A monster of an instrument. A work of art. Light, yet powerful, honking when it needs to, singing when asked. One of my favorite things about it is how gracefully it can change registers. With my other flutes when I’m about to go into the 2nd register, I’ve got to focus for a split second on my emboucher to make sure everythings in order before leaping into the B part.With the Olwell, I don’t even need to think about it…it’s like the flute instinctively knows when to go into the 2nd register.
I talked my wife into sitting down and listening to all of my flutes ($70 Two part Dixon, polymer; Generic Shark in the Morning wood; Olwell D bamboo; M&E ) leading up to the Olwell. She mustered up a little affect and said ‘yeah, it sounds better.’ I could tell that my energized attempts to explain to her how and why the instrument far surpasses the others just made me sound crazier. That’s why I share it with you likeminded nuts.
Congrats on the new Flute - Those Olwell Cane flutes are really something, aren’t they? It’s just amazing what Patrick does with those - Best bang for the buck on the market, by far. Now you just have to make sure no one sits or chews on it!
I haven’t heard from Patrick yet regarding my wood Olwell Now that my year is up, the days are passing very slowly indeed…
Congrats on the Olwell! Hearing once again about the virtues of these instruments makes me think those naughty thoughts that usually accompany a significant drop in my bank account. What is the going rate for a keyless Olwell these days?
Wes
[ This Message was edited by: whamlyn on 2002-04-26 17:36 ]
I think it was about $1100-$1200 when I placed my order - depending on whether you went with the Nickel or Silver tuning slide, the silver being the higher price.
Having heard on and on about the Olwell flutes being so great, I finally had a chance to try one today. A friend of mine received his (blackwood keyless) yesterday after waiting about 2 years. He additionnally got an E flat body.
I simply just could not believe how easy it was to play and how clear and deep the sound was. It was extremely sentitive to any kind of expression I would give.
The air reqirement is also easier than the flute I am playing untill now.
Is it really a two year wait???
that leaves me two years to raise the money..
so…what is Patrick Olwell’s e-mail ?
I might as well get on the list now…
Otter
[ This Message was edited by: Otter on 2002-04-29 11:36 ]
I thought the wait was one year. That’s what it was for myself, and several others I’ve heard of. He might be getting in so many orders he’s increased the wait.
Contact: Patrick Olwell, Historic Woodwinds, P.O. Box 117, Nellysford, VA 22958, USA. Tel: +1 804 277-9215
Well, unlike the rest of you, I had to wait (yes, even me!) for a a custom-made and fitted headpiece Patrick made for my Rudall. (The original Rudall head was a Patent Head and it just got to be too heavy for my lame wrist).
And it arrived last week and I’m of course very pleased indeed (as is my flute).
Patrick really liked working on this since it wasn’t his usual head piece design, needed custom fitting and, since it’s select cocus wood that required darkening with nitric acid to match my flute, was a great deal of challenge to him.
Typical Patrick, it was masterfully done.
…so…now I’m stuck with this extra keyless Olwell flute whose headpiece I had been using on the Rudall for the last several months…hmmmm
Does anyone remember that Olwell that went up on E Bay last year? It finally sold for some absultely absurd sum of money. It was a bidding frenzy. Not to give you any ideas David. In fact, why don’t we end this dileama of yours now…I’ll send you my mailing address and you can just pop the thing in the mail to me and wash your hands of the whole thing
There are some good flutes out there, but Olwells seem to get the most discussion, more than Grinters or Wilkes (the latter has a 7 year wait? Shoot, I’m likely to be a base bouzouki player by then???).
Actually, the secret to getting your Olwell in one year is…well that too is a secret!
But, you know, as for workmanship on the three blackwood Olwell flutes I’ve played (my own lured out of me by Migoya in exchange for an R&R and a Wilkes headjoint that could make even Kevin Crawford reassess his alliance with Mike Grinter)…there is better workmanship out there than Olwell’s IMHO (Wilkes and Noy, to name a couple). But his design and sound are unique and rich and LOUD and, what really sets his flutes apart, sensitive to musical styles and players embouchures.
When’s the last time you heard anyone complain about an Olwell flute?
All this banter is just my self-styled psyching up for the low Bb flute Olwell has made (#10!!!). One year comes due May 11. What the hell…China can wear on a guy over time.
How 'bout you define this “Better Workmanship”, I’m not sure I understand you. Are you saying Wilkes and Noy flutes are more precisely turned, to tighter tolrances? Are they sanded and polished better? Or perhaps they play more consitently from flute to flute? You’re not talking about decoration here are you, the addition of engraved rings etc?
Loren
P.S. So, there’s a secret to getting your Olwell in a year, eh…thanks for sharing.
I’m not speaking for “g” but I would imagine he is referring to the aesthetic product and not how it plays. At least that’s how I read it.
I can’t compare an Olwell to a Noy because I have never seen an Olwell first hand, but having seen and played several Noy’s they are very fine looking instruments not to mention how nice they play. He ingrains this ivory colored walrus bone into the cutting side of the embouchure hole that looks awesome and plays great too.
I would like to hear more about how a Noy compares sound wise in tone and playability compared to an Olwell.
Now that my year is up, the days are passing very slowly indeed…