Irish Flute - Doyle or Olwell?

Given the choice, and based only on the flute itself (not waiting times and price etc), which would you go for?

You won’t go wrong either way. I have flutes by both makers and I play and enjoy them both.

I’ve owned and played flutes by Patrick Olwell for 30 years, and I once had the pleasure of meeting and sharing tunes with Martin Doyle and playing his flutes. You wouldn’t go wrong with either. They, and Patrick’s son Aaron, are consummate craftsmen and discerning players. Both make flutes of the highest standard for traditional Irish music. If one or the other is more geographically accessible, that might be a factor to consider.

Good luck!

Thanks both. I’m aware the two makers create excellent flute, but I’m really looking for an insight into differences and why a person may chose one rather than the other. If you have flutes from both makers, which do you pick up first? 🙂

I have an Olwell and love it , I’ve never played a Doyle but have owned a Grinter, Morvan, Murray, Watson and Lehart, for me the Olwell was what I was after, it has a big full body warm sound, with the really accurate tuning . It produced the nicest sound to my ears and also was the loudest.

I think all lot of it comes down to personal taste (and maybe also the style you play in). The Morvan and Murray I owned suited the Northern bouncy style imo while the Grinter and Watson suited the move legato Molloy style. But saying that Molloy now plays a Morvan.

Listen to a bunch of players playing Olwells and also then the same for Doyles.
Best advice is to try to play one before you buy, but if not possible order one and you can re-sell if you don’t like it.

You will be able to sell either one, easily, if you don’t like it. The Doyle will cost half as much as the Olwell and has a three month wait. The Olwell will take a year or so.

I have played both and both are amazing.. that being said, I have only recently received the Olwell, and it has blown me away like no other flute before… all others I have tried are great but the Olwell has everything in one 🙂
(very important note: I am not a pro player, and would kinda call myself an amateur intermediate… so my opinions could be way off)

Try both. Keep the one you like best. Can’t lose with that pick.