Doug sent me a G flute, which is super.
I like G flutes, they let me play in C
which is helpful with singers, and
they carry on the street.
This has a bright strong tone, it’s well in tune,
it’s tunable–the slide on this is PVC–
and it looks great, the white PVC look.
I think these cost 45 dollars.
Increasingly I think Doug has become a treasure to
flute fanatics. His flutes aren’t ersatz blackwood flutes,
that sound almost like blackwood. They have
their own sound, one that works very well
for ITM–I think of them less as a substitute
for something more expensive (which I have
already) but worth having for their own sake.
The workmanship couldn’t be better, they
look beautiful and handle very well, and
the prices, well…
His higher pitched flutes appear to be
Something Else.
Just wanted to add another unsolicited testimonial:
Recently, I’ve been playing my Tipple more than my wooden flute, mainly because of where I’ve been when I’ve had the urge to play (the beach, in traffic in the car, the park during lunch hour), and when I went back to my wooden flute yesterday, I found that I’d forgotten how unforgiving the embouchure was on my Healy as compared with the Tipple, and I found it harder to get a pleasing tone. So, it’s back to the Tipple – or at least I need to split my time with the two flutes more evenly.
Also I wanted to share this pic with you all - taken by my wife this past weekend as I was playing at the beach:
I did a little review of Doug’s flutes in the January '04 newsletter. It was positive. Since I’m a weak flute player, I’m always a bit insecure about reviewing flutes, as I’m sure I’m not good enough to really evaluate these instruments, I knew that Doug’s work at the very least would be an incredible value. I’m pleased to see that more people are thinking of these as good instruments in their own right.
I love my Tipples’ I have two one 8 Hole 2 piece in low D Gray with Marble cover which I pealed off the head joint and a Low C 6 hole 3 piece als Gray both have brass slides.
I am a newer whistle player and am interested in trying to play the flute. Have looked at “Erik the Flutemaker” site etc, but recently noticed a lot on Doug Tipple’s work. I need a lower end (price anyway) flute to start.
I’ve got a Dixon Low D Duo (up for sale on the whistle board). Since getting the Kerry I don’t play the Dixon much. I never have gotten the flute head blowing down - except on higher notes. Get down near low D and I just can’t cover the holes cinsistently since my left hand gets cramped with the angle (does not especially when end blown whistling). And I cannot get a consistent sound. Flute playing is not especially easy - is it ?
It’s hard to keep trying when I can get perfectly good sounds from my high and low whistle but I understand the tone differences and want to try.
Are the Tipples easier to learn the embrochure on? What key would be good to play in with my other music - Bb ? C? I use a midi keyboard that will, of course transpose. It may be the Low D is too long for me to learn on.
I bet you get scads of these questions - but thanks for any input you guys and girls can render. It will be apprciated. No Irish players around here.
I don’t think Denny is suggesting that Tipple here is not a good flute – at least I hope not. Not only is the Tipple a “good flute”, but I found it very easy to learn the embouchure on. The Tipple was my first D flute, though I have played the fife for a few years. I find the Tipple much more forgiving than my wooden flute as far as what is required of my embouchure.
If you’re concerned about the stretch of the D flute, I’d try the G, as suggested by the original post of this thread. I have a G-ish Bamboo flute which I find very comfortable.
I played the tipple G at a session last night.
We did some stuff in C. It’s swell.
Doug has expressed to me the misgiving
that maybe the tube is too narrow and
this compromises the low G, but the
low G is just fine, IMO. Also I have
the impression, FWIW, that the
narrower tube lends the flute focus.
I recently purchased a Tipple G and a high C…The G is superb…I was skeptical about ordering the high C as flutes this size can be difficult in the the high upper register but this one is great, very playable, good intonation and controllable in 2nd octave..I’m very pleased with both…
Quite frankly, you can make a PVC yourself…but you can’t afford to spend the time you need to put in (and the number of clunkers) to even get close to what Doug produces…
This IS the voice of experience speaking…how the @##$$% does he do it ? (and the finish is immaculate too!)
