Hey all, a friend's asked me if there are any shops around Boston or even Rhode Island, USA where he can buy whistles, just your basic keys of D, C, A. Being from Boston myself and playing flute and whistle, I realized I don't know of any places around (I bought my whistles online!). Internet searching has left me cold, as has searching through discussions on here.
Any of you know of a shop in this area that sells whistles or even other Irish instruments that I've somehow missed, or am I going to have to start a up new business venture? I thought there used to be a shop in the city someplace...
Hello
I am wondering what type of whistle your are interested.
In, I know most music stores sell those inexpensive penny whistles,but I gather your looking for a better whistle then that.
I do recall Ross music on Post rd. in Warwick sent out
a mailer that had Whistle in it.
I'll see if I can get more info for you.
John
Cheers! I don't think my friend is looking for anything too expensive or high-end--probably a good Generation in the different keys would do. Most shops will sell Feadóg brand or Waltons whistles in D which are the most decent cheap whistles I've found in these parts, it's finding other keys that's the tricky part. If you do find out more, let me know!
Some of the music shops in RI have might have Generations in a few keys, ranging from Bflat up to G, maybe a Clarke or Oak, but pickings are slim, and with gas being as expensive as it is, I would call before making any trips. There used to be a great shop (I think it was called Axelrod's) across from the Providence Performing Arts Center, but it disappeared years ago, unfortunately.
I use Hobgoblin music on the internet myself....
I haven't been back up to the Boston area in a few years, but I would try the Music Emporium in Lexington MA or Sandy's Music in Cambridge for starters.
Boston has dozens of music shops catering to all sorts of musical proclivities, but we don't really have a Hobgoblin, Elderly, or Lark in the Morning equivalent (big shop, selling everything). Still there are plenty of places to get things in town.
If you're looking for just the basic tin whistle (like a Generation), than nearly every one of the hundreds of music shops in town is likely to have a few of them, but if you're looking for something a little more specific, and perhaps higher quality, there are a couple shops I'd point you to that are probably better bets.
Rayburn Music on Huntington Ave in Boston (http://www.rayburnmusic.com/world.asp) proper probably has the broadest selection of random things, and might be the best place to start looking. They even have a "world music" section, featuring native American flutes, and african drums.
Sandy's Music is a little place in Central Square, Cambridge, that focuses on 'folk' instruments, with a bias towards Appalacian Old-Timey instruments (guitars, banjos, etc). It's tiny, and everything seems to be covered in a layer of dust, but the people are really nice and they seem quite honest.
Speaking of banjos, the Music Emporium in Lexington is the place that most of the bluegrassers in town seem to go to get their equipment. They've got a good selection of higher-end guitars, books, banjos/mandolins, etc.
And since the original request was for whistles, it's worth mentioning the Von Huene Workshop (http://www.vonhuene.com/). They specialize in serious baroque and early music instruments (baroque recorders, viola da gamba, etc), but they sell wooden flutes, and I suspect would be the most likely place to find a decent Irish-able flute in town. If you had a Ruddall & Rose flute, this would be where you would likely get it fixed.
Lastly, as long as I'm mentioning it, Unique Strings in Watertown would be the place to go if you were looking for a real Greek bouzouki (Alec Finn style), or an Oud, or a greek lute of the sort that Alec Finn was asking for before his buddy handed him the bouzouki instead...
There are, of course dozens of "Daddy's Junky Music" and "Guitar Center" warehouses in town too, but I figured those would be easy enough to find online.
Music Shops in Boston?
Music Shops in Boston?
Hey all, a friend's asked me if there are any shops around Boston or even Rhode Island, USA where he can buy whistles, just your basic keys of D, C, A. Being from Boston myself and playing flute and whistle, I realized I don't know of any places around (I bought my whistles online!). Internet searching has left me cold, as has searching through discussions on here.
Any of you know of a shop in this area that sells whistles or even other Irish instruments that I've somehow missed, or am I going to have to start a up new business venture? I thought there used to be a shop in the city someplace...
# Posted on March 25th 2011 by mellow yellow
Re: Music Shops in Boston?
Hello
I am wondering what type of whistle your are interested.
In, I know most music stores sell those inexpensive penny whistles,but I gather your looking for a better whistle then that.
I do recall Ross music on Post rd. in Warwick sent out
a mailer that had Whistle in it.
I'll see if I can get more info for you.
John
# Posted on March 26th 2011 by doley50
Re: Music Shops in Boston?
Cheers! I don't think my friend is looking for anything too expensive or high-end--probably a good Generation in the different keys would do. Most shops will sell Feadóg brand or Waltons whistles in D which are the most decent cheap whistles I've found in these parts, it's finding other keys that's the tricky part. If you do find out more, let me know!
# Posted on March 26th 2011 by mellow yellow
Re: Music Shops in Boston?
Some of the music shops in RI have might have Generations in a few keys, ranging from Bflat up to G, maybe a Clarke or Oak, but pickings are slim, and with gas being as expensive as it is, I would call before making any trips. There used to be a great shop (I think it was called Axelrod's) across from the Providence Performing Arts Center, but it disappeared years ago, unfortunately.
I use Hobgoblin music on the internet myself....
# Posted on March 26th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: Music Shops in Boston?
mellow yellow,
I haven't been back up to the Boston area in a few years, but I would try the Music Emporium in Lexington MA or Sandy's Music in Cambridge for starters.
PM me for more ideas -- good luck!
PG
# Posted on March 26th 2011 by Paul Groff
Re: Music Shops in Boston?
Boston has dozens of music shops catering to all sorts of musical proclivities, but we don't really have a Hobgoblin, Elderly, or Lark in the Morning equivalent (big shop, selling everything). Still there are plenty of places to get things in town.
If you're looking for just the basic tin whistle (like a Generation), than nearly every one of the hundreds of music shops in town is likely to have a few of them, but if you're looking for something a little more specific, and perhaps higher quality, there are a couple shops I'd point you to that are probably better bets.
Rayburn Music on Huntington Ave in Boston (http://www.rayburnmusic.com/world.asp) proper probably has the broadest selection of random things, and might be the best place to start looking. They even have a "world music" section, featuring native American flutes, and african drums.
Sandy's Music is a little place in Central Square, Cambridge, that focuses on 'folk' instruments, with a bias towards Appalacian Old-Timey instruments (guitars, banjos, etc). It's tiny, and everything seems to be covered in a layer of dust, but the people are really nice and they seem quite honest.
Speaking of banjos, the Music Emporium in Lexington is the place that most of the bluegrassers in town seem to go to get their equipment. They've got a good selection of higher-end guitars, books, banjos/mandolins, etc.
And since the original request was for whistles, it's worth mentioning the Von Huene Workshop (http://www.vonhuene.com/). They specialize in serious baroque and early music instruments (baroque recorders, viola da gamba, etc), but they sell wooden flutes, and I suspect would be the most likely place to find a decent Irish-able flute in town. If you had a Ruddall & Rose flute, this would be where you would likely get it fixed.
Lastly, as long as I'm mentioning it, Unique Strings in Watertown would be the place to go if you were looking for a real Greek bouzouki (Alec Finn style), or an Oud, or a greek lute of the sort that Alec Finn was asking for before his buddy handed him the bouzouki instead...
There are, of course dozens of "Daddy's Junky Music" and "Guitar Center" warehouses in town too, but I figured those would be easy enough to find online.
# Posted on March 26th 2011 by Georgi
Re: Music Shops in Boston?
Did Jimmy Noonan's shop closedown?
# Posted on March 26th 2011 by tuney
Re: Music Shops in Boston?
Noonan's closed down a few years ago.
# Posted on March 26th 2011 by Georgi