So, I ran into an Olwell last night, now I want one. Anybody know what he charges these days?
I’m thinking Pratten keyless or 6 keys.
Thanks
His list is closed as far as I know. And if it isn’t, prepare yourself for some ten years of a wait.
I paid $1450 for keyless blackwood Pratten and waited 1 year, two years ago.
Wow, pricey, but worthwhile, I’ll give him a call and see what he’s got on the go.
Patrick Olwell’s list is not closed.
His flutes are by far not the priciest.
There are many makers whose flutes are much more expensive and which do not play as well. An Olwell flute is a bargain.
His shop is small and without what most of us feel are creature comforts.
He spends an enormous amount of time on every flute.
He is not a rich man. He could charge more for his flutes but he doesn’t. He wants his flutes to be accessible in every sense of the word.
No offense intended obviously. I simply meant pricey in terms of the current market, though I suppose not really as McGee’s don’t run much short of that.
And 1450 would be less than the worth of the Pratten I saw last night, what a creature.
Thinking on it more he should be charging closer to 2k.
Thanks cocus, now I’ll call him right away and not hesitate thinking I may get a big fat no!
Beannaichte
1450 USD and a 10 month wait
cocusflute, check your PMs please.
same here
Well said. No running water and no air conditioning. No A/C in Virginia. When I was a starving graduate student about 30 miles from where Patrick’s shop is now, I couldn’t afford to run the A/C. I now have no idea how I did it. I have fond memories of my daughter’s first trip to a privy behind Patrick’s shop.
I find it remarkable that someone can work in those conditions*, nevermind turn out some of the world’s finest flutes. I think genius is an understatement, it might be better to refer to him as a magician.
*Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration; I did work in a fiberglass shop for a summer.
About two years ago when I bought my keyless Byrne Rudall,
it cost 1600 dollars; I believe a keyless Grinter
cost the same. I have heard Pat described, by excellent
flautists, as the ‘Stradivarius’ of flute making. On the day
you receive one of his flutes, it will be worth
considerably more than you payed for it.
I am not an owner of flutes. I have only played half a dozen different instuments. But the day I played the Olwell flute that I now own, my life was transformed. Actually, the flute owns me.
does Olwell make an 8-key model as well as a 6 key? does anyone know the prices?
The wait is so long that they won’t quote a price when you order. When I ordered a fully-keyed flute a couple of years ago, Aaron said that they (six-keys) are in the neighborhood of 3000 now. Aaron was working on an 8-key when I was there a couple of months ago, and said they’ll probably start selling 8-keys soon. So if you order now, they’ll probably have 8-key flutes by the time your number is up in several years.
I should have posted this earlier. Sorry.
Patrick Olwell — Prices - May 2006
Keyless 3-Section, All Wood Flute (no tuning slide or silver rings)
Rosewood - $750
Blackwood - $850
Boxwood (if available) - $900
Center Section made in 2 Pieces-- add $50.00
Keyless Flutes with Tuning Slide
Blackwood with Sterling silver trim and Nickel-lined head - $1350
Blackwood with Sterling Silver trim and Silver-lined head -$1450
Six-Key Flute with block mounted keys for D#, F, G#, B Flat and C
made from Select African Blackwood
Sterling silver keys and rings with nickel tube in headjoint - $3050
Sterling silver keys and rings with silver tube in headjoint - $3150
Carrying Pouches and Case
Heavy-duty, black cordura nylon, padded and zippered with 4 compartments - $45
“French-style” hard flute case (by Northwind cases) - $155
Ordering Information
The current waiting period for a keyless flute is about 1 year from receipt of deposit and approximately 6 years for keyed instruments. A deposit of 25% is required for keyless flutes. When ordering, please include all contact information, including e-mail, and update as necessary. Communication via e-mail is the most efficient method in most cases. Please contact us to be placed on the keyed flute waiting list. Shipping fees are $30 for keyless flutes and $45 for keyed flutes. Virginia residents please add 5.0% sales tax.
Cocus, you wouldn’t happen to know what he is charging for Bb flutes and the other keys he is said to make would you?
And if a 6 key is 3150 what is an 8 key likely to be?
Olwell doesn’t make an 8-key, though he plans to at some point. Probably not in our lifetime.
I don’t know what an Olwell Bb would cost. Not too much more than a D flute but he probably wouldn’t be so keen to make keys for a Bb.
My own take is that it is easier to make a playable Bb than it is to make a D flute. If that’s the case you would do well to look for a flute that would entail a shorter wait.
How old is Olwell himeself?
I have heard rumors that Aaron Olwell, Patrick’s son and a formidable flute maker in his own right, might be making eight-key flutes fairly soon.
In answer to the question about Patrick Olwell’s age, I don’t know exactly but he is roughly the same age I am. Oh, and how old am I, you ask? I just turned 53.
As for the cost of an Olwell Bb relative to a D, again I don’t know for sure about that but I do know that when I got my Olwell C (keyless, unlined headjoint) a couple of years ago, it was maybe a hundred dollars more than a D flute would have been. I would think Bb would be about the same, i.e. just a bit more than a D.
I saw one when I was down there. It looked mighty fine to me, but Aaron was still tweaking, I’m not sure whether the process or the design. So he’s definitely making them, just not for public consumption yet. We’ve been on the waiting list for a keyed flute for a year or two, and he was pretty confident that by the time our number comes up, we’ll be able to get an 8-key.