newbie asks ...what about Eb flutes?

Doc Jones · Post by **Doc Jones** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 5:08 pm

Just for clarification also:

I do own several bamboo Olwells (including an Eb). I also own a six-key Rudall Rose in polymer by M&E and an excellent blackwood keyless. The bamboo Olwells kick keester and don't require any tweaking. For the money I wouldn't do anything else.

rama · Post by **rama** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 6:31 pm

Thanks Hare Shoner ... I'll consider it as a desperate last resort....

Thanks Brad for a formidable lineup with Mr. Byrne perhaps leading the pack. key operative word being 'great'....

Thanks Stuart, plz tell me more, does it have large or medium size bore/toneholes? I agree about the Eb flute being a different beast. Is it rowdy.

I am familiar with D, Eb, and flutes that lay somewhere in between. My direct experience has shown me that not all makers
have made a true Eb, in pitch and in tune.

Thanks Doc Jones, I am familiar with Olwell Bamboo flutes, I willl consider it.

Anyone else who owns and plays Eb?

[ This Message was edited by: rama on 2003-02-18 19:37 ]

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 7:06 pm

I play a McGee Eb. Very loud and rich tone. My concern was playing with other instruments, but it works well when one of my sons accompanies with fiddle. He just tunes up a half notch. The fiddle is very flexible like that. Don't know about other instruments blending except of course the piani.

rama · Post by **rama** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 7:12 pm

Thanks Piper7,

Is it single body or twopiece?
Large or medium bore/toneholes?
embrouchure large?
normal foot joint or his radical one?
Plz tell me more....

Gordon · Post by **Gordon** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 7:29 pm

On 2003-02-18 15:53, rama wrote:
Gordon,

What Eb flute do you play?

I don't own any, but I've played a number of them; two different Olwells, a Rudall Eb (don't have any idea year/specs on this one), a Cotter, a Hamilton, and an antique German Meyer (I actually spent the most time on this one -- very nice, actually).
The Olwells were very good, I liked the Hamilton the best (no surprise, playing a Hamilton D as my main flute), and I actually enjoyed playing the little multi-keyed Meyer a lot. The Rudall was great as well, but I didn't spend enough time with it (the guy wanted it back!), and that's not something you can just order, anyway.
I sort of agree with Stuart's observations, about the different feel of an Eb, but I don't think of an Eb as a different instrument. He's quite right that, since they do play differently, your playing has to adjust a bit, as it would on a larger flute than a D. But my original post still stands, that -- if you want an Eb -- the makers of good D flutes are the same guys to make your Eb.

rama · Post by **rama** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 7:47 pm

Thanks Gordon

you favor the Hamilton

I have played Eb flutes made by respected makers. I owned one for a few years. I borrowed one for a couple of months with the intent to buy.
One was a tad too flat for Eb and the other had a note that was out. It may have been a repro of an antique which the maker owned. Great flute but not in tune on every note.

As far as I know from past conversatins with flutemakers, not every (respected) maker of D flutes makes Eb flutes.

[ This Message was edited by: rama on 2003-02-18 20:56 ]

[ This Message was edited by: rama on 2003-02-18 21:10 ]

[ This Message was edited by: rama on 2003-02-18 21:29 ]

thurlowe · Post by **thurlowe** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 8:37 pm

Would you tell us a little about yourself, Rama? You referred to yourself as a "newbie" but I get the impression you meant new to the board, NOT new to the flute! Are you a session player? In a band? Where do you play?

Sorry to be nosy! I'm just a curious cat,

Cara

rama · Post by **rama** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 8:43 pm

new to the list.
sorry for the misunderstanding.
I've played flute about 12 years strictly irishtrad - sessions, a couple groups, etc.
I just got a computer and found this site searching the web.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 8:49 pm

well, I don't know exactly how to tell you all this. I will work on sending you a pic. Just for technical reasons of course as I do not want U2 to accuse me of getting all narcissistic about my flutes. It is actually four pieces and so powerful you would think it had an energy source other than my breath. Terry had described it as being rather cheeky and a flute that would cling to your lips and not let go for some time. that is so true. Hard to put it down. A bit shorter than the D, but the neat thing about Terry's Eb is you can pull the tuning slide out and it tunes perfectly to D. how about that?

rama · Post by **rama** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 8:58 pm

my man piper7!
tell me more...

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 10:03 pm

My recommendations for Eflat makers (and I have played Eflats from all of these makers fairly extensively) in no particular order of preference would be-

Eamon Cotter- Nice, tight and focused sound. Unusual quality to the low and high D I found, not bad but just different (to me).

Sam Murray- 'Ballsier' , capable of a more raucous tone but also versatile. Big sound. Colourful range of tones. Good for punchy playing.

Olwell- Sweeter, very 'true'. Excellent build. Even tone, more balanced. Possibly more suited to flowing, legato playing.

Hamilton- Another potential power house. I find they take a more specific embouchure to Murrays on which I personally feel I can relax more (bear in mind I've been playing Murrays for quite some time, I'm sure the opposite is true for Conal O'Grada who is used to Hammy's!).

Serry- Best 'budget' option I have tried. Maybe a tad variable from instrument to instrument though, you'd need to compare various ones in Eflat, haven't tried the M&E though (is there an Eflat model?).

Again, this is just how these flutes react to MY embouchure. Hope it's of some use though.

Best, Harry.

rama · Post by **rama** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 10:31 pm

Thanks Harry!

good honest descriptions - right on!
plenty to "chew on" in your post.

nothin' like a "balsy" flute. That appeals to me as I'm lookin to get rowdy.

let's see...

So far, the "glass shatterin" Byrne Eb is a flute (or story) to be researched

McGee sounds "hot to trot"

Sam "the man" Murray lives up to his rep
(hard man to get hold of though)

Hammy - can do

Cotter - nice

Wilkes - ???

Grinter - MIA

Olwell - nice

Seery - possibilities

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Tue Feb 18, 2003 10:52 pm

Grinters did'nt produce the goods in terms of the 'Ballsometer' for me personally. Gorgeously made though, and the choice of some big players for a flute to play on stage over a mic.

The only Wilkes Eflat I've tried was a part of a D/ Eflat interchangeable head joint set, so it wouldn't be fair to judge it as a lone, specialised E flat. It was nice to play though, similar to the Olwell in response I found.

But if you REALLY want to go to town with the muffler off then do it on a Hammy or Sammy (Murray) IMHO.

Regards, Harry.

Gordon · Post by **Gordon** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 7:44 am

On 2003-02-18 21:43, rama wrote:
new to the list.
sorry for the misunderstanding.
I've played flute about 12 years strictly irishtrad - sessions, a couple groups, etc.
I just got a computer and found this site searching the web.

Ah, an important difference! I would not have gone on so much about playing an Eb, what woods, etc., had I realized this.
As you know, then, every flute player is bound to have different opinions, as we all play a bit differently.
I'd take Harry's opinions pretty strongly, although many people here know their flutes (Brad, Stuart, and probably most others here who have responded, Piper7's McGee, for eg). Since I don't own and regularly use an Eb (money reasons, more than anything else), my takes are more two or three tune impressions, rather than complete, whole-hearted endorsements.
Nice to see Harry's take on the Hamilton -- I really liked the one I played. The Cotter I played didn't grab me, but that was a faster impression (less time on it).
Good luck and welcome to the board.

rama · Post by **rama** » Wed Feb 19, 2003 10:20 am

Thanks again Harry,
Your advice is well taken
I got a good picture

Thanks Gordon

[ This Message was edited by: rama on 2003-02-19 11:27 ]