You think "high end" whistles are expensive?

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:49 am

I just found this on a recorder player's message board I look at from time to time:

--- In recorder@yahoogroups.com, "Charles P. Fischer" <bizweb@p...> wrote:
> 0) Used Morgan in good condition: $4-6000 (estimate)
> 1) Morgan/Ronimus: $2,808
> 2) Shigeharu Hirao: $2,761
> 3) Michael Grinter: $2,659
> 4) Ernst Meyer: $2,618 Etc...

Note that Morgan is a legendary maker who died a few years back. These are for Alto recorders, comparable in size to a low G whistle.

Count yer blessings!

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:55 am

Yeah, but you can get several keys out of a single recorder. Even I can.

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:05 am

Walden wrote:Yeah, but you can get several keys out of a single recorder. Even I can.

Yeah, but you can get several keys out of a single whistle. Even I can.

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:12 am

GaryKelly wrote:
Walden wrote:Yeah, but you can get several keys out of a single recorder. Even I can.
Yeah, but you can get several keys out of a single whistle. Even I can.

Really? I find it to be a few, vs. several.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:13 am

Just as a matter of curiosity, can anyone explain this discrepency in price?

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:21 am

"whatever the market will bear". Supply and demand.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:25 am

GaryKelly wrote:"whatever the market will bear". Supply and demand.

I should have known better than to ask that question.

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:26 am

GaryKelly wrote:"whatever the market will bear". Supply and demand.

That's part, but a recorder is more complex too. Especially the Baroque ones, with tons of intricate decorative turning. The Baroque also have tapered bores, which are harder to make. Recorders require larger pieces of exotic woods, etc.
Maybe Loren will chime in on this one ,as he works for a superb recorder maker.

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:01 am

GaryKelly wrote:"whatever the market will bear". Supply and demand.

oooo you are evil Gary....

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:44 am

brewerpaul wrote:That's part, but a recorder is more complex too. Especially the Baroque ones, with tons of intricate decorative turning. The Baroque also have tapered bores, which are harder to make. Recorders require larger pieces of exotic woods, etc.
Maybe Loren will chime in on this one ,as he works for a superb recorder maker.

So they're like a Bussman or an O'Riordan in the whistle world then.

And they still cost MUCH less tghan even a bad set of pipes.

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 7:49 am

Because recorders are used in classical music, therefore making them a "serious" instrument.

amar · Post by **amar** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:11 am

FJohnSharp wrote:Because recorders are used in classical music, therefore making them a "serious" instrument.

that's it.

Brian Lee · Post by **Brian Lee** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 8:53 am

That nails it!

Chuck_Clark · Post by **Chuck_Clark** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 11:41 am

Wal-Mart and Sam's Club sell beginners band instruments, as I recall a trumpet, violin, clarinet and flute. There are very few whistles that you couldn't buy for less than one of these 'beginners' instruments.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 12:07 pm

Chuck_Clark wrote:Wal-Mart and Sam's Club sell beginners band instruments, as I recall a trumpet, violin, clarinet and flute. There are very few whistles that you couldn't buy for less than one of these 'beginners' instruments.

I know the instruments you mean. "First Act" is the brand, at least here. I got a First Act guitar for someone for Christmas. It was smaller than a standard guitar, but other than that, her instructor says it's not a terrible beginner's instrument.

Cost: $120. Whole lotta top-of-the-line whistles fall into that price range.