Pre-Owned Michael J Allen Solid Handmade Flute

Our Description

This is a rare instrument indeed - Michael Allen's flutes are handmade in England, and rarely come up for sale second hand. His flutes are superbly built with all sorts of innovations in the keywork, from the double axled thumb key, which reduces wear on this key, to the dual gizmo keys and footjoint key clutches.

Technical Notes

This flute displays many of the characteristic traits of Michael Allen’s instruments. Fully custom and unique, the eccentricities of the keywork of this flute are perhaps the most immediate sign of the silversmith’s creativity.

The open-holed keys are engraved around their circumference and knurled on the inside and outside of the ring, creating a tactile platform for the fingers. The wide G♯ touch is at once a useful accessibility aid, while hiding a beautiful hammered texture underneath. Structural features, such as the Y key arm of the upper C touch and the support bar for low C♯ likewise become a canvas for further embellishment. The flute features two gizmo keys, allowing its use even while using the D♯ key.

The flute plays smoothly across registers, and has a naturally bright but flexible tone that can be darkened quite easily. The tactile keywork is satisfying to play on while the mechanism remains quite light.

General Condition

In lovely condition throughout. This flute has been serviced in our workshop ready for sale and plays beautifully.

About Michael J Allen

Michael J Allen was trained as a Silver and Goldsmith in the famous Hatton Garden Jewelery quarter in London. He subsiquently became facinated with the flute and combined his skills to create one of the most unique instruments available today. He is truly at the forefront of flute and headjoint construction, in both functionality and artistic design. Every flute is individually custom made to a specific design. Customers individual requests can be taken into consideration! The instrument can only be described as a "work of art" that is unique, offering the player a sound, and tonal quaility that is outstanding.

Specifications

What's Included

• Original leather-bound wooden case
• Metal cleaning rod
• New inner cleaning gauze

Item Details