I’m looing to buy a great keyless flute, preferably Pratten style, but I’m open to other styles…basically i just want a sound that will carry, with that extra oomph. Also, money is a bit tight…can’t go over $1000…any leads?
Thanks guys!
Here are some names which come to my mind:
Casey Burns*
Mark Hoza*
Dave Copley (soon to be*)
Jon C
Terry McGee**
Hammy Hamilton
Desi Seery
*- Flutes I own/have owned.
**-Flutes I have tryed.
All of these will be less than $1000 US for a keyless. If you want loud, the Hammy is the best choice from what I hear. All of these makers have websites except Jon C, who you can find on this forum.
I own a Casey Burns Pratten and it is a great Flute, it is the one pictured in my avatar. This is a great session Flute, I never have trouble starting tunes in sessions and one session I go to is usually over 20 musicians.
I used to own a Hoza F and it was a nice Flute, the only reason I sold it was because it hurt my hand to play as I don’t use standard or piper’s grip. I would have kept it otherwise as it was well made. This was the loudest Flute I had ever played.
I tryed a McGee Rudall Perfected at a session once and it sounded great. It was also put together really well.
A sound that’ll carry with some oomph, honk, bark and window-rattling requires more from your end (the embouchure) than from the flute. It is perfectly possible to play a flute that is famous for it’s powerful tone and all with a weak, leaky sound. And if the embouchure is good, it is also very possible to play a bad or at least mediocre flute with a good, strong tone.
Having said this, http://www.hamiltonflutes.com would be the way to go for arguably most powerful flutes around. They might require a bit more from the player’s embouchure, but it is certainly worth the trouble once the sweet spot is found.
I have a Bleazey boxwood which has a suprising amount of oomph.
Dave
I may be putting a keyless up for sale in the next week or two. Either one I’ll be selling are fine flutes. PM me if you want me to contact you when I decide what I’m selling.
Dave
I love my Bleazey to pieces, and while it may not be too far down in terms of dB, it just doesn’t cut through the way a Hammy or Copley or even small-holed Olwell does.
If you want bark, I’d really suggest a Hammy. Great price, modest wait (about 8 months for mine, which was a special order).