Thanks Steve, the bit about tensioning the B key spring makes perfect sense. I think the one on my Yamaha 225sii is sprung too tight. Another thought occurred to me, that maybe the old felt underneath the Bb lever touch might be a tad too firm, thin, or compressed. I have a couple of flutes with the...
Then I have to eat crow for not doing any due diligence. I also noticed in one of those links that Miles Davis professionally performs on flute and picc in addition to a number of other instruments. (Actually I thought Miles Davis might be a storefront instead of an individual, apologies for that to...
Most probably the lack of a spring in the Thumb Bb lever is because the actual Bb key already has a spring, the motion being transmitted by the conection between the Bb thumb and the Bb Key Kicker. BTW, have you ever observed if the other brands that have a spring in the Bb Thumb lever also have a ...
Missy, since you added a bit of info, let me add another comment question or two. First, I don't mean to offend anyone by this, but Miles Davis in Kentucky probably isn't a flute specialist. More likely an ebay specialist or high-volume sales specialist (nothing wrong implied by that). Maybe they do...
Phineas is on the money. Altus flutes are intoxicating but your Sankyo isn't any less so; it's a monster flute with a modern scale and headjoint that just needs a couple of leaks or adjustments attended to. Put it in the right hands and get that done before trialing any candidate replacements becaus...
Apologies if this has already been well-discussed.... I'm a long-term (= terminal) entry-level player so I have lots of experience with entry-level flutes ... from low-end Andreas Eastman to high-end Muramatsu, with multiple Yamahas, Pearls, Jupiters, Kotake, Altus etc thrown in between over the yea...
No experience with the distributor or retailers here in the US. I have played a sum total of one Altus and it was the basic closed-hole 807, their entry-level model, purchased a used one in Japan. Extremely easy-blowing headjoint. Beautiful voice, far beyond my expectations. William Bennett scale. S...
Joseph Viola (Berklee Music) has a series out for flute (and sax) with one volume devoted to rhythm studies. Fairly challenging syncopated sight-reading material. http://www.amazon.com/TECHNIQUE-RHYTHM-STUDIES-Berkeley-Series/dp/B000J5IXP0/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1354056148&sr=8-16&keywords=joseph+v...
Could be several things going on or compounding the problem, but for starters .... If you press your G and the lower of the two pads seems to be not completely sealing, that would probably be the prime suspect. If the flute is one of those with the split-E mechanics, the usual "double-G" key is spli...
This was never an issue on the other flutes I trialled or any flutes I've owned for that matter. suffice to say, I didn't end up buying that Altus. Yeah, never experienced anything like it myself ... I did a bit more research and found that the noise-reducing paper under the adjusting screws is a r...
I'm currently "trialing" a used Altus A807E and thinking of buying it. This flute -seems- to be in perfect adjustment, with probably the smoothest fastest lightest mechanism I've ever encountered. Because I practice most evenings for 1-2 hr in a fairly cool (45-55 F) garage at this time of year, it'...
$2699 gets free shipping and same feature set, through wwbw, plus 45-day return policy, for that Pearl, new. http://www.wwbw.com/Pearl-Flutes-795-Elegante-Series-Flute-466959-i1427791.wwbw This exact model on ebay (US) might not even sell new for $2200. http://cgi.ebay.com/PEARL-795RBECD-SEMI-PRO-FL...
Okay, thanks, I won't worry about how old it is ... definitely 'old enough' and been around the block a few times. I think I may keep it for myself, not sure yet but one more flute doesn't take up much shelf space here, heh heh... I could see selling my Yamaha before letting this one go.... I carefu...