Hi Folks,
I found this for sale on Ebay,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2548211785&category=10183&rd=1
Cheers, Mac
Any idea what it’s worth? Being rosewood…
Hi Jim,
Dave Copley used to give a price for a Rosewood flute, The website’s been changed now only I had it printed out about a year ago (11/08/02). The Rosewood was $655 and the Blackwood, $720. This probably doesn’t help but it’s the only reference I could find.
Cheers, Mac
Thanks… It looks a lovely flute.
How do rosewood and blackwood differ in the sound department? Or is the player the more important factor.
Eddie
Rosewood, blackwood . . . here we go again. 
Hard question in the sense that blackwood is a rosewood. Rosewood, like what we’re probably talking about here, is usually lighter in color, less dense, and less oily than African blackwood. So, if you’re an adherent of the timber-sound theory (as I am, I must admit), then rosewood flutes are perhaps slightly mellower and less piercing than would be a blackwood flute which is an exact duplicate in every other way except timber. Insofar as that’s not really possible, it probably depends on both the flute and the player, but the rosewood will contribute something to the sound.
Makers usually charge less for rosewood. I don’t know if it’s because the timber is that much cheaper (I’m sure it’s less expensive), because it’s easier to work . . . or what. Or a combination.
From Ormiston’s website . . . There is a choice of wood - African Blackwood, Rosewood or Boxwood. African Blackwood is certainly the most-preferred choice, as much for its tone as for its stability. I have been buying my Blackwood direct from Africa for some years now and I am very happy with the quality and price.
Stuart
Yes, they are closely related.
My impression is that rosewood has
a brighter sound, blackwood a
darker and smokier sound, if that
makes any sense. Of the two
I prefer blackwood, but a rosewood
flute would provide an interesting
voice.
Also might be less expensive.
this is kinda like brunettes or redheads, as with woods there are differences when viewed, but if you play identical instruments except for the woods there are not big differences.
I have identical Abell Whistles, one rosewood , the other blackwood, sound wise very little difference. The Blackwood Whistle may be a little louder and have a more focused sound, but, I don’t believe anyone would be able to tell the difference when hearing the 2 instruments( assuming they can’t see them).
Ben
Ben,
are your whistles high D or lower whistles? I wonder if the similarity in sound is aided by the nature of the higher pitched instruments. Would two low whistles of different timbers sound as similar as two high whistles?
Personally, I believe with flutes the player, the design of the instrument and lastly the material influence sound. But to me, the influence in the material depends upon the design of the instrument. If you made three flutes of different material (delrin, rosewood, blackwood) with exactly the same design I think they would sound vastly different. However, if the design changed to take into account the material, I think it would be hard to tell the difference and the player then would be the biggest influence.
Does that make sense at all?
Eric
Sure. I suspect that differences in tone
maybe somewhat more apparent to the
person playing the flute than to the
audience, by the way.
Rosewood certainly seems to have
a distinctive sound–as in guitar back
and sides. Stuff sings. Possibly a
bit too much for flutes.
The first Rosewood instrument I owned was a fife about six or seven years ago. Very little difference in the sounds of Grenadilla and Rosewood on a fife since they are much higher in octave and more difficult to discern that quality.
HOWEVER, for the first two months of playing is - especially the first week - my lip (lower) began to tingle. I thought it might have been kick back vibration but it did not occur on any other fifes I played. Ergo - and therefore - I determined a slight alergy for Rosewood for me. It disapated slowly over the next few months, though, for which I am grateful. I seldom play fifes now that I’ve become addicted to wooden flutes.
BillG
Eric and List:
My Abell Whistles are high D, it could be that pitch is a factor and low D whistles made of either Rosewood or Blackwood would sound different. That said I would keep the Blackwood if I could only have one of these Whistles
I think a nicely designed Flute of rosewood could sound better than a lesser Flute made of Blackwood, but for Irish Music the standard really is Blackwood.
I havent played Fife in awhile but I think Fifes sound about the same made of any wood, if the design is the same.
For looks however Blackwood is kinda plain and a nice Cocobola wood or Boxwood with a Nitric Acid wash is much more pleasing to the eye. Does anyone else like the looks of Boxwood with a nitric Acid Wash?
Ben
Jim, no offense but… all things being equal, rosewood flutes and whistles are NOT brighter sounding than Blackwood, in fact it’s just the opposite.
With regards to guitars, yes rosewood sings, but Rosewood backed guitars are generally not prized for their “brightness” of tone but rather the warmth and complexity of tone they produce. When someone wants a bright sounding guitar, they will usually go with Mahagony back and sides. I assure you, a guitar made with African Blackwood back and sides would be far brighter, sounding than the same with Blackwood back and sides.
This from someone who used to sell musical instruments for a living (5 years), for what that’s worth.
Loren
OK, maybe so Loren. I say that Rosewood guitars
sing–which isn’t brighter–on the basis of
having played guitar avidly for 45 years and owning
both rosewood and mahogany guitars,
and playing numberless guitars made
of every wood of which guitars are made, I reckon.
I’ve played Rosewood flutes, own one, etc.
Hence ‘bright,’ for flutes.
But I don’t trust my ear that well. Or
my powers of description! FWIW Best
Well then, as usual, our “perspectives” differ, somewhat radically 
So be it 
Loren
I think Brightness is more inherent in the design of the instrument ( bore design, thickness of the bore wood), although the density of the wood might make a difference to some degree.
Again I’ve got 2 Abell Whistles , both I would say have a bright sound, the blackwood, maybe a shade brighter, but that would be splitting hairs
Ben
Ormiston suggests that rosewood has a different
tone from blackwood. So how would you’all, if you
agree with this, describe the difference? there’s
something pretty distinctive about rosewood,
I think. What is it? Especially concerning
woodwinds. Also I always rather thought
rosewood is pretty tough stuff–is it?
What do you think? Otherwise I’m
gonna have to buy this flute to find out.
Best
“Tough” depends on what you’re talking about. All timbers we usually talk about with regard to flutes are hard, dense timbers. Part of what Ormiston’s talking about, probably, is that blackwood is inherently somewhat more stable than rosewoods at large. Meaning, if he reams it out, lets it sit, and comes back, it tends to shift less. Also, blackwood is pretty darn oily compared to nearly anything else (except maybe lignum) and is very water-resistant.
If you take care of your instruments, it doesn’t much matter; it all depends on how much care you want to take.
Stuart
I would suppose that rosewood is more
stable than boxwood…how bout cocus?
And what about the tone?
Cocus is quite stable, though dry. And, it’s got arguably the best tone of any timber.
Rosewood tone . . . I don’t know a lot about “generic” rosewood. I like cocobolo a lot.
Jim, no one can tell you what the rosewood will sound like. There are boxwood flutes that are louder and more penetrating than blackwood ones. If you like the rosewood, that’s a reason to go for it.
Choice of timber is probably the least important choice for a flute. Pick a good maker, then a good style of flute for you. Decide whether or not you want keys, and if you want them, how many. THEN, pick a timber you like.
This is advice from someone who has owned many flutes from many timbers. I think timber is aesthetic in the purest sense. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.
The only negative aspect of buying a flute that’s not blackwood/cocus/boxwood is resale value, I think. A lot of people have strong prejudices about blackwood/cocus/boxwood, and find anything else inferior. Likewise, some people love cocus and hate boxwood and blackwood.
Stuart