Phineas,
Are you sure about Woodnote flutes being great?
Woodnote-music on E-bay has their student model MF-B270 for $149.99 and free shipping? Did you play that one or the MF-P381 of the MF-P581?
These are made in Taiwan.
Tempted,
Mattyacht
Woodnote flutes
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Matty
I tried out their flutes at the summer NAM show in 2005, and I was pretty impressed with them for the price. I was impressed enough with it to buy one. I wound up giving it to a student, whome till this days has not had any problems with it. Is this instrument as good as a Yamaha, or a Gemmy. Sound wise yes, durability wise, only time will tell. All of the flutes I tried were made in Taiwan except for the Woodenflutes they sell. They are out to make a name for themselves, so their customer service is pretty good. Some of the other models I tried are not on the website. They have many diffent models with many differnt features on them in cluding more intermediate type models. I really enjoyed the headjoint. It was not airy like some other student models.
I scanned their site, and noticed they have cheaper Chinese models. I am not familiar with those, so I cant comment on them.
For 150 dollars, you really cannot do much better.
Hope this helps
Phineas
I tried out their flutes at the summer NAM show in 2005, and I was pretty impressed with them for the price. I was impressed enough with it to buy one. I wound up giving it to a student, whome till this days has not had any problems with it. Is this instrument as good as a Yamaha, or a Gemmy. Sound wise yes, durability wise, only time will tell. All of the flutes I tried were made in Taiwan except for the Woodenflutes they sell. They are out to make a name for themselves, so their customer service is pretty good. Some of the other models I tried are not on the website. They have many diffent models with many differnt features on them in cluding more intermediate type models. I really enjoyed the headjoint. It was not airy like some other student models.
I scanned their site, and noticed they have cheaper Chinese models. I am not familiar with those, so I cant comment on them.
For 150 dollars, you really cannot do much better.
Hope this helps
Phineas
woodnote flutes
Go to www.woodnote-music.com.
They have a MF-381 for $410.00 USD and a MF-581 for $1100.00 USD.
I think the MF-381 has a silver head and the MF-581 has silver head, body, and foot. You'll have to check with jerry@woodnote-music.com.
Cheers,
Mattyacht
They have a MF-381 for $410.00 USD and a MF-581 for $1100.00 USD.
I think the MF-381 has a silver head and the MF-581 has silver head, body, and foot. You'll have to check with jerry@woodnote-music.com.
Cheers,
Mattyacht
Mattyacht
The person I dealt with was from Taiwan a guy name Mr. Tsu(Taco). When I met him, he was the Sales Manager. Before, their company use to be call Solfege Music. I still have the dealer price sheet and catalog.
As I found the catalog from my collection, I remember trying the the MB-270, P281, and the EB91. I wound up getting the MB270. However, buying one of their wooden flutes has definitely been on my mind since i played on one.
Anyhow, I did like their flutes, their customer service, and their commitment to putting out quality stuff. I hope things have not changed from the instruments I get a chance to play on in Indiana.
Isabelle
Yes. There are a lot of companies putting their stuff for sale on Ebay. It is a good way for up and coming companies to get started selling their gear. It is too bad the few crooks have given Ebay a bad name. The reason Woodnote is doing things this way is proably due to the low cost of doing business on Ebay.
Phineas
The person I dealt with was from Taiwan a guy name Mr. Tsu(Taco). When I met him, he was the Sales Manager. Before, their company use to be call Solfege Music. I still have the dealer price sheet and catalog.
As I found the catalog from my collection, I remember trying the the MB-270, P281, and the EB91. I wound up getting the MB270. However, buying one of their wooden flutes has definitely been on my mind since i played on one.
Anyhow, I did like their flutes, their customer service, and their commitment to putting out quality stuff. I hope things have not changed from the instruments I get a chance to play on in Indiana.
Isabelle
Yes. There are a lot of companies putting their stuff for sale on Ebay. It is a good way for up and coming companies to get started selling their gear. It is too bad the few crooks have given Ebay a bad name. The reason Woodnote is doing things this way is proably due to the low cost of doing business on Ebay.
Phineas
http://www.fluteland.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=2411
Some are good for beginners, some are not. You are safe going with one of the recommened brands that are listed in the FAQ. I will ad the Jean Batiste brand that Sam Ash music sells. I like to Woodnote flute, but they seem to be less available in the US. However, I would not hesitate to recommend one. Right now, they are selling the beginner model at dealer cost on Ebay($69 + shipping). However you will have to pay 49 dollars shipping, and wait 4 to 8 weeks for it! That is only 20 dollars less then they sell the beginner model for retail($149). I like the flute, but with all of the choices that I can get in my hands in a day or 2, it is not worth it to me. Here is the email of the person running the ebay shop. Maybe he has one here in the US he can sell you since he will be at the NAMM show next week in CA. hsuannan@gmail.com
Other than that, if you need something sooner, a Jean Batiste, Prelude, or a Barrington will definitely do you service, and are readily available.
Also, do not rule out a quality(More main stream brand) used instrument for a beginner. If you look around, you may find a Gemmy 2SP, an Yamaha 221/225 or an Armstrong 104 in this same price range.
I hope this helps.
Phineas
Some are good for beginners, some are not. You are safe going with one of the recommened brands that are listed in the FAQ. I will ad the Jean Batiste brand that Sam Ash music sells. I like to Woodnote flute, but they seem to be less available in the US. However, I would not hesitate to recommend one. Right now, they are selling the beginner model at dealer cost on Ebay($69 + shipping). However you will have to pay 49 dollars shipping, and wait 4 to 8 weeks for it! That is only 20 dollars less then they sell the beginner model for retail($149). I like the flute, but with all of the choices that I can get in my hands in a day or 2, it is not worth it to me. Here is the email of the person running the ebay shop. Maybe he has one here in the US he can sell you since he will be at the NAMM show next week in CA. hsuannan@gmail.com
Other than that, if you need something sooner, a Jean Batiste, Prelude, or a Barrington will definitely do you service, and are readily available.
Also, do not rule out a quality(More main stream brand) used instrument for a beginner. If you look around, you may find a Gemmy 2SP, an Yamaha 221/225 or an Armstrong 104 in this same price range.
I hope this helps.
Phineas
Thank you for the reply Phineas, it does help. He does have one listed at $149 on ebay with free 2-3 day shipping--so I'm guessing you are correct that he does have some in the US for the show you mentioned. Anyway, this would make it cheaper ($50-70) than most of the other brands (suggested on this site) that I've seen. Cost is an issue for us, but I also don't want to get something that she will have trouble with, or wouldn't be good for her to learn on. I hate to sound like I know nothing about flutes, but to be honest I don't. I've been reading this site for the last few days and it has been very helpful, but it is also the extent of my flute knowledge.
Anyway, if you feel that it would be a good flute for the price I will take your word for it. I have read many of your posts over the last few days and you seem to be a kind, knowledgeable, and helpful person. So, unless you feel strongly that the extra ($50-70) for one of the other brands mentioned is worth it, I will give the Woodnote a try and hope it works out well for her.
Thanks again!
Anyway, if you feel that it would be a good flute for the price I will take your word for it. I have read many of your posts over the last few days and you seem to be a kind, knowledgeable, and helpful person. So, unless you feel strongly that the extra ($50-70) for one of the other brands mentioned is worth it, I will give the Woodnote a try and hope it works out well for her.
Thanks again!
Up... 
I read you carefully, and curiosity makes me question about these so little know Woodnote flutes.
"Great", does it mean that it could be compared with Yamaha 281, for example - with same lifetime, same facility in mechanism (including for the third octave in classic pieces) ?
Or is it necesary to compare with cheaper solid flutes like Startone ?
"Great", sure, is to be employed to describe the FAQ of this forum ! Thank you.
I read you carefully, and curiosity makes me question about these so little know Woodnote flutes.
"Great", does it mean that it could be compared with Yamaha 281, for example - with same lifetime, same facility in mechanism (including for the third octave in classic pieces) ?
Or is it necesary to compare with cheaper solid flutes like Startone ?
"Great", sure, is to be employed to describe the FAQ of this forum ! Thank you.
A Yamaha 281 is their student line open hole. On the street, these flutes cost almost $1000 dollars new! For the same price, you could buy a flute that is FAR superior! I think I needed to clarify this. The Woodnote flute is one of the many copies of the Yamaha series. After playing on the woodnote flute for a time(About an hour), I not only thought is was comparable, but I liked to cut of the headjoint better than the Yamaha. I played one of these at the 2005 NAMM show in Indianapolis Indiana. Their student model, and intermediate model and I was quite please with the quality, and how they played. Although I liked the construction of the instrument, only time will tell how long they will last. I passed one of the 270s along to s student, and he is still playing on it after almost 3 years.kloip wrote:Up...
I read you carefully, and curiosity makes me question about these so little know Woodnote flutes.
"Great", does it mean that it could be compared with Yamaha 281, for example - with same lifetime, same facility in mechanism (including for the third octave in classic pieces) ?
Or is it necesary to compare with cheaper solid flutes like Startone ?
"Great", sure, is to be employed to describe the FAQ of this forum ! Thank you.
I have never seen or played on a Startone, so I cannot comment.
As far as the "Third octave", I can play the 3 octave on a $5 Bamboo/Cain flute. If I could not play the third and part of the 4th ocatve on ANY Boehm flute, then either the flute of the headjoint is garbage!(Unless I was only a beginner
) Taiwan companies and Taiwan companies with Chinese factories are putting out some superior instruments these days. This instrument is one of them! The reason they are so cheap is they are selling their instruments at dealer prices! No markup! I still have the dealer price sheet, and the prices they have been selling for are very close.
Phineas
