Armstrong Vs Artley... any difference?

bakingbrenda · Post by **bakingbrenda** » Wed Aug 27, 2003 12:36 pm

Hi! I have two flutes, an
Armstrong 104 and an Artley 18-0. Is either model any better than the other? The
Armstrong needs a repad, but looks sharp. The Artley needs a bit of work and is
in rough shape, however, it seems to sound a little smoother than the Armstrong.
Will a repad make the Armstrong SOUND better? Any advice as to which one I
should put the money into? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
brenda[:)]

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Wed Aug 27, 2003 7:16 pm

Sadly neither has much quality
or value. The Armstrong is the better of the weak pair. Not sure if either is
worth sticking much money into. Someone would have to take a look at them. If
you want to keep them to have fun with but minimal money into the one you like
better or sounds better to you. Hard to tell you to put $100 of repair into a
flute that afterwards will only be worht 50-100 dollars.

tarzaflute · Post by **tarzaflute** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 4:09 am

I agree with Penny, in saying
that Armstrong is a bit better, but neither are really great. I have played a
couple of my friend's Artley's, and all I can say is I wouldn't touch one
with a forty foot pole. I'm sure there are people out there who would disagree,
and may have possibly come across a fairly decent Artley, but yeah, neither are
really desirable for me.

bakingbrenda · Post by **bakingbrenda** » Thu Aug 28, 2003 9:46 am

Tara and Penny, Thank you both
for your honest and prompt replies. It wasn't necessarily what I WANTED to
hear, but I appreciate your feedback! For my skill level and usage, I'm not
sure if it is worth pursuing a more expensive instrument. If anyone has a
midprice suggestion, I'm all ears. I dropped out of band in ninth grade, and
have played on my own over the years, and I'm not what you would consider a
serious musician. My line of thinking is this--does a new 16 year old really
need a Lexus when a Taurus would suffice?? For playing at church with my limited
time and varied interests, the Armstrong isn't a bad choice. I have never
played a "quality" flute, so I suppose I don't know what I'm missing!! Thanks
again! brenda[:)] [:)]

tarzaflute · Post by **tarzaflute** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 5:47 am

If u just want the flute for
church and stuff, I would be more enclined the fix the armstrong, it probably
will last longer without work. If at any stage u want a fuller tone, you could
always just buy a different headjoint, solid silver gives a fuller sound, but
the cut is also important, so u could just try some different headjoints on your
personal flute. If u still feel u aren't at your potential on that particular
instrument, keep playing it

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 3:17 pm

I wasn't trying to get you to
buy a lexus. Just that neither flute you have probably is worth paying for an
expensive repair bill on. If you like the way the Armstrong plays for you and it
only needs pads, by all means go that way. If you don't think the sound of the
Armstrong will be good enough after a repad, finding a better flute in good used
condition maybe worth considering. Like I said, what do they sound like to you?
You could probably get $100-150 by selling both flutes. Add in the price of a
repad and whatever work it needs (another $100-150???) and you might be in the
price range of a newer better flute. Yamaha 200 series student flute in like new
used condition with good pads, are pretty available under $250. That was my
point. Just wanted to give you an alternative to consider.

bakingbrenda · Post by **bakingbrenda** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 6:38 pm

Penny: No, I certainly didn't
take your response the wrong way. I was more talking out loud in regards to
moving up in quality. I struggled with the idea of getting something nicer
rather than putting money into the Armstrong. However,I still don't know how to
compare an instrument I haven't played to the one I already have. I was
thinking about checking with the local high school or instrument sales to play a
better flute and get a feeling for the difference to see whether it would be
worth it. I had researched online to get a feel for prices at ebay, and I have
absolutely NO idea what is good/better/best for the money. I probably wouldn't
go over $250, and your suggestion was very helpful for the Yamaha. I had never
thought of replacing the head, as Tara recommended. I am a complete idiot when
it comes to flutes, so i appreciate the help you have both given. Now, if you
need to know about crafts or baking or juggling two little kids--there I have
adequate information!! ha ha! thanks so much! brenda

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 8:16 pm

Ok My chocalate chip cookies get
too thin and crispy. Do I need to use more flour or turn the heat lower or what?
You had a good idea about going to a music store and testing out some flutes.
Places like Sam Ash and American music will usually be happy to let you try.
About the headjoint idea. Good idea except a decent head will cost you over 250
and then you still have an Armstrong body and it still needs new pads. check
usedflutes.com at least it will give you some price ideas

tarzaflute · Post by **tarzaflute** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 9:16 pm

Yeah good point, a headjoint
would probably cost too much. I think your idea Penny, about selling the 2 and
getting something like a second hand good condition yamaha would be the best
option. Yamahas are in my opinion, definately one of the best, if not the best
student flutes around. I've had mine for 6 years and never needed anything done
to it except a repad, which all flutes will need at some point or another. Try a
few different ones but definately add Yamaha to your list

bakingbrenda · Post by **bakingbrenda** » Fri Aug 29, 2003 10:27 pm

Penny: Ha! Thanks again for your
flute smarts. Your cookie question was great--that was the biggest laugh I have
had all day! And, yes, I MAY have a solution! Do you melt the butter/margarine?
Melting it can make them kinda flat and greasy. Allowing it soften but not get
melted might help. You might need a bit more flour--or even a little bit of
oatmeal can firm them up. You can also refrigerate the dough before baking.
Lessening the amount of butter will also help. Hey, I have succeeded. It is my
lot in life to bring either Bible, baking, or exercise info into any
conversation. Mission accomplished! Okay now do a few situps and read
Philippians 4:4-8 while you wait for the cookies to bake. ha ha. If all else
fails, you can email me and I'll send ya a batch. I will look up the usedflute
site and see what i find. My dh gave me permission to get what I want. Thanks
again for your insight, it's strange for me to be a "student" again in this
regard, and I appreciate your kindness. brenda

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Sat Aug 30, 2003 8:41 pm

Brenda~ You could also check out
your local High School. I just recently decided to pick up the flute again after
20 years(Inspired by my daughter). I started to ask around a bit and found 2
people recently graduated that were interested in selling their flutes. Lucky
for me they both needed money for college LOL I got a student model Yamaha for
$200.00 and it is in very good condition. Kim

krisgmusic · Post by **krisgmusic** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 10:47 pm

Try just the headjoint on
another body, either from that shop or from a friend. That will make the
decision about which one to ultimately buy and sink some cash into... The cut of
the tone hole makes a huge difference. The artley may look like a clunker but
might play like a dream. Likewise, the Armstrong may seem like a clunker now but
when the pads are sealing it may far surpass the Artley. Only a test of the
headjoints on other bodies will truly tell which one COULD be the better of the
two instruments. I would check to see if one or the other is solid silver. I'm
not familiar with the Artley model number that you mentioned, but the Armstrong
104 is a very popular student model that is silver plated. If the Artley is
solid silver that would make it worth more money. You should also check to see
if the Artley (IF the headjoint is solid silver)has a solid silver or silver
plated body. The headjoint is most important. Again, try the headjoints of both
instruments on a different body. Most Armstrong 104's go for about $100 around
here (Midwest) if they need a total repad. If they don't need a total repad,
they go for around $200-225... That might give you something to compare your
prices with... I don't know anything about that Artley model #. Also make sure
that you get at least two estimates for the repad/repairs because you might find
a more qualified shop with a better price elsewhere.

krisgmusic · Post by **krisgmusic** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 10:53 pm

I played an Artley first and
then an Armstrong 104 in high school by the way. The Artley was okay and had
already withstood years of use and abuse when it was handed to me at age
eleven... The Armstrong 104 model really is built like a TANK and is a very
reliable flute. If your local schools don't have anything you might look around
to see if your town has a Music Go Round, which is a franchise second hand music
shop that only sells used instruments. The prices I quoted were generally the
range that they sell their instruments for... You might find something less
expensive from an individual. Many parents also sell used musical instruments
during this time of the year because sixth grade students are just choosing
instruments and getting started in September. So you are in the prime buying
season for a second hand flute! Try your local newspaper. Many towns also have a
"newspaper like flyer" that advertises things for sale. The one in my town is
called "Peddler's Post." Check local grocery store newspaper/real estate
book/community boards for this type of publication. Gas stations in my area also
sell the Peddler's Post book. You might want to ask around about that. Ours
sells everything from cars to furniture to advertising huge garage sales and, of
course, musical instruments. Often these publications cover a tri-county area,
which encompasses more than just one local newspaper...

cujo · Post by **cujo** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 8:43 pm

This one is quite easy. They are
the same. Armstrong is owned by the same company as Artly and if you have
equivalent models they are exactly the same. The same identical instrument with
different names engraved on the joint. Many makers and big name retailers do
this... Same theory with %99 of car models. Buy a Lexus and find out all the
important parts are made by Toyota. Of course many parts are different but all
the most important ones are the same. Like lexus have more comfortable seats and
nice radios.

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 8:51 pm

Just like the auto makers
weren't always owned by others, so Altes and Armstrong were not always owned by
the same company. In fact those big buy outs are fairly recent I believe and he
was asking about older flutes. Even so why don't you go buy a Lexus and I will
buy a Toyota and we will switch since they are the same. But I do appreciate
your point and it has some validity but is not accurate.