What company has the best quality flutes. I
have a Gemeinhardt, and I love it, but what is the best quality company out
there?
Best Flute Companies???????
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
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FluteDiddy
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2003 4:32 pm
Best Flute Companies???????
That is a very complicated question that
has been debated here on my threads you could look up and read. The Readers
digest analogy version is depending on who you ask Gemeinhardt, Jupiter, Pearl,
Armstrong, Emerson are kind of like the GM, Ford and GM type companies and
depending on who you ask you will get a different answer as to who is better.
You also have your Kia, Yugo and other off brands that are really cheapo with
unknown quality you will see these under different names on ebay and in some wal
mart type stores, made by a couple companies but labeled with dozen different
names. On the other side you to to Yamaha which would be more like a Toyota or
Honda, slightly more reliable than most Ford GM or Chrysler but a Corrola might
not give you what LeBaron gives you but it is less likely to have problems. Then
you get into the Lexus, Infinity, BMW, Mercedes brands which would be Muramatsu,
Haynes, Miyazawa, Powell, and Altus(maybe in that order depending on who you
ask). Clearly better in quality than a Gemeinhardt but much more expensive. Also
smaller companies, about 200 of them of variable quality. The best and best know
of them might include Branen and Sankyo. A starting level plated flute from a
company like Muramatsu or Haynes (they dont call any of their flutes student as
3 thousand dolalrs would seem alot for a student) are much better than the top
level gold or solid silver Gemeinhardt. So first question is how much do you
want to spend and second is how serious are you and third how good. If your a
beginner buyin a $50,000 gold Haynes not only is an expensive way to go, it will
probably make you sound worse. If you have a budget but are one of the best
players in your district and plan to stay with the flute into college, spending
3-5 thousand for an entry level or step up Muramatsu or Altus would be a good
place to start looking. Then you have dark sound vs lighter sound, Japanese vs
American, open vs closed, Gold vs Silver vs plate vs wood. Hope that gave some
starting information. I tried to give you a lot of information without much
detail so that you go head off and research in whatever direction you are most
interested
has been debated here on my threads you could look up and read. The Readers
digest analogy version is depending on who you ask Gemeinhardt, Jupiter, Pearl,
Armstrong, Emerson are kind of like the GM, Ford and GM type companies and
depending on who you ask you will get a different answer as to who is better.
You also have your Kia, Yugo and other off brands that are really cheapo with
unknown quality you will see these under different names on ebay and in some wal
mart type stores, made by a couple companies but labeled with dozen different
names. On the other side you to to Yamaha which would be more like a Toyota or
Honda, slightly more reliable than most Ford GM or Chrysler but a Corrola might
not give you what LeBaron gives you but it is less likely to have problems. Then
you get into the Lexus, Infinity, BMW, Mercedes brands which would be Muramatsu,
Haynes, Miyazawa, Powell, and Altus(maybe in that order depending on who you
ask). Clearly better in quality than a Gemeinhardt but much more expensive. Also
smaller companies, about 200 of them of variable quality. The best and best know
of them might include Branen and Sankyo. A starting level plated flute from a
company like Muramatsu or Haynes (they dont call any of their flutes student as
3 thousand dolalrs would seem alot for a student) are much better than the top
level gold or solid silver Gemeinhardt. So first question is how much do you
want to spend and second is how serious are you and third how good. If your a
beginner buyin a $50,000 gold Haynes not only is an expensive way to go, it will
probably make you sound worse. If you have a budget but are one of the best
players in your district and plan to stay with the flute into college, spending
3-5 thousand for an entry level or step up Muramatsu or Altus would be a good
place to start looking. Then you have dark sound vs lighter sound, Japanese vs
American, open vs closed, Gold vs Silver vs plate vs wood. Hope that gave some
starting information. I tried to give you a lot of information without much
detail so that you go head off and research in whatever direction you are most
interested
F-Diddy the Man with the Purple flute
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angelsweetbaby04
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:12 am
Best Flute Companies???????
Thanx so much, for all the info! i think it
really helped me out a lot!
really helped me out a lot!
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angelsweetbaby04
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:12 am
Best Flute Companies???????
by chance would you know what is the best
way to go with a piccolo? iv pretty good with the flute, and above a student
level, but i wanna look in to gettin a piccolo also, i just dont know really
where to start with that quiet yet, what brands to get what kinds, and all of
that.
way to go with a piccolo? iv pretty good with the flute, and above a student
level, but i wanna look in to gettin a piccolo also, i just dont know really
where to start with that quiet yet, what brands to get what kinds, and all of
that.
Best Flute Companies???????
Well, it's really impossible to pick the
best flutemaker, since to a certain extent, each flute is unique. Price is not
the only indicator of the quality of a flute. It is still true that the finest
instruments are handmade. Gemeinhardt, Yamaha, Jupiter, Emerson, Pearl, and
other popular student makes have mastered the process of automating flute
production, so a student flute or intermediate flute now is much better and
relatively cheaper than 40 years ago. Some of these companies also produce
handmade instruments to some extent, but there are many companies who specialize
in hand producing flutes. Haynes and Powell, the two long-standing American
flutemakers are example, as well as Altus and Muramatsu in Japan. Newer
companies like Brannen and Naghara produce exceptional instruments, including
some innovative new models. Also, there are many independant flutemakers
producing top notch instruments, such as Lillian Burkhart, John Landell, Lenny
Lopatin, Tom Lacy, Miguel Arista, Robert Bigio, and plenty more. I feel awkward
picking a "best" company, but since that was the question, I'd have to go with
Brannen. It's a lot easier to pick the best clarinet maker! -Bradford
best flutemaker, since to a certain extent, each flute is unique. Price is not
the only indicator of the quality of a flute. It is still true that the finest
instruments are handmade. Gemeinhardt, Yamaha, Jupiter, Emerson, Pearl, and
other popular student makes have mastered the process of automating flute
production, so a student flute or intermediate flute now is much better and
relatively cheaper than 40 years ago. Some of these companies also produce
handmade instruments to some extent, but there are many companies who specialize
in hand producing flutes. Haynes and Powell, the two long-standing American
flutemakers are example, as well as Altus and Muramatsu in Japan. Newer
companies like Brannen and Naghara produce exceptional instruments, including
some innovative new models. Also, there are many independant flutemakers
producing top notch instruments, such as Lillian Burkhart, John Landell, Lenny
Lopatin, Tom Lacy, Miguel Arista, Robert Bigio, and plenty more. I feel awkward
picking a "best" company, but since that was the question, I'd have to go with
Brannen. It's a lot easier to pick the best clarinet maker! -Bradford
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angelsweetbaby04
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:12 am
Best Flute Companies???????
thanx every one 4 all the help and info,
its helping me a lot
its helping me a lot
-
FluteDiddy
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2003 4:32 pm
Best Flute Companies???????
Handmade is really not handmade anymore.
Even handmade flutes now are generally about assembly adjustments, pad alignment
and emboucure cutting. The rest of the flute is pretty much machine made. They
now have pretty much found out the machine does a better job and cheaper and
some processes like soldering tone holes is more and more abandoned for drawn
because it is better and cheaper and only the mystic of soldered tone holes
keeps them in anyones process. Which is Best? Best for whom?
Even handmade flutes now are generally about assembly adjustments, pad alignment
and emboucure cutting. The rest of the flute is pretty much machine made. They
now have pretty much found out the machine does a better job and cheaper and
some processes like soldering tone holes is more and more abandoned for drawn
because it is better and cheaper and only the mystic of soldered tone holes
keeps them in anyones process. Which is Best? Best for whom?
F-Diddy the Man with the Purple flute
-
angelsweetbaby04
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 12:12 am
Best Flute Companies???????
thanx 4 the help
Best Flute Companies???????
The term handmade is used fairly loosely by
companies now, but there are many flutes which are truly hand made even today.
It is certainly true that flutemakers use more sophisticated tools today, but
many individual flutemakers and small companies only make handmade flutes. It's
truly and amazing craft--lots of time and effort goes into making one of these
instruments. That said, the majority of instruments are mostly machine made.
Student, intermediate, and many "professional" class flutes are machine made.
The biggest companies have the best mechanical automation and hence produce
flutes with less hand work. This is not a bad thing since machines do many
things well, but are not on par with humans at all aspects of flute making.
-Bradford
companies now, but there are many flutes which are truly hand made even today.
It is certainly true that flutemakers use more sophisticated tools today, but
many individual flutemakers and small companies only make handmade flutes. It's
truly and amazing craft--lots of time and effort goes into making one of these
instruments. That said, the majority of instruments are mostly machine made.
Student, intermediate, and many "professional" class flutes are machine made.
The biggest companies have the best mechanical automation and hence produce
flutes with less hand work. This is not a bad thing since machines do many
things well, but are not on par with humans at all aspects of flute making.
-Bradford
Best Flute Companies???????
The question of "What is the best flute
company/companies?" has to be followed with another question--for WHAT?
Currently I have three C flutes and they each have qualities that I like--for
different purposes. Because I also like to play at jazz (I'm not a real jazz
player) I like the warmth of the Pearl flute that I have. It's gold finish
warms up the sound significantly. For classical stuff, I like the Miyazawa that
I have--particularly for its clear upper register. There are pluses and minuses
to every flute. In general, though I hear great comments about most professional
flutes (Haynes, Powell, Miyzawa, Muramatsu, Arista, Prima Sankyo). The question
is--which one would work best for YOU?
company/companies?" has to be followed with another question--for WHAT?
Currently I have three C flutes and they each have qualities that I like--for
different purposes. Because I also like to play at jazz (I'm not a real jazz
player) I like the warmth of the Pearl flute that I have. It's gold finish
warms up the sound significantly. For classical stuff, I like the Miyazawa that
I have--particularly for its clear upper register. There are pluses and minuses
to every flute. In general, though I hear great comments about most professional
flutes (Haynes, Powell, Miyzawa, Muramatsu, Arista, Prima Sankyo). The question
is--which one would work best for YOU?
DrMalone