I want to upgrade to an intermediate flute.

[Iolaus]

Yes, it's another "what should I buy" thread. I went back a few pages, but didn't see any discussion about flutes in my price range; most are about either beginner flutes, or flutes starting at $2000 and up.

I've been playing a used Gemeinhardt M3 w/ solid silver head, that I got off ebay and had repadded, but I feel I need to upgrade to something more versatile; the higher register has very little dynamic - only plays loud for me - and the lower register is difficult to play quick passages in - C & C# tend to blow out completely. I would like to start looking for a replacement over the summer.

I told my wife that I estimated a new intermediate flute might cost $1000 or a little more, but from what I've read, people seem to be going higher than that, or else they aren't mentioning the price tag; I might be able to swing up to $1500, but I'm hoping I don't have to. I will have time to try out a lot of flutes and take my time making a decision. My question is, What brands and models should I be looking at? What I'm looking for is a quality flute that I can grow with, with the knowledge that I will upgrade to a professional model in the future. Features that I want are: an off-set G, open hole, and a B foot.

Also, does anyone have a recomendation for a store in southern California where I could try many different flutes?

Thanks.

[macadamia]

I would suggest one of the Pearl Quantz flutes, and not just because I own one. Basically they now have pinless contruction which means less unsightly screws and less chance of them being knocked out. Mine has a beaustiful tone and I have had it 3 years. It is one of those flutes that I could possibly continue using at a more professional standard. I hope this helps at all.

[flutepicc06]

Well, while the pinless mechanisms are nice visually, they can be a beast to repair and adjust, as I'm sure most repair techs would tell you. That's not to say that they're not nice flutes, but the benefit for you is offset by a hardship for someone else, and depending on the tech you use, that additional hardship could be passed on to you in the form of $$$. For less than $1500, you might find it worth your while to look at used flutes in addition to new. You can buy some very nice used instruments for this price, and probably ones that are a good deal better than what you might get new. For example, I got my Yamaha for $1500 used (it retailed for $3000 new). That said, I would look into Yamaha, Pearl, Amadeus, Sonare, Azumi, Muramatsu (specifically a used EX), Sankyo, or Trevor James. With the proper amount of patience, you should be able to find models from any of these for about $1500. I would try Ogura Flutes, Paul Rabinov, Cynthia Kelley (all three are dealers in southern California), or get Fluteworld or another dealer to ship the flutes you're interested in to you. Just make sure to play as many of the available options as possible, as you want to find the flute that is best for you.