The creation of the Sir James Galway professional flute model is one of our proudest accomplishments! Beautifully made, this flute model includes many enhancements such as a special key-cup design for improved feel, detail sculpting of the back connector keys, an elegant curved G# pointed arm, the beautiful Galway-Nagahara logo, the Nagahara Wearless mechanism, and the essence of the rich, lush Galway sound, captured through the Galway headjoint.

 

Although this instrument is fully customizable,  we have offered a few of Sir James's suggestions below as to his preferred configuration:

 

Inline G - Sir James plays on inline G flutes. This placement of the G key has become traditional and some people claim it improves sonority over an offset mechanism. Also, inline instruments tend to be of lighter weight than offset G. which have two additional posts and an extra mechanism steel. The note e6 (above the staff) also speaks easier in most inline flutes without the need of a Split E or High E Facilitator. 

 

C# Trill - Having multiple functions, the C# trill has come to be known as one of the most useful "gadget" to flutists. Sir James always has a C# trill on his flutes to facilitate various trills, tremolos and the intonation of the C# note. If utilized properly and included in daily studies, there is great potential to improve technical agility. See Additional Options for more information about the C# trill.

 

No Gizmo Key - Although a "Gizmo" key is standard equipment on B-foot flute, included to improve the tone and intonation of high register notes such as b6 and c7, Sir James prefers not to have a Gizmo. Why? Sir James recommends pressing down all three footjoint keys (C#, C and B) instead, which in his opinion are easier to reach by the pinky finger. Sir James also feels this method offers better balance of the instrument and a more comfortable hand position.