when to take plugs out?

[flutepicc06]

My opinion on the original post, get them out as soon as possible. Otherwise, there is little point in having an open hole flute.

That's exactly my point. For most people there is no point to having an open hole flute. They became popular when the Paris Conservatory made them the standard for its pupils in the late 19th/early 20th century so that they could learn the contemporary repertoire being written at the time, which require such unusual sounds as glisses and quarter tones. The reason they were necessary was to allow the unusual techniques in such pieces to be performed. As the Paris Conservatory was (and is) regarded as one of the best music schools in the world, other schools began to follow suit, and without even thinking why, flutists began to expect professional instruments to be French flutes (The same type of thing happened with Louis Lot and the in line G). If you have no intention or prospect of performing these extended techniques, you don't need open holes (that doesn't mean that many people who don't need them don't have them, just that they don't really need to be there in many instances). Having plugs in or out poses such a minimal difference in weight in an area so minimally related to tone that even were weight the explanation for tonal differences with different crowns and the like, I don't believe any difference would be audible. I'm thinking along the same lines as gold plating the lip or keys. However, I'll be the first to admit that there is no way to settle this debate conclusively at the moment.

[fluteguy18]

I agree with the above plating comment, because the plating doesnt audibly change the sound, but I do think that crowns and plugs have the ability to change sound and weight. Given, a plug made of cork with a gold top and bottom will weigh more than a silicone plug, but I know that my teacher has always been able to tell if I was using even a silicone plug.

Maybe I am just wierd. Maybe some people sound different with/without plugs, and most dont. I mean, it does change venting (with a key open with a plug out the air can vent straight up through the hole in the key, but with a plug it has to change directions and vent horizontally once it hits the key) but not significantly. But, chances are it might just be a combination of my flute and my playing as to why it is obvious when I have a plug in. oh well. this debate is getting tired anyway.... or at least I think so.

[flutepicc06]

I mean, it does change venting (with a key open with a plug out the air can vent straight up through the hole in the key, but with a plug it has to change directions and vent horizontally once it hits the key) but not significantly.

It actually doesn't change the venting. The holes are not where the air vents unless you have a key depressed and crack the hole...The top of the tonehole is. And we're told to keep our fingers lightly resting on the top of the keys, even when not depressing them, for the best facility, so wouldn't proper hand/finger position cancel out any venting through the holes anyway?

[fluteguy18]

I guess. It doesnt really matter.

[woof]

I did not notice any tone difference but I did really like the feel of the keys with the plugs removed so for me the big difference was the feel of the keys.