Bargain Flutes!

by Howard Fosdick © FolkFluteWorld.com

Over the years, I've assembled a nice collection of folk flutes at minimal expense.

I'll tell you all about the bargains I've found in this post.

One caveat -- prices do change, and it's possible some of the deals I've found won't be available when you read this.

What's a Good Deal?

I define a bargain folk flute as one you can purchase inexpensively -- with the assurance that it will sound good, play properly, and be in tune for all notes across the scale.

A chancy deal where you buy a flute at a good price -- but take a chance on whether it plays well.

For example, do a quick Amazon search for "ocarinas". You'll see tons of transverse ceramic ocarinas in the $15 to $30 range. Many rate 4 1/2 stars from reviewers.

And many will prove good instruments.

But look more carefully at the ratings and reviews, and you'll see that many of these ocarinas have quality control issues. Vendors simply can't assure consistent quality at those prices. I've excluded chancy deals like those from this article.

Of course, the best assurance you're getting a good deal is always by your own hands-on testing.

That said, here's my list of bargains:

Xun -- Showeremo

Xun are weird and wonderful instruments. They date back to ancient China 7,000 years ago.

Their voices are deep, soft, and sonorous... perfect for expressive, emotional songs.

Nearly all xun are made in China. Their prices vary because they're all hand-cast. Plus, there are currency differences, shipping fees, etc.

Many cost in the range of $40 to $100. Here's a real bargain. The Showeroro brand xun is available for only $15 USD from Amazon. Wow!

This is a quality instrument at a rock-bottom price.

Read my review of this xun here.

One word of caution: xun are quite different from western instruments. Be sure to learn about them before you buy anything by reading my article The Ultimate Guide to the Xun.

Seedpod Ocarina -- in Ceramic by OcarinaWind

Here's a great find. A seedpod Alto C ocarina, in ceramic, for only $10. And here's the amazing part -- it plays all 10 whole notes and chromatics in its range in tune.

I'm always suspicious of inexpensive ceramic "ocs" of any size or style. Quality control is often lacking.

But I know of several purchases of this oc, and all went flawlessly.

Read my full review of this ocarina here.

Bass Ocarina -- STL Ocarina in Plastic

With their low, haunting voices, bass ocarinas sound amazing.

Beyond that, you might want one to complete your ocarina collection, or to play the bass part in an ensemble.

Or perhaps you have housemates or neighbors you don't want to disturb. The soft-spoken bass offers a solution.

Unfortunately, ceramic transverse bass ocarinas are expensive. You can expect to pay at least $200 USD for a good one. Many cost $300 to $500. Yikes!

Due to the small market for bass ocarinas, nobody makes plastic ones. With one exception: the plastic bass offered by STL Ocarina.

This instrument sounds good, plays well, and is bargain priced at only about $65 USD. Read my complete review of it here. (Review includes sound samples.)

Bass Ocarina -- STL Ocarina's Ceramic Seedpods

If you really prefer a ceramic bass, but are on a tight budget, another alternative is a seedpod or pendant style ocarina. STL Ocarina offers several high quality pendant bass at only $40 to $70.

You can see some of their designs in this photo.

What I like about STL Ocarina is that you're certain of high quality merchandise. No "chancy deals" from them.

Learn more about seedpod style ocarinas in my article All About Pendant Ocarinas.

Alto Ocarina -- Focalink or Night By Noble in Plastic

If you're on a really tight budget, go for one of those plastic pendants I described above.

If you want a transverse instead, the prices are higher. Stay away from those ceramic transverse ocs Amazon offers for $15 to $30. Those are chancy deals. Many are slightly out of tune on some notes, or don't play high notes well.

Instead, opt for a plastic transverse.

The general consensus is that there are two clear leaders: Focalink and Night By Noble.

Their plastic is durable and they offer consistent high quality. Notes sound strong and true across the scale for these ocs. They boast 4.5+ ratings at Amazon.

I debated whether to include these ocs in this post, because they're priced at $35 to $40 USD. They're not the cheapest ocs available.

But these instruments will last a lifetime, and they're certainly the highest quality plastic ocs you can buy. On that basis, I rate them a bargain.

To learn more about ocarinas before buying one, read my complete introduction to them here. (It includes sound samples for these ocarinas.)

Song Flutes and Tonettes -- Buy Old

Musicians often underrate the simplest plastic flutes. Song flutes and tonettes are prime examples.

These were used for beginning musical education for millions of schoolchildren for over half a century. Adults enjoyed them, too.

These instruments play a limited range of notes. But that doesn't mean you can't create beautiful or interesting music using them. Just listen to these examples:

The secret to acquiring a quality song flute or tonette is to buy it on the used market. Get one made from before 1970 that features a shiny, glossy finish. You won't pay more than $20 USD on Ebay, Etsy, or similar website.

Avoid more current song flutes and tonettes with matte finishes. These sound inferior and are often just junky kids's toys.

Learn all about these instruments in my articles Ultimate Guide to the Song Flute and the Ultimate Guide to the Tonette.

Tenor Recorder -- Yamaha and Aulos in Plastic

The tenor recorder presents an expressive, mellow voice. It's no wonder that so many soprano recorder players take up the tenor next.

Tenors fashioned from various hardwoods cost hundreds of dollars.

Enter plastic. Plastic recorders first became popular in the 1980s. Two companies -- Yamaha and Aulos -- have led the pack ever since.

A plastic tenor is guaranteed to hit all notes in tune -- versus wood, where the less expensive products prove questionable. Plastic manufacturing turns out consistent product in a way that wood producers can only match at much higher cost.

Yamaha and Aulos make several different tenors at different price points. Before you select one, you'll really want to read my introduction to tenor recorders. It will tell you everything you need to know to select the right instrument, including how to ensure it fits your hands, how the tenor differs from the soprano, whether to buy a keyed or keyless instrument, and more.

The good news is that these very high quality instruments from Yamaha and Aulos cost only $50 to $90.

Tenor Recorder -- in Wood by Adler

If you really insist on a wood tenor, isn't there anything decent available for under $100?

I have found one that my friends and I like: the tenor in maple from Adler. This instrument shows up sporadically at various U.S. vendors. It's not always available.

This tenor features a beautiful maple voice and meets the needs of an experienced hobbyist like myself. You can read my full review of it here.

Though I love it and find it a great deal, serious recorder players will find the instrument inadequate. You have to know your particular instrument intimately in order to adjust your breath to play each note in tune.

So true musicians will want to pay hundreds more for a top quality tenor, but this one meets my needs as a more casual flutist just fine.

Another alternative is to buy a wood tenor on the used market. Adlers are exceptionally common, so you might want to read my article Are Adler Recorders Any Good?

Then search Ebay or Reverb for a used bargain.

For background on tenor recorders, read my Beginner's Guide to Tenor Recorder.

Tin Whistle in D -- Clarke Sweetone

Tin whistles are basically just metal pipes with holes and an attached fipple. Many good ones are very inexpensive at less than $20. The problem is identifying the whistle that is not a chancy deal.

Clarke Sweetones have one of the lower failure rates for their class. They sound lovely and are easier for beginners to start with than many other whistles.

Read my post on why it should be your first tin whistle.

Tin Whistles -- by Generation -- Tweaked!

Here's another way to get great bargains on tin whistles.

Generation brand whistles are among the best known manufacturers of inexpensive whistles in the world. You can buy them anywhere, online at Amazon or from any storefront. Most cost only $20 to $30.

Now, improve or tweak that whistle by making a few simple improvements. My article tells you all about it, explains the process, and links to excellent how-to videos.

Yes, you too can tweak! And when you do, you'll get a great whistle at a bargain price.

Penny Whistles -- in Plastic by Woodi

Like the Adler maple tenor recorder, this item represents a real bargain for some. But it may not meet the needs of others.

Woodi whistles come as a package. You get a D whistle, a C whistle, and a nice carrying case that fits three whistles -- all for the bargain price of about $20 USD.

The whistles have a wonderful tone. Listen to this sound sample.

They sound different from metal whistles and complement them nicely. And if you need a C whistle (or have no whistles at all), this is a great value to pick up what you need.

The reason these whistles may not be for everyone is that it's hard to hit the highest notes clearly and cleanly. They have a bit of undertone when most people play them.

These include those notes above high A on the C whistle, or above high B on the D whistle.

With that one reservation, these whistles offer benefits from their unusual mellow sound to their bargain basement price.

Read my detailed review on the Woodis here.

Used Bargains -- Ebay, Etsy, and Reverb

Another strategy to buying quality instruments at low prices is to haunt the major online sellers. This leads to some great deals -- but only if you're knowledgeable enough to spot a true deal when you see one.

You should know a lot about the instruments you intend to purchase, and be confident that the sellers' descriptions and photos assure that you aren't risking a dud.

The major marketplaces are Ebay, Etsy, and Reverb. Happy hunting!

Final Thoughts

If you're on a budget, you can still find many quality folk flutes.

I've managed to build quite a collection at modest cost by carefully selecting purchases. I do "due diligence" on each instrument before I buy.

This takes more time than blindly buying. But that's part of the fun, isn't it? Learning about instruments, carefully selecting those that appeal to you, and then spending quality time playing them.

Here's to your next bargain!

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