Checking the market pulse....

[Casey Burns]

Here is a question for everyone:

If you could get a new 4 or 6 keyed flute with a tuning slide and rings from a top maker for say, $1400-1500, would you buy it?

[keithsandra]

Now? No.

Later? Maybe, but no rings, no special slide, and NOT wood.

Hope this is helpful.

[ImNotIrish]

Sorry...no. I am happy with what I have.
Arbo

[Jim_B1]

Tough call.
I think I would be interested but I'm not sold on the need of a full set of keys for Irish Trad anyway so it wouldn't be too high on my list of needs at the moment and it'd take a bit to work up the cash for something like that.

So I guess I'm saying maybe I would buy one but it wouldn't be anytime soon.

On the other hand I am waffling about retrofitting a key or two on mine when I send it in for a tuning slide and rings, (decided on the slide and rings, haven't decided on any keys yet) so changes to your key prices would be of heavy interest to me...

[benhall.1]

I don't think there's enough data in the question. Leave aside for the moment that I would only be interested in a flute with 8 keys or possibly more (extra Bb touch, low B, trill keys maybe). You'd need to know what it was made of, both in terms of the wood and of the keys. You'd need to know whether all of it was hand made and made solely by that maker or not, plus a whole load of other questions.

I'm guessing that Casey is attempting to suggest a situation where one could get a top-class flute for a really cheap price. But I'm not sure that's sensible/possible. I think you've done a great thing, Casey in offering your Folk flutes as entry level instruments at a price which ought to be eminently affordable, whilst at the same time continuing to make what I'm told are first rate instruments (I haven't seen one). But is this an idea about making a sort of 'intermediate level' flute?

[david_h]

A couple of years ago Casey I would possibly have bought it. Then, I bought a standard flute from you with the idea that I might get keys retrofitted. The cost of that is a powerful incentive to work on the cross-fingering. If it became available now I might be more inclined to ask if the same technology would yield a compatible 5-key body section.

[LorenzoFlute]

Here is a question for everyone:

If you could get a new 4 or 6 keyed flute with a tuning slide and rings from a top maker for say, $1400-1500, would you buy it?

I'm currently looking for such a flute, so my answer is yes. I'd be willing to pay up to $2000 actually.

[bogman]

This is an interesting thread for me as I hope to be in the market for a keyed flute. I'm a fairly experienced whistle player but have only been playing flute for a few months. The fingering is easy enough but I've struggled with the tone. I bought a new flute when I began a few months ago but didn't make significant tone progress until a friend leant me another flute a couple of weeks ago. I won't say the flute makes as I'm not yet qualified to make a judgement but I have found the second flute significantly more suitable to my fledgling embouchure.

So at this stage, yes, I would buy a six keyed flute (I play more Scots than Irish music in general) from a top maker maybe next year at that price. The waiting list would also be a consideration. You can get a good keyless relatively quickly at round that price or slightly less. Also, how would a budget keyed flute from a top maker compare to a keyless for round the same price? What compromises would have to be made. I think it would be a tough decision without first trying the flute.

[tucson_whistler]

i'm just a beginner, so i'm thinking what i have to say might not be that relevant, but i since i'm running a website i try to keep my eye on pricing and availability...

i do have to say that i'm not personally that interested in keyed flutes; i have several keyless, and i love them. playing trad music, i haven't had the need for keys.

but i expect someday, as i play for a kirtan band as well (not on flute... yet , that i might be mored interested in playing keyed flutes. so got one, off this board, for $350 (an antique boxwood). so it would be hard for me to justify paying so much more for one, personally.

that being said, if i ever got serious about playing keyed flutes, i would expect to pay more for a new fully-keyed flute, and would be pleasantly surprised to find one for less.

btw, i'm assuming we're talking about blackwood, boxwood, mopane... if we're talking about a "student" flute made of rosewood, maple, walnut, something like that... then i'd compare it to the sweetheart: he has a 6-key rosewood flute for $1395 and a 4-key rosewood for $1095. i'm personally not a big fan of sweethearts, but a 4-key flute (with rings, but no slide) for a little over $1000 is a pretty good deal, if i wanted to try a keyed flute.

http://www.sweetheartflute.com/keyedflutes.html

not sure how many he sells; i never see them come up for sale, so i'm guessing not so many (btw, i see your folk flutes come up all the time, and they hold their value pretty well...

cheers,
eric

[Akiba]

Maybe....depends on who the maker is .

[Jayhawk]

My assumption is that this is a theoretical question - not are you willing to buy right now.

I'm curious who the heck wouldn't want a good flute by a good maker with 4-6 keys at that price? If Casey, or Patrick Olwell or Hammy Hamilton were to offer up a flute in blackwood, mopane or boxwood for $1,500 with 4 or 6 keys - why wouldn't people jump at the chance?

It's a great price, and possible reflective of the global price adjustment/correction going on in all markets. Want to buy a house these days, they're cheaper than they were 3 years ago (much cheaper proportionally than what Casey is suggesting), car prices are going down on many models or extras added for no more cost, motorcycles and scooters are dropping in price.

Casey, if you're looking into this, I say go for it. I think you'd find a large market. Well...a relatively large market - we are talking traditional flute here.

I sold a 4 key rosewood sweetheart flute BTW...it was really a nice flute, but I was playing with a box player whose box was so flat I needed a tuning slide. These used to sell for $695 just a few years back which was a real bargain...I think the current price is a little high (especially when compared to the price of their one keyed flute).

While we all live and die flutes, they're luxury items and will only sell at what the market will carry.

Just my $.02 worth.

Eric

[eilam]

yes, i'd jump on the opportunity.......later i'll figure out how to recover financially
eric, i'm pretty sure i have your old flute......rosewood..4 key...great player and great flute for the money.
i think it went to Russ in SLC.....then he traded it in at Irishflutestore........and i got it (maybe 2 years ago?).......but now i'm ready to pass it on.

[kkrell]

Here is a question for everyone:

If you could get a new 4 or 6 keyed flute with a tuning slide and rings from a top maker for say, $1400-1500, would you buy it?

You mean, like matching Gilles Léhart's prices?

[Hup]

Yes! Of course. I'd be looking at a flute with a powerful low register though.

[Casey Burns]

Its a possibility that I am looking into, and so I wanted to query the "market".

Its kind of embarrassing to sell my 6 keyed flutes for $3800 in blackwood with tuning slide when some are selling some great 19th century originals for a similar price. On the other hand, if you have small hands that wouldn't work with those old flutes, my flutes or those of other makers who do narrower finger spacings are sometimes your only choice.

With this economy few are beating a path to my door for keyed flutes frankly and I actually only have a few orders for these currently. I don't mind, as my hourly wage is better with the keyless flutes.

Thanks for everyones' responses. Most useful!

Casey