Olwell Bamboo Flutes

Irish Flute
1

Hello I am new to the flute and interested in a top quality bamboo G flute. Does Patrick Olwell still offer Bamboo flutes?

Thank you for your help.

Jeff Menzies
Kingston, Jamaica

2

I think The Olwells only make the odd bamboo and sell them on ebay where they go for a good deal of money for a bamboo (best to contact them but last I heard this was the case). Billy Miller flutes may be more widely available and are decent flutes and much cheaper.

These are the best bamboo flutes I’ve tried. Maybe someone else has other favorites?
Never tried a Dawson.

3

Hi Jeff. Tackhead banjo guy, right? (If so), my compliments on your work!

Good advice above. Olwell is hard to come by and very expensive. Billy Miller’s ‘Windwood’ flutes are reasonable and good: http://www.windwoodflutes.com/

I’ve got a decent G flute that I bought inexpensively from Erik the Flutemaker:https://sites.google.com/site/dougsflutes/ eriktheflutemaker.com

You can also get a good PVC flute in G from our very own Doug Tipple: https://sites.google.com/site/dougsflutes/

Unless it has to be a ‘G’, you may want to think larger. ‘F’ is a particularly good key for simple system flutes, IMHO, while still very easy to manage.

4

Second Billy Miller, whom I believe Pat O recommends.

5

Hello! Yes it is me http://www.jeffreymenzies.com

I am here in Jamaica learning mento and making banjos and teaching instrument making. The bamboo flute has a dear place in mento…only problem is there are VERY few players. I only know of one here on the island. Looking to learn the bamboo flute in G as advised by several old time mento players.

Anyone know the best way to get a hold of Billy Miller? I tried email.. It appears as though he is often on the road.

Jeff

6

Yes, you just have to be patient, even for several weeks sometimes. He seems to be very busy at Renaissance Festivals and stuff.

7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOwaKGLkRog

Here’s a Billy Miller Bb flute.

8

Jeff,
I know absolutely nothing about Mento or mento flute. Can you recommend someone to listen to or give us some links to mento flute playing? Sounds very interesting.
Good luck. There is a Hungarian fellow who posted here a week ago starting to sell bamboo flutes could be worth a look if you can’t catch Billy Miller.
Patrick

9

Here’s a vid I just found doing a quick YouTube search.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6y5Q14l7mU

10

Four Olwell bamboo flutes here on ebay including a G flute
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cased-Set-of-Four-Bamboo-Olwell-Keyless-Flutes-Wooden-Irish-Flute-/221140870462?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item337d05e53e

11

I like Sunreed bamboo flutes. They are different from the Millers - not tropical bamboo so they usually have a node. I know this is considered not optimal for bamboo flutes, but I like the rich tone I get from the wider bore.

Kim

12

Thanks so much for everyone’s help. I hope to make my own since I have bamboo growing very near me. I do want to to find a highly playable example from an experienced maker. Start off with a good model to work from.

Jeff

13

I’ve broken up the set of Olwell bamboo flutes that I had on ebay.

Here’s a link to the G: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221147238031

Here’s a link to the F: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221147239971

Here’s a link to the D: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221147242459

Here’s a link to the low C: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=221147244567

thanks!