I know I said I would start off on a tipple, and that is still probably what I am going to do, but I remember seeing on here when I was trolling, a link to a tunable, wood, keyless flute for about $300. I don’t remember who made it, I am thinking of one of 2 flutes, one was a reddish brown 3 piece with a c on the barrel (the part the headjoint/tuning slide slides into) and the holes were all on one section, OR the other one was a darker brown color with silver colored rings and tuning slide, 3 pieces, the finger holes being on 2 separate pieces. Anyone know the ones I am talking about? They both were around $300.
Maybe …
http://caseyburnsflutes.com/ff.php
for the first?
I can’t think of another wooden one in that range off the top of my head, but these guys make good Delrin ones for $350 - $400 …
http://www.celticlands.com/page3.html (you’ll have to write and ask David about one; it’s not listed on his site)
There’s a reddish brown 1-key tunable on my FOR SALE thread for £170 - maybe the one you saw, but it doesn’t quite fit your description. Have a look anyway - might be very suitable!
Hey guys, thanks, it was definitely the casey burns flute. Thanks for the help!
For the guy with the 1 key for £170, I would be interested, but unfortunately, because of duties and shipping to the US, I’m not interested.
EDIT: I take that back. I will see how I am doing for money in a few weeks, and then we will talk.
repost
Fair enough! No pressure - just pm me if and when. Cheers!
Off topic, here, but I recently had a text book imported into the US from an EU country, and the total costs of shipping and all came to more than the price of the book, well more!
Ouch!
If you do go for the Folk Flute you won’t be sorry. As you improve so does the flute. It has an AMAZING sound. People are very impressed. And it smells wonderful (if there’s still time for a mopani flute, that is).
Casey markets them as beginner flutes, and he has his tagline that it’s an Irish flute, “nothing more, and nothing less”. It truly is nothing less. The sound it can make, in my opinion, is every bit as complex and beautiful as other more expensive flutes. There’s nothing beginner about it. It just lacks a lot of fancy stuff like silver rings, tuning slide and lots of pieces.
I love mine and will never part with it.
Well, the CB FF may just be that, a really fine beginner’s flute, but why does CB also make a Pratten based model? That is, could CB make something other than a beginner’s model, and why?
IMO, CB has a lovely sense of flute playing, and my CB flute is not for sale, but his FF is only a taste of more to come, so to speak. That is, try his full bored model, very fine!
Thank you, CB!
As I said, the Folk Flute is missing the fancy things that other models have, such as tuning slides and silver rings. But as for what it feels like to play, what it sounds like, the materials, the workmanship…there’s no second-class or lesser quality about it.
I have to say, I bought a CB folk flute as a “travel” flute and am very impressed with it! For the money, it is far better than many other flutes I’ve tried at considerable more money. It isn’t my favourite - lack of a tuning slide and keys being amongst the reasons… Also, my favourite flute might not be someone else’s favourite. But for playing, the quality of sound you get out of it and the feel of playing it are comparable with many much more expensive flutes. I even prefer my FF to several other examples of Casey’s work that I have had in my hands.
So, in no way a “will do until you get something better” flute. Any upgrade one might go for in the future will almost certainly be because you want a tuning slide, and/or keys. Or you happen to stumble across “your” flute somewhere out there and have to sell the FF to be able to afford it.
Chris
No question these are good. Jessie k got one and
raved about it. Perhaps some are uncommonly good.
My own take is rather like Casey’s. Good but
not as good sounding as his more expensive flutes.
So the grade up mopane flute he makes
has a finer sound, I concluded, after a careful
comparison.
Or perhaps it’s the FF I played. On the other hand,
mine was one Casey sent me to review for
Chiffandfipple.
Excellent value, a good deal better than what
you pay for it, no question. Sure, go ahead,
love your flute.
But just you wait…
No need to wait. I am now the proud, if somewhat impulsive, owner of a Casey Burns Boxwood flute. I wasn’t going to buy another flute honest! But I’m glad I did. I’m done buying flutes. This is the one I originally wanted and now it’s mine all mine.
But I still love that Folk Flute.
wow! which one you got?
Hm, right 
The recently for sale one.
I really like it. The wood is really pretty. It kind of glows. The wood feels nice to my fingers, too. And it’s very light. Without all the silver I bet it would weigh almost nothing.
It’s got a tuning slide to help me not bother the others at the session. It comes apart in a nice size for carrying around. It just looks really nice. Casey does really nice work. And this time my CB flute has a chrinoid instead of a web address. A symbol of Life and Nature instead of the Web.
It is much easier to play in the second octave than my folk flute, especially the high A and B. This will give me more confidence. I can still make the low D sound fat if I want, too. It’s such an expressive flute. With a flute like this I’m certain the only thing between me and excellence my are my own skills, or lack of. Mostly lack.
I don’t need any more flutes. I have too many now. I think I’ll keep the Tipple for backpacking trips. I’ll keep the Folk Flute because it takes this boxwood a couple of days to dry out so how else will I ever be able to oil it? (I’m almost alarmed how wet it gets.)
I like the Folk Flute and will probably still play it at lunch time each day. I’m addicted to its smell. I admit, sometimes I just sit and smell it. The boxwood smells a little like grass.
Pretty much it’s all up to me now.
But you see now how your perspective broadens when you have a chance to really get to know other flutes! Sure the folk flute would be enough to take anyone through life. They’re that good. But that doesn’t mean there’s no reason to keep your eyes and ears open.
I own a Burns ‘large-holed ergonomic standard’ (Pratten-like) in mopane, which I somewhat prefer to the folk flute. I also picked up a used Sweetheart blackwood ‘Resonance’ from a poster on this list, since I had never played a smaller-holed flute before. They’re very different, but I love 'em both. So far I’ve resisted the temptation of the pricier flutes, (and keys). If I can keep improving as a player, it’ll probably happen, though.
Ah, Diane, you’ve been bitten and smitten, no question! CFAD has got you! It’s just the start! I’m happy for you - enjoy! And of course you need them all. You can’t have too many. Can we get some sounds from it once you’re ready? Pics would be nice too.
Congratulations.
I’m wanting to try out a flute.
My hands are exactly 7.5" as per Casey’s diagram.
http://caseyburnsflutes.com/detail_photo_handsize.php
Is the small-handed Folk Flute (FF) small-handed because:
a) the hole spacings are ‘normal’ but the ring finger holes are offset (as on Doug Tipple’s offset holes)?; or
b) the flute is redesigned such that some or most holes are closer together than on ‘normal’ flutes? ; or
c) Both (a) and (b) ?
Doug Tipple graciously provides his hole size and spacing, (Casey Burns does not) and I was able to mock it up on paper to scale and lay it out on a representative pipe. I certainly do find some difficulty with the reach between some of the fingers. I can quickly see how simply offsetting the ring finger holes assists the smaller hand size. But it’s still a bit of reach.
So, on somewhat of a budget I am torn between Tipple’s (PVC) fine sounding flutes ($100 range), and the CB (lovely wood) very fine sounding Folk Flute ($300 range). My financial outlay is obviously much lower with Tipple’s flute, and for someone who wants to experiment with the idea and take a year to develop the basics that is attractive. But, if the Casey Burns small-handed ergonomic FF finger reaches are notably smaller than Tipple’s, I’d have to really consider it.
Thanks in advance for considering this query.
Cheers,
Craig[/url]
My hands measure 7.5" too. I can play both flutes. I do not believe I need a small-handed flute at all. That said, I do find the Tipple a little hard to reach and the holes of the Folk Flute fall right under my fingers effortlessly. I had to work hard to figure out how to reach the Tipple holes. I had cramps and everything, but I can do it. My Tipple does not have offset holes. I don’t even think they would help, really.
The Folk flute holes are not much offset. They are close together and the flute itself is tapered because of the conical bore. Being tapered it’s smaller in diameter and easier to reach. Sometimes I feel like the small-handed flute actually a little too small.
Recently I acquired Casey’s Rudall. It’s easily within my reach. Recently I tooted on a Hammy Pratten. No problem reaching the holes there either.
You might want to select one or the other based on other criteria than the size and spacing of holes. Such as materials (do you prefer plastic or wood), sound (I think the Tipple sounds more open and clear), embouchure (the Tipple embouchure is a little smaller and shallower which I personally find easier) or whatever.
I really like both. Lately I play the Folk Flute most of the time.