Dec.18th, 2003:

Comment - Butch, I had the great, good fortune and genuine pleasure of meeting you in Columbus at the craft fair a few weeks ago. I enjoyed very much hearing your music, talking native American flutes, picking your brain and in the end buying three of your flutes. You were very generous with your time and kindly helped me select flutes for sound and wood quality, two factors that are very important to me.

I got one of your new 'special edition' F# minors and a cedar F# and G minor. I am very happy with each of them. They play beautifully, and at the risk of repeating what is certainly a well deserved and often stated sentiment by other owners of your flutes ­they are remarkably inexpensive for the quality.

I will go farther though. I have made about 10 flutes of my own over the years and have purchased several high quality flutes from other noted makers in my pursuit of the perfect instrument ­ so I have a good appreciation for what is involved in making a beautiful precision instrument. In my opinion, your flutes are equal to, if not better than, the best of what is being offered out there in the market. It is therefore even more remarkable that your flutes are so modestly priced. One doesn't even have to use your 'special edition' flutes to make this comparison. Your regular $95 cedar flutes are amazingly good, top quality, beautifully clear and sweet flutes ­ they lack nothing! Your 'special editions' are simply beautiful both to look at and play.

The choice woods you use, your clean design and excellent craftsmanship, not to mention the wonderful voice of these instruments really blows me away. Thank you for doing it so well and pricing them so fairly.

Regardless of the price, you are indeed making magic flutes! Keep up the good work. It was a pleasure making your acquaintance. I look forward to the next time we meet. Until then... All the best, J. B.

Jan 28, 2002:

Question - Butch, when will your stock in the aspen/walnut E and D and the cedar/walnut E be available? What are the sound characteristics of the cedar vs. aspen? S.R.

Answer - The Special Edition aspen/walnut series has been retired as I've had that flute available now for 5 years. I'm moving on to another Special Edition series which will be western cedar/walnut with a different sound and look. I can only have a limited number of flutes and scales available at any given time because I ship my flutes from stock rather than build to order. This lets me build bigger batches which keeps the price low.

The new Special Edition flutes will be available sometime this Spring. I'll probably start with the Am and finish with the Em. So, all 5 of those scales will be complete probably late Summer. I expect to have these out for about 5 years also. They have a great voice that is unmistakable western cedar, but also smoothed up with the addition of walnut inlays. I think you'll like them.

Nov 16, 2000:

Comment - Butch, I have been forgetting to thank you for the flute you sent me. I have been enjoying it so much that I haven't had time to do anything else but play it. Well almost!

However, Butch you make a great flute, and your flute easily replaced my old F-flute. Intonation is excellent and the sound, volume and expression on stage makes it a joy to play.

I'll be ordering more flutes in the future! B.S.

Dec 15, 2000:

Comment - Dear Laura & Butch, What a pleasure to speak to both of you today. Your flutes are truly magic. What a dream to have an instrument play so precisely in tune and be so fluidly responsive.

You have created the embarrassing reality of your instruments being far superior to my ability. Again, thank you! Thank You! Thank You! Nada Brahana, T he World is Sound

Feb 26, 2002:

Comment - I received my flute today and let me tell you it was worth the wait and then some....the sound and tone are incredible! Your craftsmanship is superb Butch! Thank you both so much for the care and quality you bestow in your craft. S.H.

May 10, 2000:

Question - Mr. Hall, I bought a walnut Fm flute and an instruction book from you this past Sunday at Cottonwood. I just wanted to tell you that I think the flute is awesome. I have three other flutes, two of which cost more than the flute I bought from you, and the flute you made sounds much better than any of them. Partly it is because yours is in a lower key and makes the sound I always wanted from a flute, I guess it is a lower key because it is longer? Also I love the instruction book, I have been playing the first practice song and really like the sound I can produce. I just wanted to thank you for making such a wonderful sounding flute at such a great price, and also for the wonderful instruction book. J.V.

Answer - I'm thrilled you're enjoying your flute and lesson book so well! Yes, the key of the flute is determined by the overall length, inside and outside diameters, placement and size of finger holes, etc. So to get the deep pitch flutes, they have to get larger. It was very nice to visit with you at Cottonwood. Hope we'll see you again in the Fall. Take Care, Butch & Laura

Aug 06, 1999:

Comment - Dear Butch and Laura, I received my Em cherry flute in the mail today. I cannot thank you enough for this wonderful instrument! Needless to say I am impressed by both the sound quality and the exquisite craftsmanship (not to mention the speedy delivery time).

I have purchased so called "special edition" cedar flutes costing four times the price of your flutes from other flute makers and on one of them the two halves were not even made from the same blank of wood! Your standard flute is flawless both inside and outside. The sound from the first note was, to quote an over used but applicable phrase, "hauntingly beautiful". I don't mind paying top dollar for quality and in the case of your flutes I feel I have received top quality at an exceptional price. That does not often happen in today's world.

Another thing that has me feeling very "warm and fuzzy" is the remarkably courteous treatment I received from Laura on the phone when placing the order. The hand written thank you note that came with the flute is a wonderful touch. I can tell just by your product and presentation that you both must be very nice people.

Laura, you mentioned that Peter Phippen asked where I located his CD "Echoes of the Past". Please tell him that I special ordered it at Borders Book & Music in Bangor, Maine. In fact I am listening to it as I write this. Please tell him that I really like the track titled "Daughter of the Mist". His is an incredible talent and I am amazed that he is caring enough to ask where one person found his CD. Please thank him for me for making such wonderful music (as well as being the inspiration for ordering one of your flutes).

Well I have to go play my new flute now. Be assured, I will be ordering again from you soon. Thank you both very much. It has been a good day! Sincerely, J.T.

Oct 09, 2000:

Comment - Butch and Laura, I bought 2 flutes from you at the Summer Fest in Milwaukee. I just had to tell you that the E flute I bought from you has become my very favorite. I play it often. It seems to speak to me in a way no other flute I own does. I don't know if it is the key, the wood, a combination of things...but the flute seems to almost sing by itself when I play. I have had very many compliments also on the flute bag-it too is a work of beauty. Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart. Namaste, N.G.