Somers large bore (large hole) Rudall-has anyone played one?

Irish Flute
1

Recently I put out a WTB post for a Garry Somers Large Bore (large hole) Rudall, and it got me thinking-I haven’t seen anyone remark about them here, except for one post by Doug Tipple, when he sold his a couple of years ago! With pictures, here:
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/fs-garry-somers-5-piece-large-bore-rudall-in-delrin-sold/77394/1

Oh, and there was a comment from someone else who thought the soundclip on Garry’s website sounded promising, and said they would like to try one. That is the basis of my wanting to try one as well, along with the other positive comments made about Somers Delrin flutes here by numerous individuals. Don’t go looking for that soundclip on his website though, as it’s no longer there!

So, is there anyone out there in Chiff land that has owned one, played one or seen one? Garry discontinued making them a couple of years ago, in favor or just producing the small bore Rudall, and the Pratten, in order to keep up with his orders, I believe he said at the time.

Maybe there just aren’t many out there in players hands, simply from the numbers that were made? I have written to Garry about him making them again, and he said that he will probably make them again in maybe 3 months or so, with some possible changes to them, like making the large holes a bit smaller, more like the model it was based upon.

For anyone who doesn’t know Garry’s website, it’s here:

http://www.somers-flutes.com

2

I’ve played one, it was a good flute, very loud, quite uncomfortable on my hands because of the huge holes (i’m used to the antique flute with medium holes I’m playing). It had a very open sound not unlike a Pratten style, which doesn’t suit me, so it is not a flute I’d get for myself, but I know many would appreciate it.

3

Thanks for the reply Lorenzo. Yes, I imagine it’s what you are used to, concerning hole size, though the Somers Pratten has holes as large or larger, and there are many who play it well without discomfort, from all reports. I myself have no problem with large holes, but I may not quite like the very open tone-but that’s hard to tell until one plays it himself.

I thought it immediately sounded better than the Pratten and small bore Rudall, just from the soundclips on Garry’s site-it was that much difference that made me notice the tone, and made it stand out from the other two. So, even though I may be more a Rudall person now than I used to be, I probably prefer the large hole or large bore version in Rudalls, I believe.

Anyway, good to get your thoughts on an elusive flute, thanks again!

4

What I also didn’t realize until just recently, is that Somers flutes are more thin walled Delrin flutes, similar to a Forbes, from doing some more reading about them here on Chiff.

I tend not to like some thin walled Delrin flutes for their tone, seeming a bit too open and hollow sounding to me, so I am not going to pursue this any longer. I know others don’t have any problem with them, and I’m probably in the minority there as well.

Though I will say that it’s probably not good for me to generalize, and it may well be I would like a Somers flute, if I could play one myself. Possibly if the chimney is tall enough, I wouldn’t notice so much that the body was thin walled? Or some other aspect of them, like tonehole depth, I don’t really know for sure. Maybe I’ll get to try one sometime and it will change my mind about that.

Anyway, carry on, and have a blast.

5

I tell you what Barry…I still think M&E is the best polymer (or ebonite) R&R flute out there. Deep chimney, not thin walled, fairly large tone holes…the biggest issue with M&E is the aesthetic for some folks (they are chunky) and that so many new players get them for the lower price but they don’t have sufficiently developed embouchures to truly bring out their best.

Eric

6

Funny you should mention an M&E, Eric! I’ve been really enjoying playing one for a few days now and have been very impressed, all over again! I started out on one as my first conical flute (original M&E with split embouchure) after my very first flute, a Doug Tipple D, naturally.

But even then I could appreciate how it played and the tone I got from it. I just went on a flute finding forrage after that, and sold it on, of course. Seems I’ve come around full circle, and I’m happy to be here with another M&E, only this time in Ebonite.

Sure, some beginners can’t get what they want from many flutes, and sell them on looking for one that suits them-more at the time, that is, like you said. But if you can’t get a tone you like from a flute, I can understand looking, even though eventually you can make it work as your embouchure develops, in all likelihood.

The only things I mind now about the M&E is the girth for my upper hand, and the weight for my aging arms and hands. So far, not bad-but I can feel a little muscle and hand tiredness from time to time. But I’m playing more now too, to be fair. The weight never bothered me when I was younger!

What helps with the weight though, I think is the amazing balance of it. It just sits there in my left hand perfectly balanced for standard hold! I thought it would be head heavy, but it’s not.

Anyway, great tone, response, tuning, and a good variance in tone depending on how and where you blow. I like that, and playing mostly slower stuff, I can appreciate having a flute like this one. I also like the looks-fit and finish is excellent, even though it doesn’t have any subtle contours to the body, but considering the price, I’m very happy with it! We’ll see how my hands and arms hold up though.

It even has the R&R ala M&E endcap medallian too! :pint:

7

A moment of true synchronicity! Glad you’ve come into one of Michael’s R&R styled flutes. I like that model much more than his older one, but I had a friend who played one of the older models until he bought a Hamilton and he sounded grand on it.

I don’t notice the weight until I pick up a wooden flute right after the M&E. With 8 keys, I’m guessing mine is a tad heavier than your M&E, but I’ll play her for 3-4 hours and not notice the weight.

Eric

8

I have a large holed R&R in delrin from John Gallagher that I am very impressed with. My main flute that I have been playing has a Nicholson bore with large holes and the Gallagher seems to have the best of both worlds. The head also slightly widens in the middle which not only looks elegant but probably also allows for a thicker chimney. It also felt lighter than I expected although I have never played a delrin flute before and I got this one for travel. I was so impressed I ordered one in stained boxwood as well!

9

Someone should invent a device that holds the flute up so our fingers are free to play tunes! Having said that, the weight of both my flutes, a keyed Cotter and a Seery is relative to how energetic the session is, or how interested I am in learning the tune/practicing stuff. But, the Seery is obviously heavier if weighed with a scientific scale.

10

You know what’s funny, though, is that the weight difference is so relatively small. We’re usually talking 2-3 ounces! In anything else, we’d not even notice it…like coffee mugs for example.

Eric

11

Need a much stronger bladder to be holding a coffee cup for your 3-4 hour playing periods…

Best wishes.

Steve

12

Do M&E have a new website somewhere where one can see said ebonite flutes?

I borrowed a friend’s polymer M&E for a while early on in my fluting career, and I thought it was a good flute for someone at that stage. It was easy to play and sounded good, although I remember there being something about the C natural fingering (way too flat, I think) that bothered me. It was probably my own fault, though. I’d like to try one again someday. Jayhawk, I’ll get in touch if I come up to Kansas City again sometime. You probably don’t remember me, but I think you’re the one who told me about the aquarium repair goo trick, which helped me make my first antique flute playable. :slight_smile:

13

There’s a site at www.irishflutes.net/mef/index.htm and Doc Jones has a couple of 6-key ebonite M&E flutes at his Irish Flute Store site.

Best wishes.

Steve

14

Hi William - I do remember passing on the silicone goo easy pad trick to you…it helped me restore an old flute, too, and is a great trick to have on board if you need a quick repair. Definitely if you’re up this way, let me know and you can give my flute a go. I forgot you were in Tulsa…I used to go down there fairly regularly (my family is from Tulsa and Stigler), but now that my grandmother has passed away I haven’t been down in several years.

Here is M&E’s newer website: http://www.irishflutes.co.uk/

Eric

15

I’ve only been in Tulsa for the last two years. My wife and I moved here to be closer to her parents. It’s been a nice place to live, but I with there were enough players here to keep a regular session going.

Thanks for the link to the new site… I hadn’t seen it before. I don’t have a plastic flute right now except for my C flute and the dozen PVC ones I’ve made so far, so maybe I’ll go for one of these at some point.

16

Hi William, here’s a picture of my M&E in Ebonite:

Who made your C flute? I hear Copley makes a nice one in Delrin too, besides his excellent D in Delrin as well.

17

My delrin C is a Copley, and I love it.