LeHart Flute on eBay

SuiZen · Post by **SuiZen** » Sun Apr 13, 2003 10:36 am

eilam wrote:Bill, that's really interesting.
The Rudall, was the head a little thicker, and smaller, rounder embouchure. Pratten, thinner head joint, larger embouchure.
Or were the heads the same, but bore deferent?

I'm intrigued by deferent makers approach, to the deference in the two models. Some put the same head on deferent body's.
Some have one body with a choice of deferent heads.

Eilam,

When the two flutes arrived, I thought the Rudall was the Pratten, because it was so long.

Each joint is noticably different. The Rudall's foot joint is longer than the Pratten, and the Rudall foot joint has two large vent holes. The Rudall's middle joint is the longer of the two joints, but the finger holes are about the same size. The LeHart spacing was a stretch for my medium size hands, but both Burns' flutes are very comfortable with no strain to cover.

The two flutes have about the same size embouchure hole. The Pratten headjoint is longer and fatter than the Rudall headjoint. It is interesting to see that the extra length of the Pratten headjoint is between the embouchure hole and end with the cork.

Bill

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sun Apr 13, 2003 1:18 pm

How much are these new? (drool, slobber, snort...)

U2 · Post by U2 » Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:42 pm

SuiZen wrote:Eilam,
...Buying a flute from Casey is like having your own personal flute maker... l

Casey made me a custom, six-key, boxwood based on a Rudall and Carte (#6776) that was owned by Nick Voreas in Portland Oregon, but stolen from him sometime in the early 90's. The original is also very close to Chris Norman's boxwood Rudall and Rose, according to a drawing provided to Casey by Rod Cameron, who made Chris's blackwood rendition. I love the instrument and cannot over-emphasize my appreciation for Casey and his accommodating style. He's a pleasure to work with.

Edited to provide clarification this is not submitted as object worship, just in case...

SuiZen · Post by **SuiZen** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 3:58 pm

Auction closed at $1,525, and the reserve was not met.

Anyone know how much a new one sells for?

Bill

Whistlin'Dixie · Post by **Whistlin'Dixie** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 4:16 pm

I was a little surprised at that myself......
M

Tom O'Farrell · Post by **Tom O'Farrell** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 4:18 pm

The flute appeared on Brad Hurleys "for sale" page yesterday with an asking price of $1500.00. Yet he set his reserve on e-bay at some higher amount. Probably just testing the waters. (I'm looking for a good keyed flute)

SuiZen · Post by **SuiZen** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 4:26 pm

Tom,

I just got one. There are lot's to choose from. What are you looking for?

Bill

SuiZen · Post by **SuiZen** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 4:35 pm

Meant to add, I just sold a 4 key LeHart, and just got a Burns' 6 keyed Rudall and unkeyed Pratten flute, with unkeyed joints for the Rudall flute. Casey Burns and Skip Healy have short waits for keyed flutes, and there's always the used market.

Bill

Juan Pablo Plata · Post by **Juan Pablo Plata** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 5:00 pm

Hi. A new flute with six keys made by Jil Léhart is 540 Euros plus 77 for each key. And he offers quality with a year waiting list.

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 6:28 am

So new, this flute would cost right about 1000 euros, or well under $1100. Seems like the seller is asking quite a premium to avoid the waiting list, perhaps more than is warranted (just my opinion).

I was quite surprised to see this flute appear on Brad Hurley's site before the auction even ended. Seems a bit shady. If it had met the reserve on eBay, there would have been a legal contract to sell it, so advertising it elsewhere, especially at a lower price, before you know whether that is going to happen just isn't right, in my opinion.

There's my 2 cents,
Steven

Gordon · Post by **Gordon** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 7:26 am

Steven wrote:So new, this flute would cost right about 1000 euros, or well under $1100. Seems like the seller is asking quite a premium to avoid the waiting list, perhaps more than is warranted (just my opinion).

I was quite surprised to see this flute appear on Brad Hurley's site before the auction even ended. Seems a bit shady. If it had met the reserve on eBay, there would have been a legal contract to sell it, so advertising it elsewhere, especially at a lower price, before you know whether that is going to happen just isn't right, in my opinion.

There's my 2 cents,
Steven

I happen to know this particular seller; I sincerely doubt he's doing anything shady, although he may be asking more than he should, depending on your view of pricing used flutes. I know that he's trying to raise money (or reimburse himself) for a Rudall, and I'm fairly sure that parting with the Lehart wasn't an easy decision.
The Lehart in question is a very good flute, and because of my having played this particular one, I can wholehearedly recommend Lehart as a maker (it's the only one I've ever personally tried).
As for the seller's asking price, that seems to be the way some sellers work -- we had a thread a while back where I argued that a used flute should be a bit less expensive, or equivalent, to a new one, with the perk that you get it right away. Others argued that a used flute from a good maker, since you can get it right away, should be a bit pricier. I still personally feel that a used instrument should be a bit of a bargain (otherwise, I'd rather work with and have the maker's guarentee), but someone jonesing for a good 6 key flute might feel the extra few hundred and a flute in hand is worth avoiding the year or so of high anxiety and wait.
Again, knowing the seller, I think he's just trying a variety of avenues in order to sell his flute for a good price, and, yes, get as much as he can. The flute itself is quite real, and quite nice, and beyond being enterprising, there's nothing shady going on.
Gordon

Tom O'Farrell · Post by **Tom O'Farrell** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 8:12 am

I was prepared to buy this flute on e-bay for a max. of $850.00 but it shot up to $1525. I was aware of the new costs. It is 5 years old and has been re-padded and serviced, to me it is worth less than a new one.
I am looking for a flute that has the potential for good top octave intonation and has 5 or 6 keys hopefully placed so a boehm system player like me can adapt without too much agony. Probably all the major makers are good enough but I lack experience to guide me. I have played keyless older wood flutes and keyed older german flutes which I found fascinating, but all were too quiet for me. I want a "honker" as well as good top octave.

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 9:59 am

Gordon wrote:I happen to know this particular seller; I sincerely doubt he's doing anything shady, although he may be asking more than he should, depending on your view of pricing used flutes. I know that he's trying to raise money (or reimburse himself) for a Rudall, and I'm fairly sure that parting with the Lehart wasn't an easy decision.

I guess I was a little imprecise in my choice of words. When I said shady, I wasn't implying anything illegal or fraudulent or anything like that. It just seems to me that if you put something up on eBay, you have an obligation to see the auction through (or end it early, if that's your choice) before making the same item available in another forum.

I certainly do understand the seller's desire to sell this flute to raise money for another one -- FlOA is a whole lot tougher on the wallet than WhOA! And yes, I do agree that many people feel a premium can be paid to avoid a waiting list. I just thought that the premium being asked in this case was a little too high. That's not to say everyone will feel the same way, and if someone wants to pay that much, great! They get a new flute, and the seller gets to pay for the one on the way. But given that the waiting period is only a year (very reasonable for a 6-key flute these days) and the maker, although well regarded, still doesn't have the same reputation as someone like Patrick Olwell, more than 50% seemed a bit much to me.

Of course, I'm just stating my opinion, which in the long run won't matter too much. I won't buy the flute, but if someone else has a different opinion (and happens to be in the market for a 6-key flute), maybe they will buy it and be very happy.

Steven

pdunn · Post by **pdunn** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 10:33 am

Hello,
I bought a used lehart with six keys for $750 last june. I think it was a steal, i'd have paid more if I knew how good it was. I think though a little less pleasing look wise (funky nickel post keys) it is as good as flutes get. I like it better than some olwells I've tried (prattens). Only flute i'd rather have is a sam murray. Some flutes fit the player and especially if you're new to it you shouldn't go on name alone, try some flutes and see what works by going to sessions and hearing or playing what you like.
Patrick

ImNotIrish · Post by **ImNotIrish** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 11:47 am

Hello.

I happen to be the fortunate/unfortunate owner of the Lehart that was listed on ebay, and currently listed on the Wooden Flute Exchange. Let me first say thank you to Gordon for his affirmation of my character. Indeed, I am not trying to conduct any shady deals. I posted the Lehart on the Exchange when I realized that it was not gong to make my reserve price (or come very close to it) on eBay. Premature, I admit, but not intended to 'scam' anyone. As Gordon so eloquently pointed out, I need the money to help finance another flute. I must also say that despite Lehart's pricing system, I feel the flute is worth ~$1500.00. I have heard over and over again that LeHart flutes are underpriced (perhaps the same can be said of Sam Murray). This particular flute , as Gordon has mentioned, has a wondeful, full, strong tone. As someone else alluded to, it could be designated as a 'honker.' I recently sold a three keyed Sam Murray (also an excellent flute), and I have to say that the Lehart seemed to have a 'crisper' edge to the notes than the Murray. Both flutes are great. Perhaps it's just a question of style and preference. Anyway, I wanted to acknowledge this thread (a surprise it was!) and to sya that in no way did I mean to undermind this community or the integrity of the
traditional community when posting the flute on a second list.

Arbo