Thank you for visiting my webpage. From time to time the photos may disappear from my website due to high traffic to my site. Google has a bandwidth limit for the free googlepages service, and the disappearance of the photos is the penalty when that limit is exceeded. The photos will reappear when the traffic goes down.
Please note that I have a new YouTube channel with several videos of tunes played by experienced players. Please see my audio files page for details.
The following flutes are arranged in order from the smallest size (highest pitch) to the largest size (lowest pitch). Optional lip plates (+$20) and the Tipple-Fajardo wedges ( recommended @ +$10 ea.) are offered for the large bore flutes. At the present time lip plates and internal wedges are not available for the small-bore flutes. For the small flutes second octave correction is accomplished by tuning cork setting and alternate fingerings for the uppermost notes. See separate pages for these options.
Small flutes (white pvc with machined pvc tuning tenon joints). (Please see photos page):
Two-piece, tunable six-hole C flute/fife @ $55, highest pitch small-bore flute
Two-piece, tunable six-hole Bb flute/fife @ $55
Two-piece, tunable six-hole A flute @ $55
Two-piece, tunable six-hole Ab flute @ $55
Two-piece, tunable six-hole G flute @ $55
Two-piece, tunable six-hole F# flute @ $55, lowest pitch small-bore flute
Medium size flutes (white pvc with machined pvc tenon joints, see photos page):
Two-piece, tunable six-hole F flute @ $60, highest pitch larger-bore flute
Three-piece, tunable six-hole F flute @ $75
Two-piece, tunable six-hole E flute @ $60
Three-piece, tunable, six-hole E flute @ $75
Two-piece, tunable six-hole Eb flute @ $60
Three-piece, tunable six-hole Eb flute @ $75
Two-piece, tunable six-hole low D flute @ $60
Three-piece, tunable six-hole low D flute @ $75
Three-piece, tunable eight-hole low D flute @ $85
Three-piece, tunable six-hole low D flute in gray pvc @ $85
Large flutes (white pvc, machined pvc tenon joints):
Three piece, tunable six-hole low C#/Db flute @ $80
Three-piece, tunable six-hole low C flute @ $80
Three-piece, tunable six-hole low B flute @ $85
Three-piece, tunable six-hole low Bb flute @ $85
Accessories for the large-bore flutes:
Tipple-Fajardo wedge @ $10 each
optional lip plate is + $20
The above descriptions of the flutes as medium size and large size are arbitrary and are merely my attempt at separating the larger-bore flutes by relative sizes. Actually, both of these flute groups are made from the same size of pipe.
Flute Specifications:
The pipe that I use to construct the large-bore flutes (F, E, Eb, D, C#/Db, C, D, and low Bb) is schedule 40, 3/4" PVC plumbing pipe, which has an ID (internal diameter) of .800" and a wall thickness of .125".
For the low D flute: The 6-hole low D flute is 23 1/2" long and weighs 6.2 oz. The 8-hole low D flute is 26 1/2" long and weighs 7.2 oz. Both flutes have exactly the same finger hole placement.
hole diameters:__3/8"__3/8"___5/16"___3/8"___7/16"___5/16"
layout (center to c):-X--39mm--X--32mm--X------X--27mm--X--42mm--X
The distances between the finger holes for the above flutes are measured inline. All flutes are available with offset or inline finger holes (please specify). Unless you have large hands, I recommend offset finger holes for the larger of the above flutes. Please refer to the separate page "Flute Finger Hole Comparison" for more details.
Gray or white flutes: Although I use the white pvc pipe as my default pvc pipe for making flutes, I also offer the larger bore flutes (F through low Bb) in a gray pvc for + $10 to the listed prices above. The gray pvc is a commerical-grade pipe that I buy from out-of-state. It has a mirror-smooth bore, is very round and concentric, and is also approved for household water pipe. The considerable higher cost of the pipe and my shipping expense accounts for the surcharge for flutes made from the gray pvc. The gray pvc has nearly identical dimensions to the white pvc pipe except that the gray pvc is softer and will scratch easier. I don't detect a significant difference in the tone or loudness of flutes made from the white or the gray pvc. I provide a simple cloth bag to protect the polished surface of all of my flutes.
Flute embouchure: For the first ten years of my flutemaking (over a thousand flutes) I have used a smaller round embouchure hole (about 9.5 mm in diameter) for all of my flutes. Recently, however, I have been encouraged to offer a more conventional embouchure for a modern Irish flute. Following this advice, I have decided to change my default embouchure design to a larger oval shape, cut more aggressively to let in more air to the flute. The larger oval embouchure makes for a more powerful flute, while the smaller, round embouchure (still available by request) produces a sweeter sound . Please see separate page for more details and photos.
In the USA I ship the above flutes by USPS priority mail with delivery confirmation and insurance at a flat rate for $10. I just raised my shipping price to include insurance and to reflect the recent increase in postal rates. Multiple flutes can be shipped together for slightly more (please inquire). I like to ship international orders by insured USPS airmail. Please inquire for prices.
In the USA I accept payment by personal check, money order, or Paypal. For my online ebay auctions I am not allowed to collect a paypal fee. However, for off-auction, direct purchases, if you choose the Paypal option of payment, I do like to receive 3% of the total cost as a fee to partially offset my Paypal costs to the seller. For international orders I accept payment by international money order in US dollars, American Express, MoneyGram, or Paypal (add 4% to partially offset my paypal fee).
To place an order or to ask further questions, please send me an email. My email address is: dougsflutes@gmail.com
My mailing address is:
Doug Tipple
440 Berkley Road
Indianapolis, IN 46208
USA
Once we have agreed on what you want to order and the selling price, to make a paypal payment:
Go to www.paypal.com
On the paypal main screen click on the "Send Money" tab.
My paypal identity is my primary email: dougsflutes@gmail.com
Send me an email saying that you have successfully made the payment.
I will send a confirming email saying that I have received the funds.
Thank you for visiting my webpage.
