info about Armstrong 590

inbrazil · Post by **inbrazil** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:20 pm

Could someone please tell me some details about the Armstrong 590 flute? Is it old? Is it new? Thanks!

remnantpark · Post by **remnantpark** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:29 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/Armstrong-Flute-590 ... dZViewItem

Here's a link that shows you a picture of the flute.

Gold lip plate. closed hole. Offset G.

I'm not sure about the age, however.

Are you planning to get one?

I only have an Armstrong 103. I'm hoping to upgrade soon!

inbrazil · Post by **inbrazil** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:35 pm

Thanks for the reply. It is funny.... that link is why I asked! I need a flute and wondered about this one. Do you like the 103?

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:41 pm

inbrazil wrote:Thanks for the reply. It is funny.... that link is why I asked! I need a flute and wondered about this one. Do you like the 103?

Have you played flute before? If so, you should play test flutes, and not just buy one randomly off the internet. If not, eBay is really not the best place to start shopping for instruments, unless you really know what you're getting into. Armstrongs are good flutes, but there's no way to tell if they'll work well for you, or what condition this flute might actually be in. It could arrive needing a full overhaul, in which case you'd probably be out a couple hundred dollars just to get it playable again. Try buying from Fluteworld or a local music shop.

inbrazil · Post by **inbrazil** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:32 pm

Yes... I know that would be the best route--to try before you buy. Unfortunately, I work as a missionary in Brazil, SA, so that would be, um... physically impossible!! Let me explain...

I help lead the music service in the new church work we are starting. Our little group wants me to learn flute to help accompany them. I am very musical, sing quite well, (solo, parts, whatever), and can sightread music fairly well, but do not play an instrument--not yet, that is! But I am ready to go for it whole-heartedly once I take the plunge! I have been scouring the internet, trying to see what I can see and learn all I can before I do anything at all. Of course, we have almost non-existent funds! (Hmmm... did I mention we work as missionaries???) So any advice and/or help would be more than welcome. We occasionally have people come to visit or help out in the ministry here for a short time and I would be able to have someone bring a flute down here for me. Someone is coming at the end of December, another in January.... after that I don't know if anyone will come out way before May. My husband has also recently started a new Christian school in a poor neighborhood, which has been a challenge, to say the least. I think the children would really benefit from having musical teaching, of course. The school is new so we will see what we can do in the future.

Also.... I already submitted a question to the website in general about the online lessons. But at $40/hr, I don't think, in fact I know, that this would not be an option for me.... so I am not sure what I will do. But at least I thought I could get the basic offering of lessons on the site that come with the membership. I wondered how far that might take me. I also am looking for an instructional method that has a dvd. This is not ideal, I know that, but I don't know what else to do for now. I have very good pitch, so maybe that would help?? I know it is much more complicated than just that, of course, but who know? Maybe I can do it! Again, any advice/help is welcome. What would you do??? Thanks so much!

inbrazil · Post by **inbrazil** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 6:39 pm

I read back what I just wrote--my spelling is terrible! But it is late here and my spelling in English has definitely gone downhill since putting another language, (Portuguese), into my head! How embarrassing! Oh well!

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:27 pm

Well if you haven't already started learning, playtesting isn't terribly important...It's just making sure you get a flute that plays well so that you won't be inhibited in your learning. Perhaps one of the others who is coming down to help you could purchase the flute for you locally, and be reimbursed when they arrive? Buying a flute off the internet from a source like eBay with limited funds and knowledge really isn't a particularly safe way to go, because as I mentioned above, you can never tell what condition an instrument might actually be in. If you went through a flute dealer like fluteworld.com, you could get a good deal, and a flute that you'd know would play. That would be my primary suggestion...Get a student flute from a reputable flute dealer, and go with that. As for lessons, I'm not terribly familiar with the lessons offered through this website, but they most likely could teach you the basics. That's the most important part, because if you learn bad habits from the start, not only can they be hard to reverse, but they can actually do damage to you and your playing. Good pitch will help, but first you'll have to learn how to use your air to adjust for intonation, and that comes rather later in the process than learning fingerings and the basics of forming an embouchure/holding a flute/whatever. I hope some of that helps. If you have additional questions, or I completely failed to assist you, please let us know, as I'm sure someone on this site has the info you're looking for.

inbrazil · Post by **inbrazil** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:56 pm

Thank you for your kind advice! That does help quite a bit. I will keep you posted and will ask more questions as they come up. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experience with others. Here's hoping I will be able to find something good for the best price! Don't hesitate to send any good leads my way--I would truly appreciate it. Thanks!

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