FS:Ward Blackwood[SOLD] & Burns Pratten[HOLD]

Irish Flute
1

Hi folks, for sale (or possible trade if you have either an older Hammy or some other flute I may be interested in) are:

**[SOLD]**Paddy Ward Blackwood Hawkes model keyless D $750, with silver rings and a tuning slide in excellent condition from about 2005. Can be played sweetly or honked, and has a relatively easy embouchure, very nice woody tone. Comes with Paddy’s handmade cloth tweed case.

Casey Burns Boxwood Pratten model keyless D $650 [HOLD] but let me know if interested, as it may still be available all wood (no slide or rings) with some nice figure to it, also in excellent condition (no warping either) from about 2004 I believe. Also is a sweet player or can be played with a powerful tone, but with a softer edge than Blackwood. With Burns nylon case.

Both have been very well cared for (swabbed and oiled) and kept at a fairly consistent humidity of about 60%.

I love both of these, but I’ve been trying to keep my collection of flutes down to a minimum for me. So, in that light, I am now offering them, and thanks for your help! It would be hard not to like either-I consider them very special flutes, and they both have brought me hours of enjoyment.

Note: By older Hammy, I mean from the 90’s or so, that has large holes, small embouchure (If I remember correctly), smaller outside diameter than the newest Hammy’s, and a flush end to the wood below the last ring on the foot (later ones had some rounding of the wood below the last ring). I had one that was pretty heavily played, and I had a hard time playing it up to pitch, but I liked the tone. I’d like to try one again like it to see what I think of it now.

Will consider all conditions and all trades, just let me know, and if you have a price in mind. Pictures would be nice, but not essential.

Email or PM as wished, by using the buttons below for inquiries, thank you!

Preference will be to keep this sale in the USA, but I may consider selling abroad if I get few responses here. Shipping is extra (at cost).

Here are a couple of pictures-more on request. Just click on them to enlarge.

2

Still want to see if I can find an old Hammy, but I’ve put that in a separate post since it wasn’t too obvious from the thread title (ran out of room!).

I will also consider other flutes in trade if you are short on cash.

Thanks!

3

As you might know, Barry is a fine person to deal with; and, he takes great care of his flutes.

4

If anyone is considering that Burns, go for it, it is a really nice Flute. How do I know? It is the same one I used to have.

5

Thanks guys, for the endorsements!

The Ward is SOLD-I have payment, thanks for the inquiries.

The Burns Pratten is on HOLD, but it may become available again-let me know if you are interested, and I will give preference to those who may contact me first in case the HOLD comes off.

Thank you!

6

I was lucky enough to purchase the Ward flute and can’t say enough good about both the instrument and the experience in dealing with Barry.

I’m finding the flute just as he described it, forgiving and with a great tone. The construction quality is excellent, and it even has a nice faux ivory insert in the top cap that didn’t show up in the photos. Barry kept it in “like new” condition, and I’ll certainly do the same.

I know the common wisdom here seems to be that it is the player, not the instrument. I’ve got to say that I’m getting a much better sound out of the Ward than I ever did my older M&E. Not that playing the M&E was a bad experience, just a bit more challanging for certain things. I’ll most likely keep it for the rough, but may consider sending it back to the factory to have the embochure recut. From what I’ve heard the more recent M&E are a bit easier to play.

This first night the toughest thing is putting the Ward back in the box to rest after some 20 minutes of playing.