four flutes

[woof]

Wanting to upgrade from my current Gemeinhardt 2sp (closed hole, C foot) flute to a higher quality flute so I recently tried out 4 possible replacement flutes. The following are some observations I made during that 10 day journey. Each person has their own preferences and abilities so their experience and results would differ from mine but here are some things I found. The flutes I tested cost from 5 to 10 times what my Gemy cost and I expected a world of difference in sound and operation etc., there were differences but they were not 5-10 times greater. The flutes were: Muramatsu EXB; Pearl Quantz 765; Pearl Elegante; and Amadeus AF700. All of the flutes tested were well crafted, in a word beautiful, and each had its own distinct qualities. Personally I would like to have kept them all. The Amadeus: Key action was great, right out of the box I had no problems playing this flute open holed, I was surprised at how easy it was to play without plugs. It had great low and a moderately easy upper range to C4. The sound seemed to be pure and not to complex. Pearl Quantz: well crafted, key action a bit easier than the Almadeus, phenomenal upper register easily reaching C4 great and complex midtones but an extremely difficult low C1/B1. It was the hardest to play open holed and as I discovered later Pearl sets its keys 1.5 mm further apart than does Muramatsu and this made for lots of air in my inexperienced hands-- but even with plugs in low C/B was “ify”. Clearly a flute for larger than medium hands and in need of long fingers. Pearl Elegante: again well crafted basically similar to the Quantz but with the most interestingly cut headjoint. It had a fantastic upper register, wonderful projections and “color” to its sound but again a difficult low C/B altho I did learn to play this flute open holed. Muramatsu: well crafted beautiful flute that had a key action and ease of play second to none- it was like soft butter, so smooth and quick it was far ahead of the others. It had wonderful lower register with incredible richness and complexity of sound but it had a very difficult upper register from A3-C4 and E3 was a bit airy.
Spending a lot of “Test time” is important because each flute needs to be played differently. It took me several days to adjust to each to even begin to realize the possibilities in each of them. I played them outside (no walls), in medium sized rooms and small rooms and in each place a different character emerged from the flutes. In the end, for me, it came down to a battle between the Muramatsu and the Pearl Elegante and I pitched back and for so many times I was beginning to get dizzy. The key action and lower register of the Muramatsu against the projection and purity of sound and upper register of the Pearl- and therein lay the problem with trying several flutes– how do you finally decide when all of them have so much to offer?? In the end it was the Pearl for me but I have to say it was so hard to send the other flutes back and I miss them all. Each flute would require a different learning curve but each, with some effort, would give an equally beautiful performance. I still sit down with my old Gemy and it still sounds great, not as good certainly as the more expensive flutes, but very respectable and rich- in my experience the Gemy is a much better flute than many people give it credit for and in 4 years it has not given me a bit of trouble. Still I do like the new Pearl. However, I won’t be selling the Gemy.

[Phineas]

I have several flutes. (and guitars). I love all of my instruments from the $100 dollar ones to the $5000 dollar ones. Every instrument has their own personality, and when I play on a performance, I use the instrument that I can get the best out of for that performance. To keep current, I rotate my usage so I can be effective on all of them.

The Pearl Quantz 665 is my favorite all around flute. I can play anything on it. I did not use to like Pearls a few years ago, but they have been coming out with some great instruments in the last couple of years. As far as your lower register on a Pearl, well it could be a little hotter. But, it depends on what headjoint you have.

I tried out all of the flutes you mentioned, and agree with your choice.

The Amadeus is nothing more than an mediocre body, with a Haynes headjoint. Judging from other flutes in the same price range, they could have made it a little more spectacular.

The Muramatsu is an instrument that you have to learn how to play. This is very typical of Japanese flute designs. The headjoint is difficult, but once you learn how to play it, oh man!!! This is an instrument that you will have to practice on. The feel of it is fantastic, but that headjoint is out to get ya. I guess I was just not dedicated enough to put up with it.

Congratulations on your new flute!

Phineas

[woof]

The Muramatsu is an instrument that you have to learn how to play. This is very typical of Japanese flute designs. The headjoint is difficult, but once you learn how to play it, oh man!!! This is an instrument that you will have to practice on. The feel of it is fantastic, but that headjoint is out to get ya. I guess I was just not dedicated enough to put up with it.


Phineas

Thanks for the response- I felt the same way about the Muramatsu- with time and some more talent/practice on my part it would be spectacular- perhaps like you I just felt the learning curve would be shorter on the Pearl. Now as for the guitars I could see myself heading down that same finacially diffucult path in a number of years!!