1 Keyed restored Cocus flute in F (with nice case) for sale

Dear Flute players

This flute is made of what a bagpipe repairer believes to be cocus (he worked on my cocus pipes a while ago) the real stuff not that yellow garbage. It has nickel silver rings and one key at the bottom. It comes with a heavy maple case, with cloth setting (a beauty that I payed $75 for) and a grease pot and lapping thread.

It had cracks in the headjoint but they are sealed perfectly, and it is fully restored in playing condition.

I don’t play it because I lack the time to play another flute!

I would like between $250 and $300 for it. Including the case.

Thanks guys

demon_piper@yahoo.com

The only bagpipes that I know of that are advertised as being made from “cocus wood” have been manufactured in Pakistan, in fact, this is the timber commonly used there for this purpose.

Whatever the merits of Pakistani “cocus” may be, it is not highly regarded by bagpipe makers elsewhere, who prefer grenadilla (African Blackwood) to any other timer.

It is my understanding is that it is an entirely different species of timber than the true cocus wood, which is native to the West Indies and is so desireable for use in making woodwind instruments, particularly flutes, that it was long ago harvested almost to the point of extinction, with the result that it is now by far the rarest and most expensive timber used for flute making, and only a few flute makers even offer it.

Mal

… all of which brings us to the questions: when was this flute made and who made it?

And what does it sound like? Help us, please.

Dear Flute players

The flute is the older sort of Cocus from what I am told. It is brown, not the newer kind used in Pakistan, which is yellow, and is in fact not cocus wood at all.

In other woods, the cocus is the same as what Terry McGee uses.

Other pipers and the piper repairman I know (who has fixed and owns several sets of pre 1900 cocus bagpipes) says that this is the wood it must be made of. (Though it could be another relative of either true cocus, or of the blackwood family, though this is unlikely due to its lighter weight).

From the one key on it and the style of key, it is either French or German. Though given the fact that it is in F it would have been made fro the French style of music. It plays quite well, obviously in the key of F, with what I find to be a warm mellow tone, it is not particularly loud. And not as shrill as the low F whistles I have heard.

Feel free to ask more questions or for pictures

Mark

Also, yes it is a seldomly offerred wood now, but back prior to the last century, it was common and popular among all the makers.

I will take it to another expert and see what he thinks.

Mark

Dear Flute players

I took it to another longtime piper, we compared the flute to two sets of cocus pipes, the grain pattern and colour are almost identical, though from the colour I think the flute was older.

If anyone wants to talk price or sale, drop me an e-mail, or for any more questions.

demon_piper@yahoo.com

In other woods, it is the older cocus, which was quite popular in the 19th C. The stuff that you now pay extra for.


Mark