May I just clarify in light of Jim’s comments. When I said “I can make about any of them do about what I want” I didn’t mean that they were identical. I own several flutes because they are not identical. There are real differences.
What I was trying to communicate is that any well-made flute can express itself in a variety of styles and colors. I can make a Burns Rudall bark or a Hammy sing buttery sweet. That was the point I was trying to make. That, and that a good player could grow to really love and enjoy any great flute.
Having said that, I agree that Hammys love to bark and Boxwood Burns Rudalls love to play buttery sweet which, I believe, was Jim’s point.
My primary point is that once you start dealing with the top half dozen or so really great flute makers, discussions of “Better” are fairly useless as it all becomes a very personal, subjective process.
Jennie, try different flutes if you want and keep the one/ones you bond with.
Thanks for helping me clarify Jim. You are, as usual, right on.
Ditto to what Nelson said. The opportunity to play and hear different maker’s flutes is just one of the things I’m looking forward to at Augusta. A real treat from someone in flute-starved Boerne, Texas.
Yes, if I had only the Bryne or only the Olwell
I would play it gladly and I would not lament.
The Olwell is a lot louder and is helpful when
I need to be heard; the Bryne has a lovely
focused tone. The Olwell is more open and
blends in well with other instruments–I can stay
in the low register and still be heard, which
is often useful.
Other posts: Just trying a flute isn’t always enough, especially if you’re
not yet experienced. Much good fun, of course, and
beats not trying it, obviously. Helps to hang out with it. That’s
why it’s necessary to buy them all!
the concertinas are an edgley and a carroll. the Jon C. and Copley concertinas are on order as well, but the wait is so long i dont think they’ll ever arrive.
haha, buy them all, indeed! lets start a fund, the “buy jim stone flutes but let them get lost at david’s house on the way” fund.
i think there is a difference though, between being able to play a flute as well as your weapon of choice at home, and figuring out what its capable of. i couldnt play simple system (and still dont have one of my own… no $$) when i tried an olwell, and my embouchure was not as developed as it is now. even though i couldnt get my fingers around the low d, and get a shakey speed the plough out of it, i could still tell what an amazing flute it was.
well, Dave Copley is making me a hybrid with tweaked reeds with the option of making it a 38 key in the future, and Jon C. is making the left hand pratten and the right hand a rudall & rose, as well as engraving the screws on the concertina. they both asked me if i wanted flute tuning, and the jury is still out on that one. although it would be nice to use the A and the G buttons to get my c, i might opt instead for a whole on the concertina to uncover when i play a b. but in that case, i cant decide which b i want to use for that, or both. what would you go for?
no $$) when i tried an olwell, and my embouchure was not as developed as it is now. even though i couldnt get my fingers around the low d, and get a shakey speed the plough out of it, i could still tell what an amazing flute it was.