My M&E polymer Rudell and Rose flute has 6 big, heavily spring, keys; compared with the delicate ones on my old flutes. Does anyone know a manufacture of woodwind keys. Maybe I could replace them using the same mounts. Also Michael Cronnoly makes no bottom C and C# keys. The C and C# holes are located, relative to the Eb key, such that silver flute bottom keys might work.
The flute plays so well and is so responsive and I do a lot of non-key-of-D playing so it would be fun to replace the keys. Conveniently, the key pivot axels are wee threaded rods that are convenient for taking keys on and off. Surely there are some small shops that specialize in woodwind keys. Has anyone looked?
Thanks,
Nelson
Hi Nelson,
I don’t know of any shop that would would work on it,except you might try a woodwind repair in your area. If they work on clarinet keys, they may be able to help you.
To put new springs, you have to file down the old rivet, drill a hole through the key, insert a new one, silver solder it in, buff the key, insert the new leaf spring and peen the end of the rivet to fasten the new spring in. Lots of fun! (NOT) I am working on my 8 key now, making my own springs from brass, if you get through the process and find the key isn’t right, you get to go back and start over. I guess it’s good practice, and builds character.
Good luck!
Jon
A friend of mine has corrected me on my technique on replacing the spring:
Hello.
I see that…(sensored to avoid hurting feelings )…you talk of drilling a hole in the key.
NO. (not actually raising voice)
If you pull off the spring carefully the soft silver will be forced back
into a column which you can round off with pliers and reuse as a rivet.
Much easier. Name withheld…
The would be great if this would work. My experience was with nickel silver keys, and I had the problem with the stud breaking off. Silver is much more elastic, so it would be great if this works. deffintly, try this first.
Jon
Nelson (et al.) . . . those C#/C holes are likely not to be in tune. Nearly every maker I’ve ever spoken to regarding footjoints has said that, on instruments with D feet, they almost always place the holes to optimize venting and NOT in accoustically correct C/C# position.
Unless they were made to get keys eventually (like, they’ve got some kind of plateau in order for a key to make a seal), I don’t think you will be able to add keys to them. (Think of how they’d have to be shaped, for one, if not only the fact that they will probably not be in tune.)
My C and C# on the M&E is close to in tune. I plug the holes with puty and get the right note, or close. It would be an easy job to make a new foot if the holes are not right, anyhow, because I have a wood lathe.
An auxillary question, am I being pedantic or something. Those of you who play the M&E keyed flute, can you key easily like the old flutes (I only know about Meyer and London based flutes of the mid-1800’s)?
Another solution for those of us too cheap to afford a keyed foot joint is to have someone else cover the holes while you play.
One of my daughters became quite adept at covering the vent holes on my Burns Rudall when I was playing a tune that needed a low C the other night. eck, if piano players can play duets on one instrument why can’t we?
