I did a search and didn’t immediately find any info without doing an in depth search.
So what’s the scoop on these flutes? I remember hearing caveats about Lark (or Shark as I’ve heard) flutes. But now I no longer remember what the deal was and why Mickie Zekely is a controversial figure. I’m not planning on buying one of these things, I just want to hear the scoop.
Cheers,
Aaron
Pakistani flutes. Out of tune. Poorly made. Poorly seasoned wood… etc, etc… don’t buy one. Don’t even think about buying one.
Chris
Ahh, so they are Pakis. I was wondering what the scoop was. I was suspicious that they were Pakistani. I wouldn’t ever invest in an instrument from them… I’ve already been burned by Lark for my own naivety.
Cheers,
Aaron
Another one saved! 
Best,
Chris
Seriously, the thing that pisses me off most about these flutes is not that they are such crap and so many new folks buy them without knowing what sort of crap they are buying, but the fact that most of them are made from Cocus, an endangered species, and subsequently Cocus is nearly impossible to find more high quality flutes.
Best,
Chris
I agree. It’s bad enough that Lark In the Morning is selling worthless wooden flutes made by cheap labor in Pakistani, but I have some hope that the “cocus wood” they are made from may not be what it seems.
I believe that the famous Cocus wood that is prized for making flutes and is now an expensive rarity comes from a tree that is native to the Caribbean area, and particularly to Cuba.
My recollection also is that the Pakistanis used to make bagpipes and practice chanters out of a local wood they called “Sheesham”, which looked like Cocus (it is brown) and could be used for making instruments. Could this have been “re-christened” to ginger up the market? One thing in Sheesham’s favor (and which lends credence to my suspicions) is that I never heard of anybody having an allergic reaction from blowing into the sheesham blowpipe of a sheesham practice chanter.
Malcolm
It would be nice if one did get an allergic reaction so they didn’t waste their time.
Cheers,
Aaron
Hi out there,
The cocus they use for flutes and bagpipes in Pakistan is a different wood then the rare species prized by some flute players today. Here is a cocus flute of pakistan:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=909612559
Here is a sheesham fife:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=909464346
Check out Terry Mcgee’s site for a picture of the other cocus.
Off topic I guess.
Patrick
personally (i’m no expert) the Lark In The Morning here in Seattle seems to have a large variety of flutes (as well as other types of instruments) and they seem to know their origins and such.. Aside from seeming overpriced on many pieces, they seem to have many grades of flutes from many different origins and in many different styles.. While I doubt any are particularily high end, they appear to have many moderate and low end flutes of good quality, as well as the more ‘toy’ quality ones.
Vultures in the Evening have sold a lot of decent vintage flutes over the years, but that was mostly years ago.
Nearly everyone I know has been snookered in one way or another but I must say that there is a loyal flock of flute players in the N. California coast who prey (I mean play)together…birds of the feather?
The Vultures business has gone South far as I’m concerned, though it use to be okay.