Hi guys and gals, I have a set of flutes from my personal collection I’m giving up simply to make some extra Christmas cash. As a bamboo flute maker, most of these are flutes I’ve kept back to use as models and to copy, play and record with (I usually keep two or three back for a time of my favorites of every key, to use as models and to use as templates for future flutes, and improvements on the design). The set consists of 9 flutes (Low to High) Low C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C, and high D piccolo.
This set is similar to a complete set I made for a flutist playing in the Broadway production of “The Lion King” a couple of years back. It comes with a custom case made for me by a local person I have that makes the single size cases I sell with my flutes. I picked the fabric for this one and it’s very nice tapestry fabric, with 11 “slots” (so there is room for your whistles as well!) It also has antique buttons and buffalo leather tying bands. (My cat Zill seems to prefer the Low C 
)
Some of these I hate to give up but I’m always making more so… (the same with the case). Each piece of bamboo is a bit peculiar and unique and sometimes you don’t know what you’ll end up with. For example, the Low C has a bend in it that some will love and some may hate, depending on one’s aesthetic. I just pick the ones I personally like to play (and everyone has a preference!) They are all hand tuned using a strobe tuner and the bamboo I select and harvest myself. They have a range of about 2 1/2 octaves.
Some folks here are familiar with my flutes and I encourage comments (thanks). Doc, over at the Irish Flute Store has some nice examples of my work as well. I will probably eBay this if no one is interested, but I thought I’d give the community here first shot. There are some earlier reviews on my flutes floating around here somewhere…
Zac Leger, who plays pipes and flute with Eileen Ivers (as well as as a lot of other instruments!) has been performing recently with a custom E flute I made for him and he has a couple more of mine in his collection. I’ve been experimenting with what I call “odd” keys, like the aforementioned “E natural” and have a couple of odd ones floating around like E, G#, F#, and Db if anyone is interested (great for baffling your fiddle player, but sound great with a capoed DADGAD guitar). I’d be willing to exchange one of these out (perhaps you have a favorite D you already play) with this set. I will also add a Low Bb to this set if desired for $50.00 more… this is only for the Chiff and Fipple folk.
All of these flutes I consider “professional” series and will play much better than most bamboo flutes your likely to meet, and perhaps even some in your wooden flute collection.
I’m asking $500.00. Just email me at billymiller at swva dot net if you have questions. You can see/hear a youtube example of some of my earlier flutes here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFRJXOwaI3w&feature=channel_page
I also set up a slide show on flickr of the set in question here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yillb/sets/72157611332010275/show/
Thanks everyone for the past kind comments and hope the holidays are good to you!
Cheers, Billy