Made from solid “black maple” (a little more grain than sugar or rock maple), this flute has artificial cane nodes carved into it, in an homage to possible river cane origins of NAF.
The minimalist bird is made from two antique, ebony piano keys, and so I shaped it like a black key (a bit fatter than standard), in an homage to the “up-cycled piano”, as well.
This particular flute is not a “warbler” (but I do make them, often).
F#4, standard primary tuning of minor pentatonic, with good cross-fingerings and some second register, as demonstrated in the Audio Sample below.
The hardwood body of this flute is bored straight through, with a 7/8″ gun drill on a very long lathe. It’s one piece with uninterrupted wood grain, not split, routed or glued, in this case (but we may, still do those for sizes we don’t have a real boring drill).
Blessed: My flutes have garnered great feedback, with other makers and serious musicians all encouraging me with good reports on my flutes’ tuning, performance, and playability, for years, now.
Shipping will only add $10 (essentially splitting the cost with me) — it comes in the most premium, crush-proof pasteboard shipping tube with removable caps, that can be kept for transport and flute safekeeping.
The low-gloss, matte finish is not like a surface varnish. Rather, I use a penetrating, “drying oil” formula that hardens “in the wood, instead of on top of it”. The result is a permanent, protective finish that does not require oiling or waxing, but it’s fine with wax, too, if you like. We like Odie’s Oil (beeswax/oil formula w/carnuba) and use a little on it after the primary finish is cured.
