonably close, but not perfect. The sound is much mellower than my Yamaha flute, and I like that very much as a change.
I think occasionally about getting a Hammy or a McGee or something, but there’s no hurry. Like I said, the Chromatic flute is my primary instrument. Maybe I should sign up for the McGee RAF. I really would like to get a feel for how my not-very-expensive Burns compares.
Hi Pat,
If you are already capable of getting a lovely sound out of a Seery I think you should get that. I think it is a flute that will last you well until you are ready for a good wood flute. I also feel that its a flute that doesn’t allow your embouchure to get lazy (which I feel is a good thing, especially since you already have Boehm flute foundations), requiring a pretty focused air-stream and has a very appealing, dry traditional sounding tone when you have bonded with the instrument. (check out the playing of an ex-Seery player, Tom Doorley of Danu) Anyways you can get Seery’s without a wait from Custys (www.custysmusic.com) or from Kevin Krell, the US distributor.
I haven’t tried Casey Burn’s Blackwood flutes although I’ve owned a one of his mopane models for a month or so. I like the Seery tone of a well adapted player better (but thats subjective).
The M&E Rudall copy is also another alternative. Its a little less aesthetic than the Seery, but a little more forgiving embouchure-wise. The tone it is inclined to producing is also a little different. It tends to be slightly less grainy and more dark sounding.
Casey made me a four-piece, keyless, left-handed, boxwood D, with silver rings and tuning slide. I received it October 2002. It is easy to play. It has since been played by a notable flute player who thought it a worthy instrument. I’ve played whistle for over four years, but the flute was a venture begun last June with a Dixon, two-piece. The Dixon and Burns are not comparable. I look forward to playing the Burns flute each day. When Casey and I first spoke I thought he was being a bit optimistic regarding the delivery date. It turned out he was right on schedule, and he is usually responsive. Good luck, steve
Also, Casey is making a single middle keyed section that will house five of six keys. He’ll effectively complete the bulk of the work while I continue to use my flute. With a common head joint I’ll have, in effect, both a keyed and keyless instrument.
[ This Message was edited by: U2 on 2003-01-07 15:08 ]
I have had a CB mopane D for just over a year and half now,and have come to love playing it. It took a while to get use to the weight, mopane feels heavier than blackwood. I have a friend that has a Copley, Schultz and one more that I can’t remember, but Casey’s mopane is heavier (not by much, but enough to feel the difference when you go to play the others) than those mentioned.
I have no experience with other high end flutes mentioned on this forum, so I am limited to what I actually know. I have come to like the tone and sound of this mopane flute —NOW THAT I CAN PLAY IT!!!" Not fast but reasonably good slow tunes.
It has a good solid bottom D and the second octave all the way up is clean and clear, and even at times overblowing to the third octave is sharp.
I will stay with this flute for quiet a while having no real need to go out a purchase another flute any time soon.
On 2003-01-07 09:56, Eldarion wrote:
Anyways you can get Seery’s without a wait from Custys (> www.custysmusic.com> ) or from Kevin Krell, the US distributor.
I’ve had good experience with both a Burns mopane and and 5 key blackwood. This latter, especially, is a pleasure to play–in-tune through both octaves, strong bottom D, and responsive (as is the mopane). The craftsmanship of the blackwood in general is excellent, and the workmanship on the keys and silver rings gives me pleasure every time I take the flute out to play. As mentioned, Casey is easy to work with, will listen to comments and accomodate concerns you may have. I recommend his instruments.
Wow, that was fast! You are all so helpful. Thank you all so much for your thoughts and advice. My experience with the Seery was so limited as to not be a good enough test regarding whether I could be successful with it at this point, so I will be purchasing the CB Blackwood (although I’d really like to get both!). Ease of play for now will be great; I can work on learning tunes with hopefully not too much frustration and see how it goes.