Olwell restored cocus Boosey Pratten on ebay

[Liney Bear]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... SS:US:1123

[s1m0n]

That's a sweet flute. Looks like Patrick Olwell is the vendor, so it's safe assuming that all is as described.

~~

Although, when you see a vintage instrument described as 'almost mint', it's usually because it was a dud the day it left the shop, remains a dud, and has never rewarded the effort of playing it. But if it's had an overhaul from Olwell, that won't be a risk, either.

[brotherwind]

Beautifull, gorgeous... isn't it?

[daiv]

would someone please buy it and give it to me? i'll be happy with it, honest.

[brotherwind]

... went for US $2.617,00. That's not very much for it, or is it?

[Steampacket]

Cheap for such a flute only 21.263 Swedish crowns, 2.040 euros or 136.424 Afghanistan Afghani. Flute recession already here?

Check out Bingham's prices for elderly flutes

http://www.oldmusicalinstruments.co.uk/ ... php?cat=TF

[ElaineT]

We don't know whether Bingham is selling them.

Those antique flutes usually take some extra work and sometimes a new head joint to make them session-playable. As offered, it was a collectors' flute in a slow economy so I wasn't surprised at the price.

[O_Gaiteiro_do_Chicago]

Agreed, I love my old flutes, but I don't play them with the original headjoints, as most often they are designed to play a lot sharper. Another factor on this particular flute, is it's a lot later, the earlier Pratten's had his monogram. Some how I feel the earlier ones are worth slightlymore, I would imagine they play similar though.

[Jay]

I spoke to Patrick about this flute, and it does play sharp. I would want a new headjoint and considering the cost/wait involved, I didn't bid. But boy did it sound nice when he played it.

Jay

[ElaineT]

I bid the amount I could afford BEFORE the new head joint.

[Blackwood]

I've owned several of these Booseys in the past. They are all good flutes and play in better tune with themselves than most old flutes, including rudalls. The C# tends to be flat, the bottom D is usually spot on, but in any case they are better with a modern headjoint. Matt Molloy had a new headjoint made for his (before he switched to an Olwell), and so did I.

I had one with a serial number close to the one sold here and it was a very good player. I had 2 with lower serial numbers and one of which was an exceptional player, and I kept it for a while.

However, having said that, none of them matched the cocus Keyed Olwell I have, not even close. It's just in a different league. And so while I loved the historical Prattens and enjoyed playing them I started to feel emotional pain when playing them in comparison to the Olwell.

To be clear: had I never played the Olwell, I would have been one happy camper, but Patrick ruined it all for me....

[RudallRose]

it sold for an obscenely low price.

shows you how the economy is going!

[Steampacket]

"it sold for an obscenely low price. shows you how the economy is going!" David M.

Indeed - I wonder if this is how it's going to be for the next year or so, or is it just a case of the right buyer having the cash needed for the right/sought after flute when it happens to come up for sale. Modern instruments such as Olwells, Murrays and Wilkes' seem to be snapped up for the asking price whenever they come up on the market.

[weedie]

Hey there Mr.Liney Bear.....
All the best to you for the forthcoming festive season
Mr.Weedie......in OZ....

[Blackwood]

I think the issue is that modern instruments by key makers have become better than the old ones. That shifts the demand equation....
I may now get massacred by the offended...