Hi, it appears it’s more common for moderns makers to not provide the option of the C and C# keys on the long foot. I’m looking for a new keyed flute, preferably with C and C# keys since I like to play tunes in D minor, C maj etc and allows for more options with improvising with another instrument in C. I see that Copley, Doyle, Murray , Lehart flutes don’t have that option (at least some of them used to have the option, but no more)
Which makers still offer it, currently that come to mind which have that offer the long foot with keys? It’s not my sole criteria for a flute of course , just something I’d really like to have (other criteria is of course price, the volume, the tone, breath requirements) mainly I’d like a flute which is forgiving in terms of breath but still has good volume),
Thanks in advance
My Thomas Aebi and Peter Noy flutes have the foot C and C# keys. I believe Terry McGee also offers foot keys.
Between the two, I prefer the Noy flute’s more modern cup + pad design over the Aebi’s traditional 19th Century pewter cup design. It just seals better with fewer complications.
Adding a C foot adds considerably to the price, as that is a lot of extra work for the maker. Not to mention the wait time.
You can get a great 19th C antique flute for much cheaper. $2,000 - $4,000. The lower price is available it the flute does not have the inscription “Rudall & Rose”.
You have to evaluate the antiques and make sure it is within acceptable intonation. These flutes have tuning slides and were intended to cover a range of tunings. But if the flute is well-made, and not HP, this is not nearly the problem some make it out to be. (I know there will be three people chiming in to say only buy a modern flute, but I don’t think they have actually tried a good antique.)
Dave Copley still offers the low C and C#. I don’t see the 8 key configuration on his site, but when I ordered my 8 key delrin it wasn’t on his list/site, either…it was the other configurations as discussed option for keys.
I’ve owned a bunch of 8-keyed flutes, old and new, including 3 with a Boehm foot.
The best in my opinion is Jay Ham’s (ask for his latest design). He offers several flute models, but his standard “large hole” Rudall has the other characterics you’re after (tone, easy on the lungs, good volume). If you search this board, you should see photos of mine (the boxwood one).
Tom Aebi makes an excellent traditional footjoint (and great keywork more generally). He offers pads or pewter plugs as an option. Pads are a bit cheaper and quieter.
The one I liked least among modern makers was Stéphane Morvan’s. I found it particularly unergonomic and the Eb key was thin and hard to reach. He no longer makes fully keyed flutes anyways…
Regarding Boehm foot joint keywork…I really thought it might work best for me since I have a very short pinky, but I found it to be unusable. The old style is best for me, and I suspect best for those with medium/small hands and short pinkies.
I’ve just swopped my pewter plug style foot for a Boehm style C-foot. 100% (for me) the right choice. I’d been playing 2+ years with the traditional R&R style pewter plug. 1 week after switch over, prefer the ergonomics, solidity of the bottom notes and the absence of the typewriter click clack.
The pewter plug style keys can be prone to sticking or being lazy if you don’t do regular cleaning / maintenance. Also many of the traditional older flutes that had the keys in-situ have removed them because the bottom-D plays better without the C/C# keys.
The extra two keys is going to set you back €800-1500 from most of the makers. So it begs the question if you really need it for the repertoire you intend to play.
Having regularly played an original Rudall & Rose c1830 flute for over 20 years I feel the need to point out that the pewter plug footjoint keys (which I regularly used) always worked flawlessly, sealed perfectly, and needed no maintenance whatsoever. (And Low C and Low C# were in tune, despite what other people say.)
I don’t know why some other surviving mid-19th century flutes with pewter-plug footjoint keys have issues, because it’s not something I’ve experienced.
I can only guess they’ve suffered maladjustment or damage. They are 200 years old, after all.
To chime in with Richard, my current Henry Wylde and former E. Baak and F&P, all with pewter plugs for the low C and c#, have worked perfectly and been in perfect tuning as well.
