Jon C Pratten-Milk Chocolate

Blackbeer · Post by **Blackbeer** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:38 pm

So its 6 degrees F. outside. Normaly I would not venture out to the postoffice on a day like this. Its all I can do to get out and feed the boys when its this cold, but today I figured my new flute would be there so crank up the old Honda (82) and head to town. This hunk of mopane looks just like milk chocolate, realy. It is a thing of beauty. Biggest holes I have ever had on a flute. But the spread aint bad. Heck I should be able to play this thing. Put it together, sweet fit, and give a blow. So nice. I held it in my lap for half an hour to help warm it up and got about 15 minutes worth of tooting on it and it is everything I wanted. Not that I got it out of it in that time but I know its in there. Have to feed the boys right now but in an hour I will be back for another crack at it. I know I should break it in slowly but I don`t count the first day with a new flute. Tomorrow I will start breaking it in. I have to do a bunch of sliegh rides tomorrow so I will be to cold to play anyway. Thanks Jon, its a beauty.

Take care

Tom

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 7:48 pm

That's my problem with mopane flutes.
Keep trying to eat them.

chas · Post by **chas** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:30 pm

jim stone wrote:That's my problem with mopane flutes.
Keep trying to eat them.

Yeah, I know, Jim -- ever since you found out they're in the legume family. . .

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:52 pm

Blackbeer wrote:...It is a thing of beauty. Biggest holes I have ever had on a flute. But the spread aint bad. Heck I should be able to play this thing. Put it together, sweet fit, and give a blow. So nice. I held it in my lap for half an hour to help warm it up and got about 15 minutes worth of tooting on it and it is everything I wanted.

Well, congratulations Tom, can't ask for much more than that! Your first impressions are pretty good for the short time playing it-and it should get better the more you get to know it! Sounds like you made the right choice.

Play it in good health, and stay warm! We just got over a cold snap here, and it was 9 degrees in the morning a couple of days in a row-way too cold for me, but now we're back to normal, just regular Dang Winter!

greenspiderweb · Post by **greenspiderweb** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:53 pm

chas wrote:
jim stone wrote:That's my problem with mopane flutes.
Keep trying to eat them.
Yeah, I know, Jim -- ever since you found out they're in the legume family. . .

Shall we break out the BEER?!!

Henke · Post by **Henke** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:05 pm

Ahw. I want that flute. My new dream-flute is a 6-keyed Jon-C Pratten in Mopane, (where is the drool-emoticon when I need it?).
I have Jons tour flute here with me right now, and I know what the man is capable of.

And Jon, everyone who tries your flutes seems to agree their great. Remember what I said about me and that waiting list

michael_coleman · Post by **michael_coleman** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 2:26 pm

I've been on the waiting list for keyed flute for over a year....you guys need to stop ordering flutes so he can develop his keywork...

Unseen122 · Post by **Unseen122** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 2:38 pm

Hey I got a new Flute this weekend also, well actually it is used. A Mark Hoza F Flute which is great looking and from the bit of playing I did it sounds great.

djm · Post by **djm** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:02 pm

How many shades/colours does mopane come in? The mopane flute I got from Casey Burnes is an orangey red-brown (getting darker now).

djm

Sillydill · Post by **Sillydill** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 9:51 pm

I've had three flutes made of Mopane and each was different:

I just traded Doc Jones a Martin Doyle flute that was a gorgeous Burgundy Red color.

While the McGee GLP (also traded to Doc) was more of a Honey to Brown color.

And the Casey Burns Folk Flute I had was Chocolate to Honey colored.

I guess that Mopane is just a very Colorful Wood!

Good Yule to All!

Jordan

DCrom · Post by **DCrom** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:21 pm

A note: I believe that the Casey Burns Folk Flute that I have is the same one shown here (via another board member). It's now slightly darker than the picture shown, but still a lovely piece of wood.

I really like the look of Mopane. As my skills improve, I'd like to try other flutes (and materials), but if I were commissioning a flute on looks alone, I can't think of any wood I'd prefer.

BillG · Post by **BillG** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 4:40 pm

I have a Hoza keyless D in Cooktown Ironwood that is aging beautifully and getting that creamy rich scholate flavor - um, color.

Check out http://www.woodenflutemaker.com/

Usual disclaimers.

BillG

Casey Burns · Post by **Casey Burns** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:23 pm

I think I've been boosting Mopane for flutes longer than anyone
else around here - and its gratifying to see other makers using it
finally. I am always impressed by this wood and its beauty.

Lately I've been enjoying a few special cuts featuring some incredibly
wild grain - see the somewhat dirty scan (my scanner is somewhat
scratched from scanning fossils) below of a current flute project
for a special client that will eventually have keys and the works.

Casey

Wormdiet · Post by **Wormdiet** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:26 pm

Seems like a shame to "deface" such gorgeous wood with keys. That is amazing.

Casey Burns · Post by **Casey Burns** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 9:38 pm

The keys will look very tasty on that background - believe me! There will be just 5, no long F.

Casey

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Jon C Pratten-Milk Chocolate

Jon C Pratten-Milk Chocolate

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Shades of Mopane