Examining a traverse flute for Irish folk made in Pakistan

Рет қаралды 778

4 жыл бұрын

I bought one just out of interest and was shocked by what I discovered inside it. Sorry about the bad autofocus. I am still getting used to it.

Пікірлер: 24

@AndieArbeit 8 ай бұрын

A friend of mine allowed me to play a pakistani flute, amongst other wooden flutes. The sound of that was quite nice, strong and balanced, maybe a bit out of tune in certain parts of the register, but nothing that can not be solved by my self... However the most uncomfortable aspect of it was the fact that the general construction was setted a bit low for my own embouchure, and I would even attempt to play in tune with fiddles or other whistles in cold weather... In general the product was nice, for the price it was a solid flute, but i feel the makers should be more versatile about the tune, it is easier to have a higher pitched flute (442 and a bit above) and tune it down by the headjoint than have a 440 dead center and play low because of personal embouchure styles or weather aspects and have no option by the tunning slide

@AndieArbeit 6 ай бұрын

Update, Just because of curiosity I bought said flute, and for my surprise I was Able to sand a bit the inner roughness inside the tone holes, also kind of play around changing the cork for a concert flute old stopper and cork and it sound better, also humidity and warmth tend to solve the issue of the low pitch for my taste. However I do not like at all the shape or angle of the embouchure hole, I think that even the other side (blowing it like if I were a left handed person) the third octave comes easier. I feel like the brand maker does not cared very much on curating or using some kind of oil inside the wood... I will experiment with almond oil in the near future... oh yeah, also corks needed a bit of grease

@AndieArbeit 6 ай бұрын

Another point I am trying to figure is what model really is it because it looks a lot like the one you are showing, however the foot joint where the C and C# holes are is separed from the body, which also separate in two pieces, and the joints have cork, not thread.... Even if most people dislikes these flutes, are an interesting topic 😂 And thanks god finally I have a wooden flute to learn and do something messing around with the oil before acquiring a good and old blackwood one

@David-nb8tq 8 ай бұрын

I am glad, I am a player not a maker.

@bertoldriesenteil1430 8 ай бұрын

And I am glad that you watched my video.

@bertoldriesenteil1430 4 жыл бұрын

I removed one of the ferrules just out of interest. They seem to be made of brass. There was the remains of a thread on the inside so they might be reused and reworked plumber's fittings. The ferrule that l removed was glued on and thread wound around between it and the flute. So it would have offered no protection against cracking.

@PIPEHEAD 4 жыл бұрын

I read your " forthright " comments on a Practice Pipes video, ( I have just ordered a set ) , and had to investigate your channel . This video was fascinating ! I hasten to point out that I am no flautist, but I bought a flute like this fifteen years ago and I can't get anywhere near the bottom couple of notes out of it . You will probably scream " sacrilege " , but I play a Tony Dixon flute which is basically a piece of plastic tubing with seven holes in it and one end blocked off. It sounds fantastic !

@bertoldriesenteil1430 4 жыл бұрын

I am sure the Dixon Fute sounds great. When it comes to the two bottom notes of the other flute not playing, that should be a leaky key or a crack below the last hole that sounds ok. Alternatively you might want to reposition the cork stopper in the head joint. Measure the width of the bore at the embouchure. The cork should be that distance from the middle of the embouchure.

@PIPEHEAD 4 жыл бұрын

@@bertoldriesenteil1430 Thanks for the reply, and the suggestions. The flute is actually quite a bit better than the one in your video, nice and smooth inside. I'm fairly confident that the problem is actually the embouchure, though as I said I am far from proficient . I may try sharpening the edge a bit ! I play so many other instruments I have not had the plastic flute going for a while, but I am beginning to get back into it, and I am going to be investing in a wooden one quite soon, starting with the cheapest I can find and if necessary working my way up until I have one which is playable . I would be happy with a bamboo flute but they are prone to cracking, I have found. I'll let you know if I strike gold ...

@bertoldriesenteil1430 4 жыл бұрын

@@PIPEHEAD Don't go for a cheap one. I would recommend a second-hand antique German flute made of Ebony. I restore them so I have many. I also have a brand new Lehardt flute which I bought after falling in love with tempus fugit by Menguy which is in KZbin. It is nice, but it doesn't come anywhere near any of my German flutes. The hollow woodyness is less pronounced. It is the wood that matters the most. The Lehardt flute is made of Grenadill because you cannot get decent Ebony any more because of CETA.

@PIPEHEAD 4 жыл бұрын

@@bertoldriesenteil1430 Hi, again. I had a feeling you would say that, but of all my instruments, every single one is the cheapest possible version, except my concertina . I've given that track a few spins and I can see why you love it, but having been a musician for over fifty years I can confidently assert that I will never be on that kind of level ( on any instrument ) , and a good flute would be wasted on me . I started wind instruments on the whistle 35 years ago, and I love the simplicity of the six hole flute, and I am not keen on keywork . I am though, like any sensible person, a big lover of African Blackwood, and have Pakistani Uilleann chanters ( ! ) in Blackwood and Ebony. If the flute suddenly becomes my favourite instrument I may well go for a good one, but at this stage I would be content with something which is playable . Thanks again for taking the trouble to advise me - I spotted a few comments from you on Tempus Fugit !

@bertoldriesenteil1430 4 жыл бұрын

@@PIPEHEAD I understand. I am the same type of musician as you. I have also been trying just about every instrument under the sun for the last half century. If I had achieved my goal you would have heard of me. Keys do have their downsides yes, and for Irish music two or three might be usefull sometimes. Beware with the term African Blackwood. It normally is used in reference to a wood that is not ebony.

@crazydrones1422 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this great video! Is the flute playable after a bit of work on it? Thanks!

@bertoldriesenteil1430 4 жыл бұрын

It would be playable after a lot of work on it. But you will not get the mellow sound of an antique flute. I hope to find time to work on that one soon. I have ordered a Lehart. It will be ready in Spring. I know that I will never play tempus fugit like Menguy but what the hell.

@MrSeedi76 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting. "An approximation of a flute" -- that was hilarious. I think I rather keep playing my "aluminium tubes with holes" than wasting my money on the "Pakistani firewood". Everybody should watch this video who thinks about buying one of these cheapo things.