I bought a nice Olwell bamboo D flute a few years ago. The cost was $65. I now have a couple of other flutes, including a beautiful Olwell blackwood. I would like to sell the bamboo to a friend who has a couple of Pat's bamboos but wants one in this key. I'm not going to sell it on the net. I only want to sell it to someone who really wants to play it. We are both wondering what it is worth these days. Thanks for any info.
If it's a friend, $65. You can easily ask for more, but for a friend why would it matter? Of course this is my own humble opinion. You're free to decide it's worth yourself.
I think Tonya is right, no need to sell it at today's inflated price if it is to a friend. On the other hand they usually go for $300-$400 these days when they come up for sale so you could easily charge a lot more. The Irish Flute Store recently sold one in for for $375 http://shop.irishflutestore.com/Olwell-Bamboo-F-Flute-olwell-bamboo-F.htm they are pretty high in demand as they aren't made much any more. Pat sometimes offers one or two on ebay when he makes them which is not often.
I'll readily admit that if I hear of an Olwell bamboo flute in D for sale (& have the cash) I probably won't quibble over the price.
Why Bother, I imagined up to $300. But I'm not surprised to hear the Olwell's are bringing in more.
I don't agree with the above regarding the price. When things go up in value, it's reasonable to reflect the increase in the price, even if to a friend. After all, if you want to buy something with the money, you may well have to pay much more for that, also, than if you'd bought it at the same time as you originally bought the flute. Don't feel bad for charging what something's worth.
Mind you, I have occasionally even given things away to friends, but that's another story ...
What you do at home is your business. But, you're asking advice from people who play traditional music in sessions. Which answer are you really asking about ~ session playing (flute &/or guitar) or up in your room with a new guitar?
I would have a hard time charging a friend the full market markup on an instrument that they were going to use and keep. I also don't see that an extra $200 is going to make that much difference to the guitar you end up with, unless you're starting out from nothing. I'd also say, as a matter of financial planning, that if you're not able to sock away $200 or so towards your next instrument in a month or two, you should probably not be buying a new instrument - in other words, the guitar purchase, for a responsible person, will be independent of the flute sale.
That being said, it's your flute, and if you offer a friend a chance to buy a rare instrument at market price, you're offering them something of value - first crack at a good instrument at a price similar to what they'd pay elsewhere. That's not such a bad thing, honestly.
Now that you've played both the blackwood & the bamboo I'd love to be the fly on the wall, up in your room, to hear what you say about the experience of playing each one.
Jon, I was going to say at least $250. It really does come down to what the friend wants to pay & can easily afford. Some people are still making money. All kidding aside, it is for music, & that's not limited to our Island of Spicy Mustard.
The friend is lucky to get an Olwell bamboo flute. A fair price has been determined on the open market, agreed on by a willing seller and willing buyer. The friend is lucky that you have something so special to offer. You are lucky that a friend is willing to buy it without your having to go through the hassle of advertising it.
Selling it for less than the established price is a considerable favor to a good friend.
Friend buys it for $100, sells it six months later for $280 cos he not using it!! Ha ha......
Get whatever you can for it and get yourself a better guitar if thats what you want, and dont mind all the anti-guitar sh*te on here, you will see from past threads most people that slag them off dont know one side of a tune from another anyway.
Making a profit is what makes the world work these days, and your friend is getting a nice flute out of it so he should be happy out too.
Your cash, do what you want with it.
If the D flute is still available a know of a real up and coming player who just moved here to the KC area who is looking for one after playing mine (i won't sell mine, my father bought it for me 15 years ago either at HMT or at the Oatlands Celtic Festival). He's young and just getting started so if you are willing to sell it lower than the market price let me know and i'll put you in contact with him.
Value of Olwell Flute
Value of Olwell Flute
I bought a nice Olwell bamboo D flute a few years ago. The cost was $65. I now have a couple of other flutes, including a beautiful Olwell blackwood. I would like to sell the bamboo to a friend who has a couple of Pat's bamboos but wants one in this key. I'm not going to sell it on the net. I only want to sell it to someone who really wants to play it. We are both wondering what it is worth these days. Thanks for any info.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by BataviaNY
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
If it's a friend, $65. You can easily ask for more, but for a friend why would it matter? Of course this is my own humble opinion. You're free to decide it's worth yourself.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by ain't fluffed
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
I think Tonya is right, no need to sell it at today's inflated price if it is to a friend. On the other hand they usually go for $300-$400 these days when they come up for sale so you could easily charge a lot more. The Irish Flute Store recently sold one in for for $375 http://shop.irishflutestore.com/Olwell-Bamboo-F-Flute-olwell-bamboo-F.htm they are pretty high in demand as they aren't made much any more. Pat sometimes offers one or two on ebay when he makes them which is not often.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by Why Bother?
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
Sorry that should say '...recently sold one in F for...'
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by Why Bother?
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
I'll readily admit that if I hear of an Olwell bamboo flute in D for sale (& have the cash) I probably won't quibble over the price.
Why Bother, I imagined up to $300. But I'm not surprised to hear the Olwell's are bringing in more.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by ain't fluffed
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
I don't agree with the above regarding the price. When things go up in value, it's reasonable to reflect the increase in the price, even if to a friend. After all, if you want to buy something with the money, you may well have to pay much more for that, also, than if you'd bought it at the same time as you originally bought the flute. Don't feel bad for charging what something's worth.
Mind you, I have occasionally even given things away to friends, but that's another story ...
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by ethical blend
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
eb, there are things more valuable than money.
imho
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by ain't fluffed
Oh, I get it. You're still paying off the blackwood Olwell flute. In that case, whatever your friend wants to pay.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by ain't fluffed
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
"there are things more valuable than money"
I agree. Hence my last sentence.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by ethical blend
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
I sold my one about 3 yrs ago for 160 Euros....In D too.....Must be worth more than that now.....
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by seaniemcg
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
Olwell flute is long paid for. I want to upgrade to a nicer guitar.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by BataviaNY
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
Nicer guitar? The strummie thing? Now we're back to $65.
Maybe $64.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by ain't fluffed
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
What, can't play flute for trad and guitar at home just for the hell of it?
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by BataviaNY
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
What you do at home is your business. But, you're asking advice from people who play traditional music in sessions. Which answer are you really asking about ~ session playing (flute &/or guitar) or up in your room with a new guitar?
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by ain't fluffed
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
I would have a hard time charging a friend the full market markup on an instrument that they were going to use and keep. I also don't see that an extra $200 is going to make that much difference to the guitar you end up with, unless you're starting out from nothing. I'd also say, as a matter of financial planning, that if you're not able to sock away $200 or so towards your next instrument in a month or two, you should probably not be buying a new instrument - in other words, the guitar purchase, for a responsible person, will be independent of the flute sale.
That being said, it's your flute, and if you offer a friend a chance to buy a rare instrument at market price, you're offering them something of value - first crack at a good instrument at a price similar to what they'd pay elsewhere. That's not such a bad thing, honestly.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
Now that you've played both the blackwood & the bamboo I'd love to be the fly on the wall, up in your room, to hear what you say about the experience of playing each one.
Jon, I was going to say at least $250. It really does come down to what the friend wants to pay & can easily afford. Some people are still making money. All kidding aside, it is for music, & that's not limited to our Island of Spicy Mustard.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by ain't fluffed
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
Thanks to all for your thoughts. I'm not sure what we'll do in the end but I know I don't want him to pay anything like $300. Thanks again.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by BataviaNY
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
What you paid for it is **totally** irrelevant.
The friend is lucky to get an Olwell bamboo flute. A fair price has been determined on the open market, agreed on by a willing seller and willing buyer. The friend is lucky that you have something so special to offer. You are lucky that a friend is willing to buy it without your having to go through the hassle of advertising it.
Selling it for less than the established price is a considerable favor to a good friend.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by David Levine
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
Friend buys it for $100, sells it six months later for $280 cos he not using it!! Ha ha......
Get whatever you can for it and get yourself a better guitar if thats what you want, and dont mind all the anti-guitar sh*te on here, you will see from past threads most people that slag them off dont know one side of a tune from another anyway.
Making a profit is what makes the world work these days, and your friend is getting a nice flute out of it so he should be happy out too.
Your cash, do what you want with it.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by seaniemcg
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
" We are both wondering what it is worth these days." In this capitalist society, whatever someone is prepared to pay for it.
# Posted on January 14th 2012 by minijackpot
Re: Value of Olwell Flute
If the D flute is still available a know of a real up and coming player who just moved here to the KC area who is looking for one after playing mine (i won't sell mine, my father bought it for me 15 years ago either at HMT or at the Oatlands Celtic Festival). He's young and just getting started so if you are willing to sell it lower than the market price let me know and i'll put you in contact with him.
# Posted on February 7th 2012 by Avmeyt