Does anyone know how much Pat charges for a 4-key flute, and how long is the wait? How much and long would it be for a keyless? Who has experience dealing with him for the last couple of months? Does anyone know about his stock of timbre? Does he have Cocus? Mopane?
It would be nice to get an Olwell for my next flute, but I haven’t decided yet. Thought I would ask here before I bothered him with a phone call.
Cheers
The six key flutes are a fairly long wait, 5-6 years at a minimum if the numbers I got from him last year are still current. Keyless are only 12-14 months. Mine came in around 11 months, I lucked out.
Give him a call, he’s a great guy and doesn’t mind anwering questions. He also has a flyer with models/wood etc he can mail you. I love my keyless Olwell Pratten in Blackwood, fantastic flute.
My boxwood keyless, which I received just a few weeks ago, cost $1420 including everything (shipping, case, etc.) It took about 14 months. I’m not sure if there was a surcharge for boxwood – I suspect so, because it’s harder to work than blackwood, plus it’s a five-piece instead of a 4-piece flute. I know there’s a surcharge for cocus.
He doesn’t quote a price for keyed flutes due to the long wait, which I think is around 7 years. When I asked, Aran told me that a six-key is around $3000 now, but didn’t know the number offhand. Stock timbers are blackwood, boxwood, and cocus; he will make flutes from other rosewoods. I didn’t ask about mopane, but he wasn’t crazy about the idea of making a keyed flute from rosewoods other than blackwood.
He also makes the all-wood flutes, which are somewhat less expensive than those with slides, but I’m not sure how much less.
Thanks a lot guys.
A keyless 4-piece Nicholson in Cocus would be sweet. Maybe I can arrange something to put myself on the list for a keyed replacement body or something at the same time.