I’ve decided to order a keyless blackwood flute in D from Chris Wilkes after having a short blow on a keyless Bb flute made by Chris. I had problems with the finger spacing on the Bb but even so, the the bottom end notes were amazing, very strong and loud and easy to get, when I finally did manage to get my fingers over the holes properly. I was very impressed. So the idea was born that a Wilkes keyless D flute could be nice to own and play
So any opinions from owners of Wilkes’ flutes on which model to go for - a Wilkes Pratten or a Wilkes standard"R&R"?
I’m playing a 4 key Dave Williams D flute based on a 1840’s R&R at the moment which I’m very pleased with by the way. Has anyone compared a Wilkes Pratten to a Wilkes “standard”? Is there a big difference in tone, volume, or does it mostly depend upon the player? Just asking as I don’t have any access to a Pratten model flute to try out or compare with my Williams - I prefer the “wild” rough style of flute playing like Conal O’Grada
I’ve heard Eskey, Sligo, flute player Pat Mahon play and he has some nondescript flute, no know maker, but the sound he gets is like no other - makes Matt Molloy sound weedy - Pat’s the best flute player in the whole of Ireland
Seems like most well-known players of Wilkes flute plays his R&R-styled flutes. Interesting to hear about his Prattens - I’m sure they’re awesome!
One caveat - I emailed Chris a couple months ago inquiring about a keyless flute. He said he was about ready to finish several keyless flutes that were already sold and wasn’t planning on making any more for a few years Of course, if you’re willing to wait…
I have a keyless Wilkes’ Rudall Rose design in blackwood, with fancy machine-turned silver rings. The flute is a marvelous instrument. The tuning is accurate and the bottom D is fantastic. It has a great bark when pushed in the lower octave and is sweet and clear in the upper octave. It is a superb instrument in every way.
Wilkes’ workmanship is first rate. His flutes are beautifully finished inside and out. Few makers have the machine skills necessary to do what Chris does with a flute. It is slim and feels wonderful in the hand. It feels very much like an antique R&R, on which it is based.
The fact that some players find fault with the lower notes on Wilkes’ R&R keyless flutes says more about them than about Chris’ flutes. Jean-Michel Veillon has no problem playing this flute. Wilkes’ R&R flute is loud, flexible, and responsive.
I’ve never played a Wilkes Pratten model. I expect it would be lovely. But it is his R&R models that made him famous. I’ve asked him for a six-keyed flute but he doesn’t like me well enough to get me one while I still have air in my lungs. Were I to do it again I would not hesitate to buy one of Wilkes’ R&R keyless flutes. I am sure that my opinion would be seconded by many other people on this list.
3 weeks ago I was lucky enough to hear the wonderful Claire Mann playing her Wilkes ( D & Bflat ) They sounded marvellous. Can you believe she offered me a blow on them but I had to leave early to catch the last train home
Many thanks for your thoughts and opinions. Seems like this will be a hard choice to make - to go for a Pratten or R&R model flute. I have seen a few Wilkes flutes and I agree that they seem to be very well made instruments indeed. Prehaps as I have a Williams R&R model flute I’ll go for the Pratten model.
Are there any disadvantages with Pratten model flutes, are they in tune with themselves in both octaves? Are they as responsive as a good R&R model flute? From what I remember that people have mentioned the Pratten model requires more air - is this true? Hard questions I know as so much depends on the individual flute player and her/his experience playing the flute. Six years is a long time I know but time passes quickly and hopefully when six years has passed I’m be a better flute player and better able to make the most of a quality instrument
I find it funny how David Levine is so quick to say that if someone makes a comment about the low notes being harder on one model than another, it means there is something wrong with the player.
Everyone is different and has different lips and blowing styles. When I first started playing the flute, I found Prattens hard to fill. Now, I find R&R flutes weak in the lowest bits. My preference is the medium model (most makers call it Nicholson). But I have owned two Wilkes flutes and have played three and the the Pratten was MUCH easier to play and less temperamental in the lowest notes. I still prefer Olwells.
It is important to remember that not all of us ARE professional musicians. Some of us enjoy music purely for the love of it and get inspired when our own playing sounds good with LESS effort rather than more.
I was lucky enough to see Claire perform at the local Folkclub on Saturday night.Claire is rather petite,so the Bb flute looked like a real ‘monster’ in her hands!
Both flutes sounded wonderful-the Bb especially sounding very dark and rich.
Apart from making the flutes sound so good,to top it all,Claire also played fiddle and sang-oh to be as talented!
Claire says shes just 5 feet, so when she first got the Wilkes Bb, the stretch for the lowest hole was uncomfortable, so she couldn’t play as long as she wanted on it. But I’m sure she’s got it by now. She’s decided to pull the previously agreed track for “Wooden Flute Obsession 2” and will probably do a new track with this flute. And she plays the whistle, too!
Chris Wilkes (whatever he may have done in the past ) makes his flutes with moderate sized emboucheres designed for people who can really “blow” , as opposed to the lower orders of flutemakers who make big holes to make it easy for the masses who cant breathe properly into a flute , often because they have never observed the difference He refuses to compromise , being more interested in posterity than popularity .His latest models will in the right hands (or mouths ) outperform anything else . Go and inspect your Embouchere !,madam .
If I can work out how I shall put a photo of an up to date model on .
This isn’t advertising - you can’t get one .
Hello,
I have both a Rudall 8 keyed and a Pratten 8 keyed by Wilkes. I like
them both alot, but lately I have been playing the Pratten. It has a
stronger sound and bigger finger holes and contrarely to what some
think, the Rudall is easier to blow, that is, people who (know how to blow)
have tried both flutes, will get without any problem the low D on the rudall
as some might find it a wee bit harder on the Pratten. That said I think
they are both easy to blow once you know how to…Not to add insult to
injury, if you try a flute that sounds great in someone 's hand and can’t
get a nice low D maybe you should say I cant get a low D rather than the
low D is hard on Wilkes flute…And you dont have to be a professional player to get a low D on a rudall by Wilkes, just play with a TIGHT embouchure, requires no air and gives a great powerfull sound…
I know that Wilkes is much more at ease making Rudall but I was spending
the week end at his house and he “rediscovered” his Pratten and was impressed by it, so who knows, he might see the light and start to make more of them, but I doubt it
You just contradicted yourself. You said one (Rudall) is easier than the other (Pratten) and then you said that people shouldn’t say that one is easier than the other. Brilliant.
If you actually read what I wrote in my original post on this thread, it was that (and CLEARLY it was, as are all posts by individuals, an opinion) a Rudall is “harder” to play in the lowest notes than a Pratten.
My opinion is just as valid as yours. Not that it matters, but I have been hired to play flute and whistle professionally on numerous occasions, including a flute sample for synthesizers. My embouchure is fine. I have preferences, as we all do.
People forget what often happens when somebody
expresses an opinion that can be construed
negatively. It isn’t enough to disgree with him/her,
there must be something the matter
with the expressor (word?) or with expressing
the opinion at all. That’s a step too far, I think. Best
Dear JessieK, about logic I wont argue with you, what I said is
that you’ve wrote a few times that Wilkes flute are hard to play
just because YOU cannot get a low D, whatever the reason might
be (…) Then you say a Pratten by W. is easier to blow, to which
I replied not the case point taken?
Now that you are a semi pro player in whatever instrument is your
buisness and regards only you (and who ever pays to listen to you)
But again it is you and only you who stated many times that you could
not blow a low D (or any other note) on a Rudall by Wilkes, so the only
point I wish to say to you is that when people discuss Wilkes flute, well
maybe your point of view is not of much intrest to some one who whises
to know whether to buy a Prattens or a Rudall. Let those who CAN blow
from these flutes express their preferences.
I never said I couldn’t blow a Low D…I said it was more difficult on that flute (Wilkes Rudall) than other, larger bore flutes. Yes, it was my opinion. And what you write is your opinion. I do understand your position that you think that because I have expressed difficulty with Wilkes flutes, you think my opinion is superfluous, but I’d played a Wilkes Pratten that someone else had (in Ireland, a year before I ordered any) and found it quite lovely and easy to play. When I (later) ordered flutes from Chris, he did not mention making Pratten models, so I assumed that he made only one model. When I got them (2), I figured the one I’d played (that belonged to someone else) was a fluke. When I saw this post, I saw that it wasn’t a fluke…it was a different model. My comments in previous threads were about the Rudalls, not the other one. So I saw here that he offered more than one model and I thought I’d offer some advice, as people tend to do in this forum, and mention that the Pratten was far easier (for me, as should be assumed) to play than the Rudall.
Maknig one of those sweeping generalizations, i think large holed flutes are generally easier to play and more in tune, due in part to better venting. While some people prefer small holed flutes because they afford a greater variety of tone colors (due in part to more imperfect venting!).
That’s the sweeping generalization, but of course any flute is hard to play when we don’t know it well and it becomes easier to play as we get more acquainted with it.
g wrote:
Maknig one of those sweeping generalizations, i think large holed flutes are generally easier to play and more in tune, due in part to better venting. While some people prefer small holed flutes because they afford a greater variety of tone colors (due in part to more imperfect venting!).
That’s the sweeping generalization, but of course any flute is hard to play when we don’t know it well and it becomes easier to play as we get more acquainted with it.
There are more deference’s between the two models then just the tone hole sizes.
Pratten would have a larger embouchure hole, thinner head which would produce a thinner chimney.
Of course, if you’re willing to wait…