Hi
I have a Keyless Olwell D which I really like and I’m wondering who you could recommend to add keys to it?
Before you say Olwell, there’s a 6 year waiting list for a keyed flute by him.
I’m considering Giles Lehart, George Ormiston or Maurice Reviol.
Any recommendations?
Thanks
K
I have no experience with Ormiston or Lehart, but Maurice Reviol recently added keys to a Doyle flute for me. He was a pleasure to do business with and did an outstanding job. The keys are beautiful, easy to play, and the intonation is spot on. I can’t say enough good things about the work he did.
That said, I found him through a suggestion on Martin Doyle’s web page, and Martin actually has pictures there of a flute with keys retrofitted by Maurice. I seem to recall a post from someone in a similar situation as you who spoke with Patrick about having someone else add keys to one of his flutes, and Patrick was somewhat less than happy about the possibility. I won’t get into that sticky situation, but you may encounter some resistance on the part of other makers.
I would be curious to know how it goes. Good luck with it all. I have been on Patrick’s waiting list for a keyless flute for a while, and am trying to wait patiently. Keys or not, he makes great flutes.
I have to say I don’t know if Patrick’s waiting list applies to existing Olwell ‘customers’ wanting an upgrade, or just to completely new buyers. Have you asked him? If not, do. You never know!
If you do have to wait 6 or 7 years for a keyed body from Patrick, I’d say it would be worth getting your name down with him. In the meantime, you could buy something like a keyed Lehart and sell it again when the time comes to pay Patrick for the keyed body. Gilles Lehart makes very affordable keyed flutes. You’d have the unkeyed Olwell and the keyed Lehart, and I wouldn’t have thought you’d have much trouble selling a Lehart down the line. You might even be able to sell the keyless Olwell body once you’ve no further need for it…
I wouldn’t dare talk down the keywork of either George or Maurice Reviol, but I would hesitate to let anyone other than Patrick or Aaron Olwell loose on one of their own flutes.
m.d.
I did once ask Patrick O. whether it was OK with him for me to have another maker put keys on my keyless Olwell pratten. Patrick was definite that he didn’t want people to do that. People have different attitudes about this sort of thing, but, for me, this settled the matter.
Recently had a Somers (was returned to me last week) flute keyed by Maurice Reviol. He installed 8 keys for me and did beautiful work. Don’t know anything about the other makers you listed; however, I can assure you that Reviol really knows what he is doing! In addition, the turn around time was very quick, I had the flute back in my hands in about 5 weeks from the time he received it. Another plus that has already been mentioned, he is really great to work with. While he was working on my flute, he would, from time to time, send me an email describing what he was doing, kind of a progress update. I might mention that I didn’t ask for any updates as I had concluded that he was very busy and me bugging him would be only a distraction and take him from his work. The gentleman is a real master.
BTW, I can understand Mr. Olwell’s position. I discussed adding keys with Garry Somers (Garry makes key-less flutes) and he was O.K. with it and even suggested Maurice Reviol. In fact, it is my understanding that Garry even had communication with Maruice concerning the placement of the “tone holes” on the flute he had made for me. You have a tough call to make—good luck.
I would never have another maker modify Patrick’s (or any reputable maker’s) flute. The flute will no longer be an “Olwell”. If something is done that detrimentally affects the sound, the weight, the playability, etc, and someone thinks it’s an Olwell flute, it does not reflect favorably on Patrick. Think about the potential for injuring his reputation. Also, he will no longer accept it for repairs or adjustments.
Why not get on Patrick’s list for a keyed flute, buy another keyed flute in the meantime, and then sell it in six years when Patrick makes yours?
Six years in the best of the cases, but it could be ten years. That´s a lot of time. I understand Patrick Olwell, but I understand too to people that ask to other makers for adding keys to his Olwell flute. Once you buy the flute you can do whatever you want at your own risk. Yes, maybe you can lose the original warranty for further adjustements, but it´s your flute, you decide, not Patrick.
Nial Keegan told me once that the best flute he tried ever was an Olwell with 6 keys added by Maurice Reviol, “a retirement flute”, he said.
If you have a keyless Olwell and don´t want to wait 10 years for a keyed one Reviol is a real option.
S.
We’ve had this discussion before. Certainly I can do what I want with the flute I buy, in the sense that I have the legal right and the maker cannot stop me (though I expect he would never sell a flute to you again if he knew). I could also buy the Mona Lisa and paint on a mustache, or perhaps improve it in some way; it’s mine, after all, but I suppose it would be widely thought that I shouldn’t and that doing so would wrong the artist–even though he would have no legal recourse. Patrick has several times been compared to Stradivarius, a craftsman who has become a considerable artist. Speaking personally (and appreciating that others see it differently) I prefer to live in a world where such people command a respect that constrains what I do with their instruments. I feel richer for it.
And then, there are perhaps others who’s situation is similar to mine. That being that I had found a really nice flute that had all that I wanted in a Delrin flute, with the exception of keys, as the maker does not put keys on his flutes. Believe me, I understand the difference between my circumstance and a maker who does make key less flutes and will retrofit a flute with keys. About 4 years ago, I had a timber flute retrofitted with keys by the maker of the flute and very pleased that I did so. I’m also pleased that I decided to have keys put on my Somers flute; Garry Somers didn’t have any heartburn with that, to the best of my knowledge, and I checked it out with him before I did so. So, what I have now is a beautiful Somers flute with magnificent Maurice Reviol keys. I personally see it as a win/win situation.
Again, I might mention that I do appreciate Olwell’s position and do not disagree with it. I do have to say that 6 to 10 years is a considerable amount of time and it does become a consideration for those of us who are on the back end of life, like myself. I would like to obtain as much enjoyment/pleasure out of my flutes as I can while I can still remember that I own a flute and remember where I put it. Just say’n.
Right. I’m willing to have another maker retrofit keys, but personally I like to get the maker’s consent–especially if I have reason to believe the maker doesn’t want it. There are exceptions–if, for instance the maker is irresponsible in doing more work on his flutes, etc. If it’s a choice between doing without keys on Pat’s flute and buying another keyed flute while I wait (there certainly are good ones about), on the one hand, and disrespecting Pat, personally I will get another keyed flute. Just saying.
Sounds right to me Jim. 
Personally I think you should ask Patrick for an estimate on how much $? and how long, if it isn’t acceptable then go to another maker. I wouldn’t wait 6 years for a heart bypass never mind a piece of wood. There are some very competent makers out there who have been mentioned above and I am sure they will do a decent job with retrofitting keys to the Olwell.
I would reccommend Tony Milllyard, he makes excellent quality flutes, keyed and keyless and has been making early music instruments for many years. He may not be as well known as some makers but he is professional and produces high quality work.
I don’t know for sure, but I believe a lot of these guys will not work on another maker’s flute without his/her consent.