Beginner needs help - which flute should I buy??
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nicloves15
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2004 4:56 am
Beginner needs help - which flute should I buy??
Could you tell me your opinion on Windsor flutes. Are they any good? I'm looking into buying a flute and I don't know what kind to buy. I don't want to spend too much money but I don't want a crappy one either. I've also heard people say not to buy from ebay. Any opinions on Windsor flutes would be appreciated or if you know of any other flutes that are good please let me know. Thanks so much!!
After a bit of trolling about online, I think I'd avoid this one. Can't find out where it's made, 
etc., and have tested several assorted "mystery-brand" flutes in this price range, to discover that, almost always, they have less-than-desirable tone, unacceptable (read: HORRENDOUS) intonation, poor response, are made of extremely soft metal, repair parts are not available, conctruction can't withstand normal repairs anyway (body or keys melting, etc.), or any one or more similar issues. I sure don't get kickbacks from Selmer (or anyone else), but if your heart's set on a brand-new flute, they introduced a series of instruments this year that cost much less than their regular beginner instruments. They're NOT the same quality as their regular horns (tone's a little light, etc), but repair parts ARE available through Selmer dealers and the metal isn't so cheap it disintegrates on contact. It's called the Prelude series, and I think the flute model is FL700 (?). The list price is around $350, and our local shop is selling them for $240, I think. (Versus over $700 list price for standard student flutes.) These are made at least partially in Taiwan, for Selmer. It's their gesture to try and counteract this Wretched Walmart and EBay Flute trend with something of at least decent quality for which reasonable service can actually be provided. 
Alternatively, there are any number of just-great used student flutes out there looking for new homes. Depending on condition, these can almost always be purchased for under $400 US in the midwest, and often, much less. Good brands of used student flutes to search for include Yamaha, Armstrong, Emerson, Gemeinhardt, even Artley. I would prefer a student coming to start lessons with one of these in good condition rather than a brand-new, but poorer-quality instrument, even the new Selmer model, though if that's what you can afford, it's not a horrible starting point. It can be played in tune and repaired, so... there are ways to begin on a decent instrument without going broke! 
P.S. I personally would avoid EBay instrument purchases simply because you can't play-test or even touch the flute before you buy it, and you can almost never return an instrument to an EBay seller if you're dissatisfied. Caveat emptor!!
etc., and have tested several assorted "mystery-brand" flutes in this price range, to discover that, almost always, they have less-than-desirable tone, unacceptable (read: HORRENDOUS) intonation, poor response, are made of extremely soft metal, repair parts are not available, conctruction can't withstand normal repairs anyway (body or keys melting, etc.), or any one or more similar issues. I sure don't get kickbacks from Selmer (or anyone else), but if your heart's set on a brand-new flute, they introduced a series of instruments this year that cost much less than their regular beginner instruments. They're NOT the same quality as their regular horns (tone's a little light, etc), but repair parts ARE available through Selmer dealers and the metal isn't so cheap it disintegrates on contact. It's called the Prelude series, and I think the flute model is FL700 (?). The list price is around $350, and our local shop is selling them for $240, I think. (Versus over $700 list price for standard student flutes.) These are made at least partially in Taiwan, for Selmer. It's their gesture to try and counteract this Wretched Walmart and EBay Flute trend with something of at least decent quality for which reasonable service can actually be provided. Alternatively, there are any number of just-great used student flutes out there looking for new homes. Depending on condition, these can almost always be purchased for under $400 US in the midwest, and often, much less. Good brands of used student flutes to search for include Yamaha, Armstrong, Emerson, Gemeinhardt, even Artley. I would prefer a student coming to start lessons with one of these in good condition rather than a brand-new, but poorer-quality instrument, even the new Selmer model, though if that's what you can afford, it's not a horrible starting point. It can be played in tune and repaired, so... there are ways to begin on a decent instrument without going broke! P.S. I personally would avoid EBay instrument purchases simply because you can't play-test or even touch the flute before you buy it, and you can almost never return an instrument to an EBay seller if you're dissatisfied. Caveat emptor!!