I have narrowed my choice of student flutes to the Di Zhao DZ201 with the split E option or the Pearl PF-505.
I have a question. The Di Zhao 201 has open holes which I plan to close with plugs. (The 200 plateau flute has no split E option as does the 201.)
Do silicone or cork plugs get dirty quickly or rot or cause any other problems? I plan to use close holes for quite a while, I think.
Has anyone played either flute or both? I think I like a wood tone, but is that a good tone for a flute to have?
Any recommendations?
I can't play them at a local store so I'll have to buy over Internet.
Student Flute Shortlist: 2 Flutes
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
I've tried playing the DiZhao flute. For a student flute it's really good, sounds pretty well, with adequate volume and color. Never tried a Pearl before, but know enough about the good reputation about this brand.
It's really difficult to point this or that blindly. What I know about DiZhao is that if you don't like the flute you just return it to Mr.DiZhao and he will send you another (consequently better...). He is personally committed to his customers (so I've heard).
I don't know about any Pearl's policies.
Anyway, what you could do is ask Fluteworld (www.fluteworld.com) to send you both flutes for a trial period. So you play them, choose one and return the other and of course pay for the one you kept.
It's really difficult to point this or that blindly. What I know about DiZhao is that if you don't like the flute you just return it to Mr.DiZhao and he will send you another (consequently better...). He is personally committed to his customers (so I've heard).
I don't know about any Pearl's policies.
Anyway, what you could do is ask Fluteworld (www.fluteworld.com) to send you both flutes for a trial period. So you play them, choose one and return the other and of course pay for the one you kept.
I am with Zevang. Just try both of them and see which one you like the best. I have not tried the DiZhao, but they have a good reputation. The Pearl is a nice flute as well.
The plugs used in Open hole flutes will not harm them.
As far as the wood tone, that really more depends on you more than the flute. However, for a TRUE wood tone, you will need a wood head joint(Or at least a different one than a student model. I use to have one on my Buffet International flute, before it was stolen.
I have owned the PF505, and was pretty fond of it. Very easy to upgrade the headjoint to a more advanced model. The flute also has the same basic mechanism as the higher end models.
Phineas
The plugs used in Open hole flutes will not harm them.
As far as the wood tone, that really more depends on you more than the flute. However, for a TRUE wood tone, you will need a wood head joint(Or at least a different one than a student model. I use to have one on my Buffet International flute, before it was stolen.
I have owned the PF505, and was pretty fond of it. Very easy to upgrade the headjoint to a more advanced model. The flute also has the same basic mechanism as the higher end models.
Phineas
Thank you guys for the assurances.
Good to know about the plugs too. As it will probably turn out, I may borrow a flute from the teacher I'll hire until I can buy my own flute for Christmas. It's an intermediate open hole flute (Yamaha Allegro) so I'll probably just buy the open hole Di Zhao unless I don't like the feeling of the open holes. If I don't like the feeling on my fingertips, I'll get the Pearl.
Good to know about the plugs too. As it will probably turn out, I may borrow a flute from the teacher I'll hire until I can buy my own flute for Christmas. It's an intermediate open hole flute (Yamaha Allegro) so I'll probably just buy the open hole Di Zhao unless I don't like the feeling of the open holes. If I don't like the feeling on my fingertips, I'll get the Pearl.