I have a two piece tunable Doug Tipple PVC flute. Inline holes. I like it alot. To me it sounds very alive, wide open, and vibrant.
I was wondering what wooden flutes out there sound similar to a Tipple. I have played a few. A blackwood Olwell, a four key rosewood Sweet, and two Skip Healys. The Olwell was really nice. The Sweet, and Skip Healys were ok, but i just did not care for them as much. To me they just sound, i dont know, muffled i guess. Not as wide open or vibrant as my Tipple or the Olwell.
I want a wooden flute eventually, so given the above scenarios, does anyone have suggestions for models i should try? Obviously i need to play more instruments before making choice, but i was thinking perhaps some with bigger bores/holes, as that might contribute to a wider open sound. Perhaps a Hamilton or a Burns Pratten model.
If you liked the Olwell so much, maybe you’ve already found your answer…
On another note, how long have you been playing? Some of this could be your embouchure development, or simply how the flute fits you…I’ve found my rosewood 4 key Sweetheart to have the same qualities you’re looking for, same with my Seery which is based on a pratten (interestingly, it has almost exactly the same size tone holes and bore compared to the Sweetheart). I’ve not played a Healy, they’re supposedly quite unique, but are known for their power and strong tone (Skip sounds great on one).
I played Bohem style flute since i was eight up until about 1994, when i realized i did not want to join the marching band in high school. So i picked up guitar. Now i have gotten into the flute again, though this time with simple system flutes and Irish Trad music. So my embouchure, while rusty, is decent enough. All the flutes i listed i am sure are really good, perhaps its just me, or i need to spend more time adjusting to those particular flutes.
You’ve already had the opportunity to play some good flutes. Are you in a position to try any more? The Hamilton is known for a huge bore, big tone holes, and a big open sound. Casey Burn’s prattens are pretty darn loud, too. And I played a Terry McGee pratten that was outstanding with great tone…much like you’re searching for.
If you’d like delrin or PVC, M&E, Seery, and Paddy Ward all have their ardent supporters on this board.
The longer I play, though, the more I think with any decent flute you’re going to sound like yourself…but that doesn’t mean you don’t feel a subjective difference when playing a particular instrument. On my two flutes, it feels and sounds to me that I sound different, but my wife says I sound the same and a recording I did the other day proved her right.