I’m currently playing a Casey Burns Folk Flute but would like to upgrade in a few months. Here are the choices I can afford (if you know of others let me know, but I want something wood, not plastic):
Mostly wood (blackwood) Copley ($575)
comes with sterling silver rings, but no tuning slide
I think I’d actually prefer all wood, but I guess the rings would look nice too.
This would be the best bet from a non-cracking relative humidity standpoint because Dave probably has about the same weather in Ohio that I do in Indiana.
Casey Burns Ergonomic Standard (boxwood $625)
all wood, no rings or slide
Casey says he has some “very stable” boxwood.
I should be able to get either of the above in about 4 months.
OR
I’m waiting for a price list from Pat Olwell, and he also makes all wood flutes, but someone mentiond that the price had gone up to $800+ (too much for now) and I assume the wait is probably long, so this isn’t an option I’ll probably go with (as much as I’d like to…maybe later).
Any other suggestions? I really don’t want to go over $600 (so the boxwood Burns is already pushing my limit a bit).
Unfortunately, I deleted the message, so I don’t remember exactly, but about 3-4 months ago, I think Pat’s all-wood flutes were about $650. You won’t get one in four months, though.
Copley makes a heck of a flute. The sterling rings are beautiful, and are really a good idea for stabilizing the joints. That flute will probably also give you a somewhat more “traditional” ITM sound than the all-wood boxwood flute, if that’s the sound you’re looking for. And you’re right about the climate where he seasons the wood and makes the flute being similar to yours, which is a pretty good thing.
On the other hand, an all-wood boxwood from Casey Burns… Mmmmmmm…
Frankly, I don’t really envy your decision, but I hope you really enjoy whatever flute you end up with. Not that I think that’ll be an issue.
You might want to consider a Lehart, a Cotter or a Sam Murray. All are very good value for money. You’d have to do a bit of research but you might find a threepiece keyless with tuning slide coming in within your budget. I have a keyed Lehart which is wonderful value. I’m also playing (on loan) a keyless mopane Casey Burns that’s good value and an easy blower.
I remember Grey Larsen is living in Bloomington too. Perhaps can you have some useful advice about interaction with climate, and experiment some flutes,
Another point: nobody tells about Rose flutes, which might be in your price, and which are very, very nice flutes: great low D, nice sound.
Ahh…good idea. I’d completely forgotten about Rose flutes. Fred sent me a couple of photos of them quite some time ago.
If Wombat or Loren (or others who have/had Rose flutes) read this, how do you guys think the Rose flute compares to some of the others mentioned in this thread?
The one in the photo Fred sent had a crown and looked very nice. Someone in another thread on Rose flutes mentioned theirs didn’t have a crown. (Is a “crown” the same as an “end cap” ?)
The Rose I received did have and end cap, and it was nice, but not stunning or anything.
The Rose I had was a nice flute, but played a bit differently than your typical flute optimized for Irish music, and had a bit less volume than many I’ve played.
Given the choice, I’d buy the unlined Copley, which Dave wasn’t offering at the time I made my purchase - I guess he’s been browbeat into it now though
I’ve forgotten to say that my Rose is fully lined, in mopane, and is another model compared to the models already discussed there (I remember some pixs of Rose flutes int the porn thread).
I would post pixs, if I only had somebody hosting them!
Actually I received my new Hernon flute a few weeks ago. Considering I’m still new to flute playing I need a bit more time to adjust to the flute (and therefore need more time to give a proper review) than an experienced player would. Tomorrow there will be a gathering of Dutch flute players and I will probably get a chance to let the more experienced players try my flute. That way they can provide me with their thoughts about it and I can hear the different sounds the flute can produce.
I will write a review about the flute soon though, but all I can say at this time is that I really enjoy the sound and feel much more than my Dixon three-piece polymer flute. I think that I can safely say that this flute is a bargain at the price Marcus offers it (with case) though.
