I bought a flute tuned in A at a gift shop in Torrey, UT a few summers ago. Good basic solid flute with a nice tone. I have fun with it. A while ago I did a demo recording of a song I wrote with it: flute, voice and percussion:
https://soundcloud.com/studentofrhythm/to-hazel-2021-04-01?si=fdb7bb7bb9b04c258772511108d3a362
Irene, the NAF journey can be a lot of fun. Congrats on your new HS flute. I had a low E for awhile, but it was one of 3 flutes I recently sold. They sound so haunting.
Ken, I hope my idea of the case helps you out. I first did one for my tin whistle, years ago.
Re the case, I don't store any of my flutes in their cases...it will only be used when I go to festivals or travel in the motor home. My NAF's remain out on stands so they can benefit from the humidifier I have in my music room. Storing it in that plastic case wouldn't be a good idea.
I like your flute case. Great use of PVC. I'll have to make a couple of those for some of my handmade bamboo Mirliton flutes.
WOAH, did this post take me on an adventure. I have just bought a HIGH SPIRITS native American flute and love the lowness of the E. I sapose I should have gotten a "entry level" A. but loved the sound and look of this one I got in Hannibal, MO. (big Native American store, been there for 32 years) I've been thinking about this for about 20 years. well, not getting any younger....So when this post came up....I've done some exploring and it's just begun. Thanks for the info herein. Love the case you made as well. aloha, irene
Thank you, it was fun. I used a piece of 1 1/4" PVC that my husband had left over (the flute fits perfectly in it). I cut it to the correct length with a chop saw (which gave it a nice clean, square cut). Then I got the two ends from Home Depot. I put an 1/8" thick felt stick-on pad in the fixed end, so the flute would have padding there. Then I glued on the two ends with PVC glue. In the end with the screw cap, I rolled up some foam, and tucked it on the inside of the cap and wrapped it tightly with electrical tape. That provides the cushion for the flute on that end and takes up the excess space that that end has (because of the way those PVC ends work). The printing on the PVC was the harder part. To remove it, I tried Acetone (nail polish remover) as suggested on YouTube. It lightened it, but didn't remove it. So, my husband said PVC glue would remove it. So, we smeared PVC glue on the printing, then removed it quickly with a paper towel. Wa-la, it worked. It takes off some of the sheen, but I redid the glue thing on the whole tube to make it consistent. I added some music stickers I had from a previous project.
Susie I'm curious- the white circle right on the end of the scorpion's tail- is that a hole used for playing?
Very nicely done PVC case!
No, that is an inlay....it is a 6mm Kyocera Opal cabochon. Nice catch!
Re the case, thank you!
Susie I'm curious- the white circle right on the end of the scorpion's tail- is that a hole used for playing?
Very nicely done PVC case!
Since I recently downsized my NAF collection by 3, I thought I could justify (and try out) one of High Spirits new Spirit Flutes. This is from their Astrology line (mine is Scorpio) Their Spirit Flutes are not double chambered flutes, so they take a little less effort in blowing. This is in the key of A (it is 14" long and is made of Spanish Cedar). I love the fact that I have a flute without a fetish now, so it will be of less concern when traveling. In fact, I made a "hard case" for it out of PVC (that was fun to do). These don't have quite the volume that a standard NAF has, but the tone is quite nice. It plays just like a double chambered NAF.
Beautiful collection of flutes, Monica. I do think I'm all set though. I've got the variety I want and now I'm just going to keep working on techniques, and voices, and learning to play cleaner and faster. I'm playing a lot of written music, which is fun. I've actually transposed quite a few of my written music pieces into keys of A and E, so I can play them. Plus, I'm playing with my sister. Thanks for sharing your picture of your flutes, they are beautiful.
I have been playing less than a year, and not everyday at that..I have also traded a couple of flutes with other people.
Susie I thought after 2 I was done..never say never!!!! You have to try other flute makers.
The next step after condor bass are the Drones. Though I recommend starting with the smaller holes as blowing into 2 chambers is quite the challenge and takes practice, the smaller one is a B minor made by a Canadian (Templewindflutes)and the large on Is a G# . It arrived 2 days ago all the way from Australia (MagicWoodworks)
Wow, those are beautiful Monica!
Actually, I have a double flute that my friend gave me that is the V type, in the key of F#. It was made by a fellow in Michigan and has wonderful intonation, tone and craftsmanship. She wasn't using it, so she generously gave it to me. It's been fun to mess around with.
The next step after condor bass are the Drones. Though I recommend starting with the smaller holes as blowing into 2 chambers is quite the challenge and takes practice, the smaller one is a B minor made by a Canadian (Templewindflutes)and the large on Is a G# . It arrived 2 days ago all the way from Australia (MagicWoodworks)
My HS Em Condor Bass in Spanish Cedar arrives on Monday. 
I went with cedar, because I have a mid-tone G in cedar, and I love its tone. I have a couple walnut flutes already.
Well, it arrived 3 days late, since the post office decided to send it on a wild journey to an incorrect post office (it was correctly addressed). It got about 650 extra miles on it, but finally arrived today. I love the flute, wood, and tone. Thanks for everyone's help. Happy camper! 
Monica, Thank you for your input. A condor bass is near the top of my list when I'm ready to buy again. Right now, I need to go on a flute diet! Flutes seem to be following me home or arriving on my doorstep like stray cats.
John, I'm not considering the contra, just the condor bass Em. Just can't decide between the standard bore and the 1" bore. But, it sounds like the standard bore would be just fine for me. Do you guys have a standard bore condor (not contra) bass?
We have "regular" Condor basses in various keys (even the smaller bore size). Once you get used to the extra stretch beyond a smaller flute stretch it's really no big deal. Have fun and enjoy the process!
Jennifer, I don't have an Em from high spirits, but I think they are about the same size, I have one from Ancient territories, it's maple and the holes are smaller but the spacing is the same, Em is my favourite key..they're all great!!
As for Wood I have a condor bass Cm in walnut. really nice
I tried out my flute teacher's HS Condor base Em (regular sized, not the 1" bore) and found it surprisingly easy to play though my hands are on the small side. The cedar sounded a bit wispy to me, however, and not as full as I want for a lower flute, though I LOVE my Jonah Thompson F# in cedar.
Two questions: 1) Would the Em in walnut produce a fuller sound, or would it sound too bright for a low, soulful flute? And, 2) is the fingering on the Condor base Dm similar to the Em, or is it more difficult to play. I'd prefer D to E, but am concerned about finger reach and distance to the first hole. I don't really want the smaller bore in either key of the Condor base.
Such good info on this forum. Thank you, everyone, for all the good advice.
John, I'm not considering the contra, just the condor bass Em. Just can't decide between the standard bore and the 1" bore. But, it sounds like the standard bore would be just fine for me. Do you guys have a standard bore condor (not contra) bass?
We have "regular" Condor basses in various keys (even the smaller bore size). Once you get used to the extra stretch beyond a smaller flute stretch it's really no big deal. Have fun and enjoy the process!
Susie I bought mine here..considerably less, but you may have to wait a few weeks for them to order it.
Thanks Monica and John. Very nice videos.
John, I'm not considering the contra, just the condor bass Em. Just can't decide between the standard bore and the 1" bore. But, it sounds like the standard bore would be just fine for me. Do you guys have a standard bore condor (not contra) bass?
Monica, sounds like you are handling it without issue. Did you remeasure the outside diameter (1.2" didn't seem right to me)? Thanks.
The only thing that I would caution about would be a Condor Contra Bass flute. My wife (Karen) has been a professional flute player and teacher since the 1980s. The holes are so large that her fingers go straight into them without stopping to seal the holes. The spread between the holes can also be a challenge for people with smaller hands. I haven't run into many folks who have this problem with the regular Condor Bass series, but I know that some like the smaller bore better for comfort reasons. Here's a video that starts with me using the contra bass. You'll probably be able to tell that I'm working pretty hard to manage the beast, but they have such a wonderful low voice.
I say try the larger size, no squawking and fuller deeper tone..I am 5.3'..and have skinny fingers and have no problem at all..you can always return /exchange if it doesn't work for you.
I am playing the condor bass C in this video..which if anything is slightly larger than the D
Thanks Monica. That outside measurement (1.2") seems like the same as the outside measurement of those with the 1" bore......1.25". I'm talking the outside of the wood. Is it really 1.2" for the standard condor bass?
Thanks for the pics and info. Now I can't decide between the standard bore (will have to confirm measurements) and the 1" bore like Maria's.
Susie the outside measures over 1.2. I recommend the larger bore it has a fuller deeper sound . I am a small person and I have no problem. The condor bass D is aromatic Cedar and the Bass C is walnut. I also have a condor bass B that is spanish cedar ..it's a lot more challenging to play the holes are larger and further apart..but doable. I also recommend you check out Ancient Territories I have a couple of his flutes..beautiful craftsmanship and sound.in the photos starting from the left High spirits Condor bass B,C,D , Gm and Em 432 from atflutes.com
Monica, what is the outside diameter of your HS bass flutes? I know it's 1 1/4" for the 1" bore flutes. Was curious how they compare. I'm tall, have pretty good size hands and have 43 years experience playing stringed instruments. So I'm thinking I could handle the bass flute size (even the non-1" bore). Sounds like you have no problem with the size. What woods are yours?
I have the condor bass D and C, not the 1" bore however. I have no problems playing them, infact they play with ease and sound beautiful. The larger bore has no squawking but I do have squawking with the smaller bore flutes( Gm, F#) from high spirits.
[quote="Susie"]
Has anyone purchased a bass tone flute or more specifically, a HS 1" bore bass tone flute?
[/quote
Yup Suzie. I have their Dm and Em 1 inch bore flutes. I love both of them but the Dm took me much longer to be able to play without squawking. I was silly and it was only my 2nd flute after the Jonah Thompson Am that I learned on...but now after 10 months of playing the NA flute I can play it just like the others. Both of mine are in Walnut as they are much more durable (and I seem to always whack my instruments onto something lol)
Good luck
Maria
I just ordered the large hard case from high spirits with the 25 Percent off and free shipping on orders over 100 it was worth it. (I ordered three of his spiral bound music books/cd to make the 100) and I'm so exited for it to come. They say depending on the flutes it could hold about 6 flutes
take care and enjoy playing
I'm going to a NAF gathering today and am taking all three flutes since I don't know what key we'll be playing in. Trouble is, I only have two bags. But at the last moment, I thought of my fold-up "Stateline" music stand bag. It works perfectly!
So cool, congrats Maria!
thanks so much Susie!!
Take care
Maria
Oh that it is sooooo addicting!!
Hey I'm really excited because High Spirits tweeted about my video that I did using my HS Drone and my Synth and Kalimba!!
take care everyone!
Maria
https://twitter.com/HighSpiritFlute/status/800718055718326272
You can't have too many flutes I say! lol
I played my sister's HS pocket flute (G, in aromatic cedar). It was a really cool little flute with a nice voice. It sounded great with the G mid-tone. Now I want one. 
Then Susie, here's your perfect time to get one!! they are on sale for THIS week. 25 percent off all the flutes!
Let me know if you get one. I ordered mine!!
Take care
Maria
That must have been fun to play together. I watched a YT video in which someone used both a high and a mid-range flute in the same piece. It didn't show her playin, only background scenery, so I couldn't see when she switched, but it was done effortlessly. Got me to thinking of ways a higher tned flute could be put to use.
And they cost a lot less than the low flutes!
I love it, Susie. It's less resonant than my HS Sparrow Hawk but has a kind of plaintive sound that I assume is due to the pine. The HS is aromatic cedar, and both are in Am.
My Sparrow Hawk has a new baby brother! Meet Jonah Thompson, also in A.
Interesting and very much worth considering for my next flute.
Lovely dulcimer playing!
I have two Em flutes The ancient territories along with the Fm from the same maker are both tuned to 432. I can't prove with any certainty if in any tangible way there is a difference. But I do feel more peaceful after playing them. As if I just meditated or the way I feel after doing yoga, and they are the two I pick up to play everyday. As for playing along with other instruments.No problem, I simply tuned my dulcimer to 432, you can do the same with any stringed instrument. I tuned my dulcimer here to 432.
youtube.com/watch?v=thralBdwnU4
Monica, is the difference between 440hz and 432hz noticeable? I know you can't play the two together, but wondered if the difference is worth the price and if so, why.
Susie, It is surprisingly easy to play. It's the standard size .The top four holes are large but the reach is the same as my Em from atflute.com.Since I had the Em for a while It prepared me for the Low D. I had to return the Butch Hall Dm...it was impossible to play.
Once you have settled in with your F#. I do recommend the Condor bass flutes, E and D are very special. more meditative. The Em and Fm flutes I have are tuned to 432hrz. My next flute is the condor bass C....never say no more :)
the craftsmanship and playability of John Stillwell's flutes is superb. here are the 3 from him
Susie, your new flute is beautiful.
All these flutes are like works of art, really.
Thanks Jennifer, the the horse head totem was made by George Dyson it's a river cane flute in the key of Em.He takes custom requests for any kind of animal fetish (totem). The short flat one is a Drone Flute in the key of Bm, it was made by Templewindflutes.com here in Canada. ..In the USA Kenny King also makes Drones..well there are many flute makers that make them. I also have 3 flutes from Ancient Territories flutes..my favourites.
Monica, your flutes are beautiful!
Strumelia, with guitar as my main instrument (have 6), and next my dulcimers (have 6), I'm trying to be reasonable with the NAF's. So, 3 will do it for now. But you're right, never say never.
Lexie, here's a pic.
Monica, these are some gorgeous flutes and a stunning display. The horse head, wow. Who made the short flat one?
Susie, exciting that you got your new flute and very happy your husband seems like he will enjoy listening to you play.
Yes we would love to see a picture of it, sounds very beautiful.
Susie, we'd love to see a picture of your new walnut flute with turquoise. And always good when one's spouse approves of a new instrument! 
I've learned over the years to never, ever say "This is the last ____ I'm getting". Never paint yourself into a corner. lolol...
Last night I ordered several more pennywhistles in various keys. 
