Carbony Irish Flutes

Pipe Makers Union · Corvallis, Oregon
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Carbony Celtic Winds is the instrument line of Pipe Makers Union, a carbon fiber wind instrument shop in Corvallis, Oregon. They build traditional Celtic designs in Carbony, a composite of their own formulation that will not crack or warp as a wooden instrument might.

Carbony’s flutes are made in two and three pieces, with a multi-stage body taper and undercut tone holes that keep them responsive and balanced across the range. O-rings seal the joints, and the tuning slide is shaped to reduce turbulent airflow. The embouchure is cut at a seven degree dovetail angle and undercut from both sides, so every flute is ambidextrous out of the box.

The dovetail-cut embouchure — ambidextrous by design

Finding the right Carbony flute

Close finger spacing

Available on some flutes, using internal chimneys to bring the holes nearer one another. This is most useful on the lower pitches.

Two-piece or three-piece

Two-piece

thinner body diameter

Some players find the thinner body more comfortable, particularly those with smaller hands. Carbon fiber’s strength allows this while keeping a cylindrical outer profile and a conical bore.

Three-piece

packs shorter

Breaks down shorter, which makes for a more compact case and easier travelling.

Finish

Most flutes carry the woven look that carbon fiber is known for. Some can be ordered with a sanded finish that resembles wood grain.

Standard carbon weave

Sanded “blackwood” finish