I’m wondering–would it be possible to make a
silver simple system conical flute, and, as the answer
is probably ‘yes,’ what would it sound like?
They certainly have been …there was a disscusion of one some time back…not sure if it was this list…maby there was a sound clip ??
Probably sound like the equivalant wooden one but somewhat “brighter”
The historical example is Clinton’s “Flute for India”:
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/clint-India.htm
http://www.oldflutes.com/articles/india.htm
The consensus among people who played one seems to be that it sounds like a wooden flute.
I think I wrote this in the earlier thread on Clinton’s metal flute, but it still holds true today…I want one.
Eric
Though I doubt it’s conical, I believe Lark in the Morning sells an inexpensive metal simple-system flute in G. (~$70). I seem to recall that a poster on the whistle board has one, but I don’t know how well it plays.
Then there’s the Hamilton “practice flute”, and I vaguely recall that Alba offers simple-system metal flutes as well.
Okay, I’m serious.
I want a stainless steel or silver fife, conical or parabolic as
long as it can play the third octave. Something not plastic and able to survive my car’s trunk. Assuming one was made currently what do you think would be a reasonable price? Or what would you pay?
Unrealistic question, considering the retooling it would take for
most Fife/Flute makers (unless they go to http://www.emachineshop.com/ and design it there). I know most of you like flutes, so feel free
modify the question.
For a D or Bb I would say $300-$500 Depending on quality of sound.
If I’m the only Crack pot so be it. People say they want one. I want to see the demand.
Oh and one more thing, a D flute in silver could get heavy if it was lath turned.
Doesn’t sombody make a low D conical whistle ? Modify it w/ a head ??
Thank you for the thought on modifying a whistle.
I’ve drilled holes in brass tubing to make a fife and, although making it was fun, it cannot compete with some one that knows what they are doing. Making a head just won’t do it for me.
Mostly, I have read threads like this in the past and I wanted to get some information other than the cylindrical “practice” flutes, lamenting the disappearance of Cavewind flutes, and searching E-Bay yet again for the Clinton flute.
Sorry if I am out of line.
I’d love one too, Eric. It’s ugly as hell, but it looks very well made.
Glauber - I’d call it more “unique” than ugly…but it does look well made with the nice embouchure build up, sound key work, etc…
If only some intrepid makere would put one together I’d gladly volunteer to give it a whirl!
Eric
A follow-up to my last post. I checked the Alba website at http://www.albawhistles.com and found this in their pricelist:
Aluminium transverse flutes of the student design with adjustable head and end plugs. They are made from high grade aluminium alloy with tufnol end plugs.
They they seem to come in a lot of keys. The tenor Ds run 100 pounds (~$160, I believe). But I can’t tell if they’re cyclindrical or conical (I’d guess cylindrical, though).
I tried the Lark one but sent it back. It was heavy and didn’t sound any better than the flutes I already had.
An aside, though: I don’t know how consistent they are, but the Lark bamboo walking stick flute (in G) I bought a couple years ago is still one of my favorite not-so-expensive ones! The walls seem thicker than in other bamboo flutes; it’s an easy player with a great sound. Plus you get a little of that Kwai-Chang Kaine effect. (“Shall I play you a tune, Grasshopper?”) 
Daryl
.
I forgot to mention, the Lark simple silver flute (a) is cylindrical and (b) is made in India. The quality and workmanship didn’t impress me.
.
Right. There’s a low D conical silver Copeland whistle,
which sounds very good indeed.
Well, what would happen if it were
modfied with a good flute head?
You could email Chris Abell and see if he’d make you a wooden flute head for a Copeland low D whistle. That’d be a great combination!!!
-Brett
Seeing how Copeland use to make flutes, I figured that I would get ahold of him. That way it could be the same material and make.
I seem to recall seeing an announcement recently, maybe on the whistle board, that Copeland would be offering flute heads for the low D whistles (at several hundred dollars a pop). Unfortunately, this doesn’t show up on the Copeland website.
If true, it sounds like just what you’re after. The price would be right up there with a good wooden keyless flute, though.
I’ll see what I can find out. Thanks to all.
Does the Copeland low D have raised tone holes or is the silver thick enough to mirror the depth of a wooden flute’s tone holes? If not, I’m guessing you’d lose a lot of the harmonics that make a conical flute sound like a conical flute…but then again, maybe I’m wrong on that.
Eric
No, the tone holes aren’t raised, nor is the silver deep in comparison
to a wooden flute. I don’t know how these things work,
but the silver whistle is very powerful as a whistle,
anyhow., including the bottom.