Anyone know Olwell is asking for his new flutes?
Dana
AFAIK …
Two years ago a new keyless Murray was around $700.
A keyless Olwell was around $795.
So they should both be no more than $1000 I don’t think …?
The notion that Olwells are way more expensive than anything else has always surprised me. (Tho’ maybe they should be! 
)
Terry McGee has his MDT all wood flutes for $795. With tuning slide, it goes to $1195.
From what I’d been told, 2 years ago, a keyless blackwood Olwell with silver slide and rings was around $1450. (I found this info from someone that had a price list dated 2 years ago). I was just wondering if he’d gone up.
As you can see, you’ll get many different responses. If you want to focus the answers you get, or at least get more detailed information/opinions, it may be helpful to clarify your question a bit: What are you looking for in terms of tone and playability? How long are you willing to wait for delivery? Which makers tend to deliver on time? How important is excellent customer service to you? Are you insterested in a flute that is very durable, or are you willing to take your chances with something a bit more fragile? And so on.
Loren
In other words, there are no easy answers! 
Dana, I’ll hunt up my old price list when I get home tonight – maybe it’s really, really old! – but I still remember thinking “Holy (BLANK)! That’s not much more than a lot of the others out there!”
Olives, the flutes you’re considering have all received many positive comments on this board and they’re all fine flutes. It seems you’re in a win-win-win situation; from here it’s like Loren says – a matter of personal desires and preferences.
The only thing I can add is that several people I know have had ordered flutes from David Copley and found him super-nice and easy to work with; the two times I’ve met him he’s certainly been lovely.
(and I still hanker after the C Copley I got to try – and his little F flute rocks!)
I think the 795 quoted above was probably for an all-wood flute. I payed 1420 for mine with partially lined head, received in mid-2005, which included a roll case, shipping, and a premium for boxwood, which I think was $100. So, it’s probably closer to 1300 for a blackwood Olwell. Worth every penny IMO, and if an all-wood Olwell is still in the $800 range, I’d call it a steal.
No it is less than $1000, with a hard case.
Stop this Gary, it seems like every time I post something in this forum you have something to correct or negative to say about it.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but what I’m getting at is this: If one’s only consideration is cost, then there are plenty of makers out there who have instruments within the price point mentioned. However, if you also want the instrument relatively quickly (assuming you’re buying new), if you want the flute to be well made, from a maker who is consistent in terms of workmanship, materials, tone and playability, and if you also prefer to buy from a maker who offers a high level of customer service…well, that’d whack the list right down to about 2 or 3 makers in the price range stipulated.
Now, that’s not meant as a knock on any maker(s), I’m just saying, depending on what one is looking for, and/or willing to sacrifice, the list can be narrowed to a manageable short list, as opposed to what we have here, which is just about every maker’s name thrown into the ring for consideration, which I imagine doesn’t really make for an easier decision.
My suggestion for would be flute buyers: Consider what your priorities are, then ask specific questions regarding flutes and makers. This may very well save you not just time and effort, but a fair amount of frustration and heartache down the road.
Loren
It was quite obvious from olives’ post where he/she specifically quotes Copley, Ward and Doyle that olives is looking for a flute with $1000 quality or thereabouts. The Bleazey isn’t in that category and that’s what I was pointing out.
I can understand your youthful enthusiasm getting the better of you, but there are times when it should be tempered with experience, particularly when a newcomer to the board is looking to spend up to $1000.
It’s not so very long ago you were gushing about a $25 flute that you absolutely “loved” (your first flute, I believe) and which had ‘great tone’. You were recommending that one all over the place too. Then you bought a Hall Crystal flute which again you absolutely loved and had ‘great tone’. Your third flute, (and one would argue your first ‘real’ flute) was the Bleazey, which again you absolutely loved and described as being made by ‘the best flute maker in the world’ (in spite of my own legitimate protests). You now have a Burns, which you describe as being a ‘go to the grave’ flute (with the added proviso that of course you might sell it a bit later on).
Olives has a post-count of 1. You have a post-count of 2273. Olives doesn’t know that you’ve just turned 17, that the flute isn’t your main instrument, that you spread yourself across 13 different musical instruments, and doesn’t know anything about your brief fluting history.
If olives took your advice and bought a Bleazey expecting to receive a flute with near-$1000 quality (think: Copley, Ward, Doyle), he or she would be sorely disappointed. As I’ve pointed out several times now, the Bleazey isn’t in that class whether you “absolutely love it” or not. Indeed, in my experience (and I’ve met Phil several times and played a few of his flutes, including one of his keyed flutes) the Bleazey doesn’t have the quality of Jon C.'s flutes, which retail in the same price-range at $520.
If “it seems like every time you post something in this forum I have something to correct or negative to say about it” it’s because something needs correcting, or because your enthusiasm (which is enviable and laudable) should be tempered by objectivity and practical experience, especially where other people’s money is concerned.
And I can think of only two threads where I’ve written anything you might construe as “correction” or “negativism”, this one, and ‘the best flute maker in the world’ thread. Both times tempering your gushing on about the Bleazey.
Edited to add:
(Sorry, three threads. I forgot your oxymoronic ‘strident and mellow’ description of your Burns).
I believe Pat has a blackwood with a non-silver tuning slide and rings for about 1000. (It may be 1100). You pay a premium for the silver too. 1400 is his top of the line keyless.
I would suggest that you think about what you want and then call a number of makers about what they have available. I’d include Dave Copley and Pat Olwell in the list.
I personally am saving up for an Olwell because he lives within driving distance and produces great flutes. I’ve considered getting a new flute that was an intermediate step between what I have now and an Olwell. and decided I’d rather wait an extra 6 months and get the best I can for me. Each flute I’ve ever played has been slightly different so why spend time mastering a flute that is going to be replaced?
The important thing is to consider what you are looking for and find a reputable maker with whom you feel comfortable.
Hey Lee; nice to see you again. Seems like a long time, though maybe I just missed seeing your posts. Hope you are well and
injoying your music
Take care
Tom
Now that right there is an opinion. Mine is different, I feel that it is a very good Flute, and is in that range.
Now I understand how you think I am be unexperienced, but I learn way faster than you think, and have played quite a few more Flutes than you obviously think I have.
If I remember correctly that was probably around May 04, a freaking lot has happened since then. For $25 that Flute had a damn good tone. The Hall had a very nice sweet and mellow tone, it wasn’t that easy to play though. Now you skip a couple Flutes, what about my Tipple that I played for over a year? Until I got my Lejeune Flute, which was my first real Flute. After that I got an M&E, which I did not really like after playing a Wooden Flute I never wanted to “go back” to plastic. Then I got a Mark Hoza F Flute, as I needed an F Flute to play with some hor playing friends who play Jazz, but I am usually playing trad for the record.
I never said Phil Bleazey was the best in the world, I said that he made a very nice Flute, and thought that he was underrated by people on the forum.
The Burns is awesome, the second I played it I knew it was a “keeper.” I find that I get bored having the same Flutes and sometimes want to try new ones and the only way to do that is to get rid of the old. So I may get bored with the Burns in a couple months, I cannot predict the future.
How do you know Olives hasn’t been lurking for a long time? Of course I think they would know the answer to this question if the were, but you never really know.
Now here is where you are really wrong. Flute IS my main instrument, it wasn’t at one time, but I have fallen in love with it. Yes, at one time I played lots of instruments, but that was then and I have changed a lot since then. Plus you obvously have no idea what constant listening and practice (I play about an hour per day in general) can do for ones playing and understanding of an instrument.
Maybe, maybe not. I feel the Bleazey is in this class, the Burns is better, but the Bleazey is still a great Flute.
Ok, first of all. You have never met me and never heard me play. You would probably be surprised by how good my playing is as you obviously only see me as a young ignorant bad musician who has no idea what they are talking about. I have never ever met someone who wasn’t surprised at the fact that I am only 17 or whatever age I was at the time.
You have also never played the Bleazey Flute I have. It may be the best Flute he has ever made. I can’t comment on his consitiency as this is the only one of his Flutes I have palyed.
You also feel the need to correct me once again, until you find out I am right.
YEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAA, now thats what I`m talking about. Hang in there kid I like your spunk. Try not to let people upset you to much my friend. Believe me there are things in this world worth being upset about.
Take care
Tom
You might want to be careful of that phrase Tom, it has very unfortunate connotations on this side of the pond!! 
It’s slang for the same thing here, too, Gary. But Tom’s of the older generation, where “spunky” still meant “plucky” 
…and “gay” sometimes means “happy”
I’m of that generation too, Tom!
M
Yep.
It’s kind of a shame that so many perfectly good words have been changed over the years to mean something other than they should. I refer you to this website, http://www.unscramble.net/dictionary-spunk.html, where we read that the word has two definitions, one which is basically kindling or tender for starting a fire, and the other:
- spunk - noun
· the courage to carry on; “he kept fighting on pure spunk”; “you haven’t got the heart for baseball”
Synonym(s): heart, mettle, nerve
Hypernym(s): courage, courageousness, bravery
Stick to it, Avery.