Title says it all: I’m taking the wooden flute plunge in July, and will combine a trip back home with the purchase of my first wooden flute.
I’ll be planning on visiting Hobgoblin in Oxford Street – they seem to have a good selection of a variety of new and secondhand flutes – but if anyone can give tips to other places in the area*, then that would be great.
Thanks,
Az
it is my first wooden flute, so ‘in the area’ does not mean trekking over hundreds of miles of forest and glen in order to meet a flute maker personally in the wilds of .. East Anglia, say. *G
there’s nowhere in london except Hobgoblin that I know of where you’d get a wooden flute - they have a lot of stock, i don’t know of what quality but you’d be able to get something for less than £200. Ii’ve got one for sale - you can pm for details if you want
Check out the antique stalls at Camden Lock at the weekend if possible. I’ve talked to the stall owners there and have been told “Oh the old wooden flutes in the wooden boxs, yes we get them in occasionally”. Small chance of finding a Rudall, but you never know, worth a shot if you’re in London.
Mr Bingham has an old instrument shop in Hampstead .
The address is on his website and in the phonebook .He has hundreds of fine flutes .He sells fine things , perhaps for a fine price .He does have happy customers , though .
He may have a policy of selling the less choice items on eBay .He is there to make money as he sees fit .
He is also the publisher of the New Langwill Index which catalogues most old flutemakers you will find it interesting .
The book on Great French Flutemakers he sells is also first class .
He is famous for being attacked on this board for his retail policies !
He knows his stuff .
i’d agree tht hobgoblin is the place for good, cheapish wooden flutes be arie de keyser, ray sloan etc & they usually have some of these secondhand. www.hobgoblin.com has listings of current secondhand instruments.
