AΩ Traditional Simple System Flutes

We offer these flutes in two models with options on keys and style.
The key of each flute is stated as the 6 finger note of the instrument. For example a D flute will play a concert d note with 6 fingers down.
(Rather confusingly, orchestral flutes are called after their 7 finger note and so our D flute would be called a C flute, but we will stick to the folk world's conventions here)

See the bottom of this page for a list of flutes available from stock

Sylvain Laberge has kindly provided us with some sound clips of our Pratten and Rudall Rose flutes

The Pratten Model - Available in keys of D and G

The Pratten flute has a larger bore than many simple system flutes and accordingly makes a big sound. A great flute for sessions as this flute can be played loud if you want to. It will play with a softer and sweeter tone if required, but has the head room if you are prepared to push more air across the embouchure hole.

Lilting Banshee

The Rudall Rose Model - Available in key of D

The Rudall Rose model has a smaller bore and consequently a sweeter tone than the Pratten flute. While it will not have the same volume as the Pratten, it is a more responsive flute and consequently preferred by players of fast music music played with a lot of rapid ornamentation.

Trip to Pakistan

We also offer traditional flutes in Bb and F and a special flute pitched at a "sharp F" for accompanying Northumbrian Pipes at their traditionl pitch.

The Keys

All flutes are available in keyless form. These are preferred by players who want a physically lighter and more responsive flute, and who mainly play in the keys of D and G and their relative minor keys.

Keys are all in nickel silver and are pillar mounted which gives a very high quality key mechanism. We really pride ourselves on the quality of our keys and we have designed a style for the keys which is unique to the Alpha Omega Traditional flutes.

Up to 8 keys can however be fitted in various configurations to enable easier playing in a wider range of major and minor keys and to extend the flute below the lower D note to play C and C#.

The standard key options are:-
Two Keys (G# and short F) - to enable playing in keys of C and A
Four keys ( G#, short F, Bb,and Eb) - to allow a fully chromatic instrument.
Five keys (G#, short F, Bb,and Eb and C) - while a very good cross fingering exists for the upper c, the C key is very useful for trills and moving quickly from b to c.
Six keys (G#, short F, Bb,and Eb, C and Long F key) - some passages of music will be easier to play when the long F key is available. .
Eight keys (as for 6 key but added foot keys for low C and C#) - extends the range of the flute down to a low C.

One advantage of the pillar mounted keys is that they can be retro fitted to the flutes; so if you purchase a keyless flute or perhaps a two keyed flute, we can fit additional keys to it at a later date.

The Wood

The flutes are made from a variety of woods including African Blackwood, Mopane, English Boxwood and Laburnum. We find that the Laburnum. flutes have a sweeter tone as it is a lighter wood, while the other more dense woods have a generally brighter sound. The differences here are small however, so it is often more about your preference on colour.

Adjustable Head Cork

The head joints are fitted with a screw adjustable head cork mechanism for precise control of the head cork position. The position of the head cork controls how in-tune the octaves in the lower, middle and upper registers are. If the head cork is too near to the embouchure hole, then the middle register notes will be sharp with respect to the lower register notes, and if too far from the embouchure hole, then the opposite will result. It is important to be able to adjust the position of the cork accurately.

Small Hands and Articulated Finger Holes.

As standard on all flutes, we move hole 3 a small distance around the instrument so that it sits more comfortably to where your finger is. On flutes which do not have the C and C# foot keys, we also move the hole 6 a little for the same reason. When the foot joint has the C and C# keys fitted we leave hole 6 in line with the centre of the flute however as this works better for most players when using the low C key.
For players with smaller hands, we can move holes 1 and 3, and holes 4 and 6 a little closer together by angelng the hole so that it meets the bore at the same point. Please ask for this options and we can discuss what is possible.

Flute Style

We offer two very different styles for the flute body. The style makes no difference to the playing of the flute and is purely aesthetic.
The Modern Style has a clean line and uses raised nickel silver rings to give strength to the sockets.

Ivorine rings

On the baroque styled flute, we can add an artificial ivory ring for an additional cost which looks great and again harks back to the traditions of the 18th Century.

Costs

Keyless "Baroque Style" flutes are £350/€390
All keys excluding the lower extension C and C# keys on the foot joint are £100/€120 per key.
The C and C# Key are £400/€480 for the pair.
Artificial Ivory rings or "Modern Style" nickel silver rings add £100/€120

Flutes in Stock
Pratten Model Flutes in D

Baroque style in Mopane, Blackwood or Boxwood - £350
Baroque style in Laburnham with Ivorine rings - £450
Baroque style in Blackwood with Ivorine rings - £450
Modern Style in Mopane or Blackwood -£350

Keys can be fitted to all stock flutes

Keyed flutes will be available from stock later in the year as the festivals this year have cleaned us out of all keyed flutes.

For information on the care of our flutes, please have a look at our Flute Player's Instructions (pdf).

For a copy of our fingering charts, download either our Keyed Flute Fingering Chart or Keyless Flute Fingering Chart (pdf).