Hi, I’m ordering my first Irish flute from Doug Tipple and just want to get some feedback on features. I’ve read all the info and recommendations on Doug’s website, but I’d also like to hear from folks who play his flutes.
The only options I KNOW that I want are: right handed, Tipple-Fajardo wedge, and three-piece. I’m still deciding on the following three:
inline or offset? I’ve played Boehm flute (inline) in the past, and I have long fingers. I have a Tommy Dion low-D whistle and don’t have any issues with reach on that instrument. I’m therefore leaning toward inline, but I’m still toying with the idea of a slight offset on L3 and R3.
lip plate? Doug notes that the lip plate makes for an even stronger first octave, the trade-off being a less responsive flute in the third octave. However, isn’t a lot of ITM for flute composed in the lower two octaves? I’m leaning toward the lip plate because of the stronger lower register, but I’d like to hear what people think about the lip plate.
smaller circular or larger oval embouchure hole? I don’t even know if this is an issue if I go for the lip plate. However, I’d like to get people’s thoughts here as well.
Makes a lot of sense to me, just in terms of angles. Also would work well for me since my right ring finger (R3) is actually a little longer than my index finger. Thanks for that thought. I may well go with offset L3 and inline R3.
Only on men. And IIRC then it’s already distinguishable on, say, 10-year olds. (No, I haven’t done some cruel kind of experiments in the past. I actually learned this from the kids I used to be a scouts leader for.) Of course, there are exceptions, so you now know how to accuse men to have feminine hands, and the other way around.
Caveat: I’m relatively new to flutes, having played whistles for several years. Consequently my comments should be taken from the perspective of a learner who used the Tipple to see if I liked-or am capable of-playing the flute.
As a starter flute, I’m not sure that it makes all that much difference on any of the features you’ve mentioned. It’s a place to begin to learn what aspects you are looking for in that wooden flute that takes years to receive and it may be too soon in your flute adventures to make any sort of realistic decisions about about features.
In the meantime, you’re learning how to adapt to the design and idiosyncrasies of the flute. The Tipple I started out with (and now have for sale in the Used Instruments Forum) has offset L3 and R3 holes. I found no difficulty adapting to an “in-line” flute. Mine doesn’t have a lip plate, nor does the current flute I’m playing so I can’t comment on that. Most flutes associated with ITM seem to have some variation of an ovoid embouchure hole.
My suggestion is just to get one, play it and use it to decide what features you like or don’t like for the day when you are flush with cash and a new flute catches your fancy. (Then you’ll still have a great back-up instrument.)
My Tipple has inline finger holes. I also play low whistles and the Tipple is no problem for me there. None of my low whistles have offset holes and I would like to keep them as close to the same as possible.
I DON’T have the lip plate and both the low D and E are plenty strong. But I haven’t tried the lip plate so I can’t say what I would prefer…
Mine has the larger oval emboucher hole and I very much like it!
I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy your flute whichever configuration you decide on.
Hi , I have the exact questions. Does anyone have an opinion about the bigger bore or the narrow bore. I really wanted to buy Steve’s flute but I was a little concerned about the offset fingers. After playing a Grinter low D and a copeland low D, I want to keep the same in-line.
Inline or offset? I have an offset Tipple but would buy a three part Tipple next time so I could go inline and adjust the top section for the G. I might even do away with the offset altogether on a new Tipple because my Santin African blackwood is inllne and I have no problems with that at all. If your hands measure as you say they do then inline would be OK for you, particularly as you’ve chosen a three section Tipple you can adjust to your fingerering requirements.
Lip plate? I have a deep, undercut Tipple lip plate. I get profoundly sonorous tones that make peoples eyes widen (in admiration for the tone; for my actual playing, not so much…). My soul-sound Santin African blackwood doesn’t have a lip plate and though it’s a smidgeon quieter, has a deep belltone and can produce great complexities right through the octaves, high or low. (When I can invoke them at will, look out …).
Embouchure hole: I have both Doug’s embouchure holes and can’t discern any difference yet. (Doug says the smaller hole is easier to play, so who am I to say otherwise)? I play the large emboucure nearly all the time now and by the time I get another Tipple I hope Doug will be offering a third large embouchure with rounded corners. I’d like to try one, though I can’t imagine getting a more satisfyingly vibrative honk than I’m getting from his flute right now. My Santin blackwood has an oval hole, about the same size as Doug’s larger one.
Hope this helps.
(So why am I dithering about with Doug’s flutes when I seem so satified with my Santin’s very much more sophisticated sound and penetration? Well, Doug’s is more Prattenish, and my Santin is more RnR so far as I can make out, with slightly smaller tone holes, and of course it’s tapered so has varying bores compared to Doug’s cylinderical barrel. But one day Doug might produce an RnR type flute with slightly less volume, but greatly increased sweetness and responsiveness, something that makes listeners go as misty eyed as my Santin. I also prefer Doug’s flute’s eight ounce weight to my Santin’s 11 ounces, though I understand some wooden flutes go to over 16 ounces).
I’ve been playing a 3-piece Tipple with lip plate and oval embrouchure for maybe 5-6 weeks now. As a someone who started on a boehm, I can say this has been working well. I got the offset finger holes and it’s worked out, too. I prefer the tipple to the Delrin conical-bore one I used to play (badly), but sold. The Tipple was much the better deal.
I went with the following: right hand, three-piece, inline except for L3 (slightly offset), lip plate, oval embrouchure, Tipple-Fajardo wedge. I got out my wife’s Boehm flute and held it a while. I also held my low D whistle sideways and thought about finger position. Because of the angles, I do feel like a slight offset on the left ring finger couldn’t hurt. Got the lip plate for the improved lower register, the wedge for the more stable tone, and three piece mainly for portability (rather than adjustment). Oh yeah, I got right handed because I’m not one of those crazy, left-handed people.
Doug is making this one up since the single offset is a little different from his typical orders. I look forward to giving it a try.
I think that it is grown indoors year round (using hydroponics and lights {much like some of our local crops, abet on a much larger scale}) in the Midwest.
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I hadn’t thought of that 
