I’m doing some spring cleaning and would like to sell a few flutes/fifes.
SOLD, I had an old Boxwood 4-key flute (Key of D) in it’s original English Walnut (?) case with key and lock. This flute has been rebored and tuned by John Gallagher and plays very sweet and smoothly at A = 440 Hz. The tone is fairly strong and the bottom D is firm. The only tuning issue I have is G5 is a bit flat for me (can be easily lipped up), but even the keys are of good intonation. The flute is solid, never had a crack! Here’s a picture of just the flute:
SOLD , I had an old Cocuswood 6-key flute (Key of F) with a fully lined head, threaded tuning cork adjuster and slide. There are repaired cracks, one in the head (not through the embouchure) and one on the barrel. This flute is a bit high pitched at about A = 450 Hz. This flute is a really fun player with some of the prettiest Cocus I’ve ever seen, it has an inner radiance like tiger eye or moonstone. These F flutes seem to sell really fast here on the board. Maybe more makers should be offering them new! Here’s an extra picture of the little F flute:
SOLD , I was offering a like new Healy Deluxe fife (Bb) in a custom box. Healy fifes have a very nice tone and play well in the bottom octave (unlike nearly all other fifes).
Feel free to ask questions and I can send larger pictures to your private email address if you would like.
Trades will be considered!
Please respond via PM, Thanks for your consideration.
Skip makes his fifes in three versions: Standard, Special and Deluxe. The basic difference between the versions are the size of the toneholes and their spacing. Standard being smallest holes most tightly spaced and Deluxe being the largest holes with the greatest spacing. Skip claims that this increases volume and improves intonation. The Standard and Special are currently $275 while the Deluxe is $150 more. The Deluxe also features a Squarish Embouchure with a Cutaway to improve volume, projection and response.
Skip’s fifes are Boehm like, cylinder bodies with a parabolic expansion in the head. I suspect the design is by or done in conjunction with Chris Abell. In fact I have wondered if Abell whistle bodies would fit Skip’s fife heads.
Here’s a close-up picture of the fife:
Have you ever tried playing your Irish Flute outside while the wind is blowing pretty good. The flute just can’t cut through the wind; well this fife can almost cut through a gale! It can also be played the way I do most often, soft and mellow.
I like the Healy fifes because they have a really nice tone and play well in the bottom octave. I noodle around with Irish tunes on the fife, but mostly play Americana. Fife music is written the same as flute music, despite the differences in pitch. But a real fifer will kick the music up an octave.
I’m surprised nobody has snarfed up the keyed boxwood yet! I have two theories about this:
Incredulous: People can’t believe the price and are skeptical, the price is to low for a good flute. Well I’ll guarantee the prospective owner’s satisfaction or their money back (less postage). This flute is an excellent player. Wanna sound like Chris Norman, well here’s yer chance!
Flute Factor: Perhaps we should revise current economic theory to include a new indicie of economic health; the Flute Factor. When sales of good quality Irish Flutes are lackluster (like Luife’s ARHPA Pratten) then this must be an indication that the economy is not healthy.
I have another theory, there are so many new flute makers popping up lately, some shamelessly copying other maker’s flutes, and all of them undercutting the top flute maker’s prices so severely, that this is convincing folks to buy from these new makers instead of buying older instruments, or new “expensive” flutes. The cycle is self perpetuating to a certain degree, because many of these flutes by newer makers are sold by the original owner within months, thus sending more cheap, and “barely used” flutes onto the market.
I see all of this as both a blessing and a curse: It’s good news for folks who are looking for a keyless wooden flute in the $500-$700 range, but I think the flip side is that since most of these flutes really aren’t likely to be top notch flutes, even more flute hopping occurs, with the end result being that it’s going to take many people longer to end up with a good flute they can stick with.
I hadn’t noticed this thread till now. This boxwood flute was one of those high-pitch English flutes. John Gallagher actually re-reamed it a couple of years ago to bring it down to modern pitch and adjusted the toneholes and bring it in tune with itself. It’s a wonderful-sounding flute. John’s re-voicing of it increased the volume quite a bit without taking anything away from the buttery sound.
It can also be played the way I do most often, soft and mellow.