Skip Healy 5-key flute for sale on eBay. http://cgi.ebay.com/Skip-Healy-5-Key-Irish-Flute-Blackwood-/110706952411?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c6a608db#ht_500wt_1156
Now, that’s an ugly looking flute! I like the Bb key though.
Where is the C natural key? Which one?
3rd picture, top (left end) of the mechanism, toward ya…somewhere near where your left thumb might end up
Thanks, but isn’t that the B flat key.
The innovative key work on some of Skips flutes both intrigues and
alarms me, I confess. Played one for a bit. If that is the C natural key and you use it
a lot, not sure I would want to work it with my left thumb. If
it isn’t, what is?
I like these flutes, generally.
sorry, have I mentioned how much I hate getting old…
how about the one just uphill from R1?
I’m the pending new owner of this flute and am curious if anyone knows the history of this sort of keywork. It’s rod and post on a rib. I searched through about 600 historic flutes in the Miller flute collection (http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/f?dcm:0:./temp/~ammem_ErIc:), but couldn’t find a precedent. The only other example I know of is also a Skip Healy flute, the one he made for Jack Bradshaw. Did Skip invent this himself? Is there any advantage to it?
I heard someone mention that Skip makes (or used to make) keywork that helps Boehm players move to Irish flute. If this is one of them, I’m guessing the order of the key touches is, from top to bottom: Cnat, G#, Bb, Fnat, and Eb. The Cnat key would actually be a Bnat key, as it would normally be held down by the thumb, and only released when you want to play a C natural.
Why don’t you send an email to Skip himself?
I realize that 10 days without the flute in hand is a short time to make your decision on. As always, I am willing to cancel the sale if you will pick up the eBay commissions and other costs (about $100 in this case), should you find something you don’t like after the sale date. I am in no hurry to move the instrument to an unhappy purchaser. Take your time and be certain it is what you want.
Kelly Rowe
No regrets here. I posted my question out of enthusiasm, not doubt.
As far as I know, the rod-system keywork on Skip’s older flutes is his own design, though it’s clearly Boehm-inspired. He used to work for Chris Abell, who makes blackwood Boehm flutes, so he may have picked up the idea there.
This flute sold on eBay in a no reserve auction for just under $1100.Earlier I asked Doc Jones about taking it on consignment, and this is what he suggested:
"Hi Robert,
My apologies for being so slow getting back. Your email slipped through the cracks.
Sorry to hear about your nerve troubles. I’d be happy to cosign the Healy. We can list it at $3000 and see how it goes.
Oil it and wrap it case and all in a sealed trash bag for the trip.
The Irish Flute Store
PO Box 81
Buhl, ID 83316"
Occasionally there are deals to be had. 