Just wondering . . . what would I get for a second hand Copeland brass high-D these days?
Just speculating on Ebay… $300.00+
As one might expect, it depends on the condition, the playing characteristics and when it was made - some prefer the Philadelphia made, pre-serial number models others not so much.
Depends on who wants to buy one and how they value it - and how quickly you want to make a sale. $300 is on the low side unless it’s a bit battle weary. Most are starting around $350-375 that I’ve seen recently.
Look through the Sold and Old listings over on the Used Instrument Exchange. Keep in mind that you may only see the “offered” price and not the actual selling price. If you like what you see there and can set a price. You could then offer it for sale from there.
You could also offer it for sale to a re-seller of Irish whistles and see what they think - possibly as a consignment. I do not see any offered for sale there at the moment.
Or you can check you PMs and see if you’ve raised anyone’s interest. I’d make you an offer if I didn’t already have a couple Copeland high Ds.
Feadoggie
Thanks for the reply. I’ll shoot some pics etc. Then I’ll post it for sale.
I also have a Generation D made before they started injection molding the fipples. In other words, an all metal Generation.
Fully playable and very nice sounding, so it is a decent player and not only suitable for sitting on a shelf.
Most recently, a sterling silver Copeland went for about 1500 USD, or so I remember. I don’t think the brass one I saw later was much far behind that though…
The market is fickle, MWW. Also not so long ago one took a year to sell for £200 (about $320) so it can depend on who’s out there that wants one. As with anything.
After I spent more than a year searching, begging Michael Copeland, and bidding, for a Copeland brass high D, I consider myself a poor man’s expert on what these are worth. I acquired mine about one year ago. I’d be stunned if you got less than $330 or more than $420 for a brass high D Copeland depending on condition or it being unique as described in the next paragraph. Unless it was really beat up. I’ve owned one in nickel for a few years and the price is about the same. Silver, well, all bets are off but pretty much double or even triple the price if you can find one.
My brass whistle sounds different than my nickel but the windows are different too. Based on my work with Michael on the lower range instruments I’ve bought from him over the years, lots of his work was custom then so you’d expect some differences. He, like most makers, insists that material alone doesn’t affect tone, but only how it looks and feels in your fingers, which is very personal and IMHO often a perception issue. YMMV
As Feadoggie pointed out, there are older, pre-serial numbered versions and some with a box around the windway like Copeland and a few others use on their low whistles to support a stronger bell note. These are a different animal altogether when it comes to price since they are more rare. I’ve played them and my personal preference is for the newer design. I wish I could tell you when Michael made these changes but I really don’t know. My high D’s were both made after 2005 and they are the newer version.
good luck,
ecohawk
Got my Hi D from Michael so long ago that he sent me three to try out and pick what I wanted! It is pre-serial numbers. No one gets it. Prices I’ve seen have ranged similarly to what ecohawk said. And, they are really each different. Of the three I tried there was no question to me which I wanted. Since I’ve gotten a Lo D (one of his first few) and more recently a G and A. The G and A are really different and though both are excellent one is much better than the other…at least for me. So, you might consider raising the price a bit and allowing an x day trail period.