Key Features of the McNeela African Blackwood Keyless Flute

• Powerful sound full of character
• Takes air easily
• Very Responsive
• Beautiful intonation, complex overtones & big volume thanks to the African Blackwood
• Little adjustment needed to keep it in tune
• Strong low D
• Effortless 2nd octave
• Tuned to standard concert pitch A440
• Cork Lapped Joints
• Key of D
• 8 tone holes (2 are decorative)
• Comes with a free top quality foam-lined flute box
• 14-Day Money Back Trial Period - No Quibbles
• Length (Top to Bottom): approximately 26"
• Distance from first tone hole to last: 8"
• Reduced Priority Shipping Worldwide
• Limited Offer: A Free Wild Whistle Key of D (Details Below)

Listen to Robert Harvey play 'The Old Flail' on the McNeela African Blackwood Flute below:

Session Flute

This good looking flute will get you taken seriously at any traditional Irish session and, with the excellent intonation, wonderful tone and powerful sound the McNeela Blackwood produces, you’ll always be welcomed back.

 

African Blackwood

We’ve chosen African Blackwood, the finest tonewood, because of its hardness, moisture resistance and excellent sound; this dense hardwood lends a dark, rich, and woody timber sound, which is exactly what you want from an Irish flute.

 

Sealing Technique

We use a cork-lapping sealing technique to protect the top tenon and for a firm head joint. This sealing technique also ensures zero leakage of precious air and helps you produce a ‘honking’ low D. Great for session playing.

 

Embouchure Hole

The flute features a squared ellipse embouchure hole for ease of play and a brighter sound. The aperture is smaller than standard Pratten-style making it easier to fill and keep filled so you can keep playing without exhausting your lungs.

 

Tuning Process

When you tune the McNeela African Blackwood flute for one note all others follow. Our careful and precise tuning process during the manufacturing stage means little adjustment is needed to keep it in tune, leaving you to focus on your performance.

 

Tuning Slide

The tuning slide means you can adjust the pitch to adapt to any playing situation from a session environment to outdoor recitals and everything in between. Also handy if your venerable fellow musician is playing slightly sharp or flat.

 

Your Flute's Voice

We recommend playing your wooden flute daily for about 15 minutes initially and steadily lengthening each playing period to help the flute develop its ‘voice’. This is a gradual process but it’s a lovely way to condition and mature the flute and well worth the time.

 Special Promotion: Free Wild Irish Whistle!

For a limited time only, with every McNeela African Blackwood Flute purchased you'll receive a Wild Irish tuneable heavy brass tin whistle in the Key of D. The Wild Irish whistle, launched in 2020, is considered the best tin whistle by many and already has hundreds of 5-Star reviews. It has a solid feel to it, nicely balanced both top and bottom, easy to play and produces sweet clear notes in the first and second octave. Featuring a heavy brass fipple and a medium brass body this whistle feels great in the hand. (FREE for a Limited Time Only / While Stocks Last)  

Caring for your wooden flute

Dry your wooden flute thoroughly after playing to prevent trapped moisture distorting and warping the wood. Always take the flute apart after playing and when storing, this takes pressure off the tenons. Lightly oil the bore only when absolutely necessary and if in a particularly dry climate, as over-oiling can cause cracks. Use cork grease on the cork lapping to allow for ease of disassembling.

Never pull the flute when disassembling, rather twist each part backwards and forwards and gently coax it off. Try to avoid very dry conditions and do not leave the flute in direct sunlight or near a source of heat. Always warm up before play.

Comes with a top quality foam-lined flute box

One Year Guarantee* against material defects and dissatisfaction: It's important to be protected by a comprehensive guarantee that's why we proudly offer a one year guarantee on the McNeela Blackwood Flute against any material defects. We're very comfortable with this as we know that the manufacturing process was completed to the highest spec and nothing was overlooked. Even beyond one year we will service the flute e.g. replace corks etc, for a nominal fee.

*Please note: We cannot guarantee wooden flutes against cracks in extreme climates including the USA/Canada and Australia. If in doubt choose a polymer flute like our excellent Lon Dubh Irish Flute.

Key Points:

• 14 day Money Back Guarantee for any reason (from the day you receive the flute). 

• 1 Year Guarantee against any material defects. 
  

• Free back-up service including re-corking service for 1 year (we proudly look after our customers and their instruments)

• Comes with a free foam-lined box. The box contains three compartments for your whistles* and is shock absorbent for extra protection. *Please note whistles are not included.

• If purchased before 12 pm (Monday - Friday) it's shipped the same business day.

• Reduced Priority Shipping Worldwide