Dark-Toned Flute Brands and Models?

[mydudemyguymygoodsir]

So first, this is ANOTHER question about buying a new flute. Sorry for not being different. If it means anything, I'm open to any input.

Alright so first off I'm going into 11th at a pretty band-crazed school. I'm not like the best, but last year I was chair 2 in the 2nd-highest band. Unfortunately, I sorta ended up screwing myself over from advancing by having a crap flute: Armstrong Model 104N, used for about six years. You can literally see tarnish marks, and it turns out my sound was really affected too.

Point of me saying this is that my getting relatively far with an atrocious instrument surprises me, and kinda feels like I'd be pulling a Clearly-Fake-Talent Gabriella-Troy High School Musical kind of jump if I get the right flute.

IDK if that makes perfect sense. I sorta threw that up.

Anyway, I have a 1200-1800$ range. I'm looking for DARK TONED FLUTES. This is the kind that blends into the band. Full, open, while still having a good tone. Not brilliant. And I'm serious too -- I don't mean "oh well you know I want blend a little better IDK what you like" no I need like Ghirardelli DARK in-all-caps Chocolate-dark tone. DARK DARK DARK DARK DARK.

In short, here's what I'm looking for:
DARK-TONED FLUTE BRANDS AND MODELS. 1200-1800$. The works: Bb foot, open-holed, etc.

I'm open to more questions.

Thanks so much! Respond soon please!

[JButky]

In short, here's what I'm looking for:
DARK-TONED FLUTE BRANDS AND MODELS. 1200-1800$. The works: Bb foot, open-holed, etc.

In short, there is no such thing. Bright and dark are subjective and can mean the opposite to different people. Secondly, Two people play the same flute, and the same listener can call one dark and the other player bright.

It's more of a question as to finding which one satisfies your needs based on how you play. No one hear can answer that except you. So go try a bunch of stuff and pick the one that everyone agrees sounds "Dark" when you play it.

[SylvreKat]

In short, here's what I'm looking for:
DARK-TONED FLUTE BRANDS AND MODELS. 1200-1800$. The works: Bb foot, open-holed, etc.

In short, there is no such thing. ...

Well, unless he gets an all-wood flute. My wood picc def sounds less brilliant than my silver picc. Although I have more control over dynamics on the silver. It's fun sometimes at concerts when I need both horns, plus the flute. Gosh, here I had wanted to be the girl with TWO instruments, and instead I'm sometimes the gal with THREE!

JButsky's right, you'll make the difference. Go play the same band music on different flutes. First of all, find ones that YOU like the feel/sound of. Then ask the shop folks to listen between them for any dark vs bright differences. And ask if you can return the one you settle on if your director just does NOT like the tone.

>'Kat

[dddiam]

The older, thicker-walled, legacy flutes tend to be darker -- strong and rich in the first register.
Modern flutes have thinner walls and a thinner lower register sound. They excel in the middle registers.

I have a Boston Legacy in mint condition, and I love it. I also had an old, solid silver Gemeinhart M2S, which I loved a lot, but outgrew.

I have a Yamaha Allegro (solid silver with an internally gold-plated solid silver headjoint). I used it for a few years, but I found the tone lacking in strength and darkness in the lowest register.

I auditioned several Di Zhao flutes (200, 400, 600) for a couple of weeks. To me, they had the most sensitive action in the world, but a very thin sound, probably because of the wall thinness. I sent them all back.

So my main flute, at the moment, is my Boston Legacy. It suits my taste and personality, and I am sticking with it. It has open holes, with a 'B' foot-joint. 'B-flat" footjoints are very rare. Even 'A' footjoints are pretty uncommon.

Be careful with the used flute market though. A lot of older flutes need a lot of expensive work. My oldest flute (I forget the brand), which I bought used 55 years ago, needed all new pads plus other work, so I gave it to someone to make a lamp out of.

I bought my flute from a professional whose hobby is switching to different flutes every now and then. I know how well she cares for her flutes.

Ask you flute teacher to keep an eye out for a flute with the characteristics that you want, and in very good condition.