Chris Wilkes Flute on Ebay

Steampacket · Post by **Steampacket** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:55 am

Exciting - you have to watch out for those last minute mad bids on e-bay.

The auction will finish around 1 am Swedish time - may the best woman/man/being win

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:05 am

Hmm, the starting price is high enough that I was thinking there wouldn't be much of a bidding war, but I could certainly be wrong. It will certainly be interesting to see what the final price is.

Loren

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:10 am

Probably a fair few snipes queued in Auctionstealer even now.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:28 am

GaryKelly wrote:Probably a fair few snipes queued in Auctionstealer even now.

May be, you think we're going to see a keyless flute go for 3 grand? I wouldn't have expected it but who knows, if G. Collins is out there ready to bid......

I'll wait for Brad to put his Wilkes Bb up for sale

Loren

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:46 am

As far as I know, the most a keyless modern flute sold for was $2725. It was an Olwell blackwood Pratten, about 5 years ago on eBay.

When I first saw this Wilkes flute, I thought the starting price was too high to even think about bidding, but then I thought about how many flutes I used to have, and how one amazing flute is definitely worth two less amazing flutes. So I just hope this flute is as amazing as I am hoping. I played a Wilkes Pratten once and really loved it. And I sold too many flutes. I should have kept a couple.

Yes, I'm sure people will try to snipe this flute at the last second.

bradhurley · Post by **bradhurley** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:48 am

Loren wrote:I'll wait for Brad to put his Wilkes Bb up for sale

You're gonna have to wait a L O N G time for that, buddy! Although if someone offered me $1 million for it, I might consider it. But actually no, I don't think I'd even sell it for that much. I'd much rather have the flute than the money.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 9:55 am

bradhurley wrote:
Loren wrote:I'll wait for Brad to put his Wilkes Bb up for sale
You're gonna have to wait a L O N G time for that, buddy! Although if someone offered me $1 million for it, I might consider it. But actually no, I don't think I'd even sell it for that much. I'd much rather have the flute than the money.

Heh heh, I figured as much. Well, now I guess we know what the market value for a Wilkes Bb is

Loren

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:33 am

bradhurley wrote:
Loren wrote:I'll wait for Brad to put his Wilkes Bb up for sale
You're gonna have to wait a L O N G time for that, buddy! Although if someone offered me $1 million for it, I might consider it. But actually no, I don't think I'd even sell it for that much. I'd much rather have the flute than the money.

So, Brad, we're down to quibbling about the price.

upooper · Post by **upooper** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:47 am

Greetings

I was wondering about the keyless wilkes embouchure hole.

It seems the metal headjoint lining is off-set from the headjoint and i've seen this on other wilkes flutes, is this common?

Just wondering, i've a wilkes keyless pratten in boxwood basically same flute, it's a humdinger.

Good luck with the bids

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:56 am

I think what you are seeing in the picture is a reflection of the left wall of the embouchure hole, not the silver lining.

Interestingly, on a keyed Wilkes that I had briefly and sold, there had been a huge crack through the embouchure, and the silver lining WAS sticking out a bit under the blowing edge. The buyer had the headjoint replaced with a new one.

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 10:59 am

upooper wrote:Greetings

I was wondering about the keyless wilkes embouchure hole.

It seems the metal headjoint lining is off-set from the headjoint and i've seen this on other wilkes flutes, is this common?

Optical illusion: What you're seeing is a light reflection - a bright spot on the left, inside of the embouchure hole which appears to be coming from a light source to the right.

Just wondering, i've a wilkes keyless pratten in boxwood basically same flute, it's a humdinger.

Good luck with the bids

Now that's a flute for me, no pesky allergies to deal with, please let me know if you ever want to sell it.

I don't suppose you have a picture you could share? The few Boxwood Wilkes I have seen have been gorgeous. Is it acid stained, or plain Box?

Loren

Steampacket · Post by **Steampacket** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:24 pm

I think 3.000 USD is a very real possiblity. The dollar is low just now compared to the euro, or Swedish crown for instance. 2.229 US is only 16.000 crowns. A flute player at our session bought his keyed Grinter for 25.000 crowns.

tin tin · Post by **tin tin** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 12:35 pm

What a shame decimal points don't mean the same thing to Europeans that they do to Americans...

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:11 pm

Tintin wrote:What a shame decimal points don't mean the same thing to Europeans that they do to Americans...

Loren

bradhurley · Post by **bradhurley** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:35 pm

Okay, Loren, I have a business plan for you.

When you finally start selling your own flutes, here's what you should do:

1. Make one incredibly good prototype, and let a few top players spend time with it. Ideally get a big-name flute player or two to record an album with it. Get some buzz going, so that everyone's eager to have one of your flutes. Stop saying "it's the player, not the flute."

2. Don't accept any orders.

3. As you make each flute, put it up for bid on eBay.

4. Get rich.