
1. introduction	2. ugly boys
3. half-pipes	4. ordering
5. the dvd	6. contact

My Philosophy About Blocks

Part of me knows it would be easier if I had a standard design for the blocks on my flutes, but I simply don't like the idea. By in large I get these intuitive 'nudges' to make a particular block for a particular flute. They might be simple, or they could be quite fancy, in design, wood choice, etc. I suppose it is the artist blood in me that is happiest creating for a given situation. To be honest, I never know what I'm going to create. In my flute-making process, the block is made very last. I will use a test block to get the flute body to the finished stage, and only then will I design a block to match the Spirit of the finished flute.

Ugly Boy Half-Pipes

Here is one fun, unique off-shoot of my flute-making: an Ugly Boy Half-Pipe. In essence, it is just half a flute, with a flat piece of wood on the bottom. Easier to make, more affordable, yet absolutely zero loss in sound quality. Given that the bore area is cut in half (flat bottom instead of rounded lower half), the keys are higher... I've made a low E HP, but it resembles the AMC Gremlin in terms of aesthetics. The most fun ones run in the high keys of B, C, D, and E. Loud and quick players they are. Fun fun fun.

I always like to say they won't roll off the table... and while they might not have the innate beauty of a round-bore flute, I remind you that my #1 focus is sound quality, and Half-Pipes suffer zero sound quality loss... just easier on the pocket book. As with 'normal' flutes, I can add custom blocks, inlays/artwork, etc. All is possible with anything I create. And what would happen if you put two half-pipes belly to belly? You'd have a drone flute near the shape of a round bore flute. I make those, as well.

I would almost say this is all too much fun, but to coin lyrics from Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, "There's a whole lot of things that I never done: I ain't never had too much fun!" Amen.

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