Muramatsue ex or sankyo 301 or yamaha 674 which one??

avins · Post by **avins** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:34 am

Hi everyone , although this is my first message , I have been reading lots of useful comments over here but now I have to come to some kind of decision.
My question is more technical probably than subjective . I have been playing for a month now, on an old but really nice Metaki 03 flute , but have to give it back , First let me say that I'd played the bassoon,semi professionally, and have decided to switch over to flute , so, although Im new , I think I know sort of ,what I have to do and believe that I can make quite progress in a relatively short time , BTW Im over 55, so now to my little dilema.
I am playing for my own enjoyment, yet, I dont really want to start with a beginners flute . Ive tried the Yamaha 674, Mura.. EX and Sankyo CF-301 , all , very nice flutes with nice but with great differences in tone colors , they are very nice to play on. Unfortunately , of course,I cannot appreciate their full potential yet. Most comments I've read here, suggest getting a full silver flute , head and body, yet everyone raves about the EX -silver head ,vz the Yamaha and sankyo , which are full silver of course . Would you say I wont feel the difference between these flutes once I get more competent in say, a years time , mainly due to the fact that they have different body materials.
Thanks for any help on this one

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:01 am

Any of these are good flutes, and it's really up to you--how does each sound, how does each feel in your hands, which weight and balance do you prefer, which mechanical action feels best to you? You have to play it and be happy with it. I wouldn't be upset if a student bought any one of these. I have more experience with the Yamahas and Muramatsus, and several of my students have played each with good results. I play a Muramatsu DS. More silver will add resale value later, if this is important to you, and some say it noticably changes the sound of the flute, but I think the differences in tone are very small, based solely on materials. The design and craftsmanship are much more signifcant to the flute's response and performance than the material. The cut (vs. material) of the headjoint, plus the player's individual physical characteristics and playing idyosyncracies, will more greatly influence the sound of the instrument than the material from which the flute is made. That said, I prefer the Yamaha in the heavy-wall version, for the different tonal capacity. Maybe more metal (of any kind) provides the tone I prefer.

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:03 am

Also, with instruments of such a high quality, there's no concern that a silver-plated instrument is structurally inferior to a silver one, or will experience any more mechanical hardship with proper use.

avins · Post by **avins** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:12 pm

Thanks MeLizzard , great answer, I will just have to make another round in the stores before choosing one.

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 3:54 pm

Glad to be helpful, and happy shopping! Let us know what you pick. Bassoon is my second instrument, but I'm no place near considering a purchase, though I got to play a nice school horn in college. A fun instrument.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:27 pm

Well, I will say that all of those mentioned are quite nice and will do the job very well. I myself have been on market for a new handmade flute, and I understand your delimma. For me, it came down to the Pearl Cantabile, the Miyazawa 202/402, and the Muramatsu you mentioned. I eventually narrowed it down to the Pearl and the Miyazawa 202. Both had the same specs for the most part: all silver construction [yes purity content was a little different, but 7% more silver really wasnt that important to me in the alloy it was constructed of], all handmade, C#trill key, split E, D # roller, and a nice cut on the headjoint.

I then compared them side by side and the Miyazawa won out hands down.

So, I wanted to let you know that I havent found a lot of difference in nickle silver and sterling silver when I tested flutes [even using the same headjoint on various models of the same company]. All I can say is that nickle silver seemed to weigh a bit less than sterling silver. The flute I ended up buying had a sterling head, nickle silver body foot and keys, with all the extras.

All of the instruments you have suggested will be fine. Pick the one that feels the most natural for you. At this level of craftsmanship, you shouldnt need to worry about subtle differences like nickle silver and sterling silver. If the muramatsu plays the best for you, then dont worry that the body foot and keys have a purity content 7% lower than the headjoint. If the all silver Yamaha does the job best, then dont worry about it. Get what you feel fits best. Even though you may feel that you wont [or cant] tell, if you try them all side by side, then there will be one that you are drawn to a little more, and enjoy playing a little more.

Just follow your instincts.

avins · Post by **avins** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:31 am

Thanks fluteguy8 for the insight . As for the differences in body materials , it seems that the differences are quite subtle, which can really only be appreciated by "professional" flautists , and quite reduntant by a begginner like myself. The EX has great sound , round and warm , I suppose that will be my choice.
MeLizzard , I think the Bassoon is a great instrument , but I'll make a little confession , when I played the bassoon in the Orchestra , quite a few years back, I always had this little envy at the flutists , especially when J.P Rampal gave a series of concerti with the orchestra... and a few years later , when on a visit to Germany to buy a new Bassoon , I went over to Freiburg in Germany and wondered through the Music Adademy and stood at the door of Aurel Nicolet who was giving a flute lesson.
The bassoon is lovely if you play in an orchestra or even Chamber , but , except for some great solo pieces , it is used mainly as an acoompanying instrument which adds a lot of tone /color to music.
The flute is a "singing" instrument , a solo instrument , with great lyricism .
With the flute you are only dealing with music the moment you pick the instrument . With the bassoon, I found myself working on reeds mostly ,
Well, I suppose I just had to elleviate my consceince after selling the bassoon to purchase flute .

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:17 am

Ah, the reed-making. I didn't do so much of that, but I can see how it can make double-reed players ALMOST as neurotic as singers! Once, our grad-school wind ensemble contrabassoon player was admonished by the conductor to find a different reed, with, you know, ______ characteristics. "A little more______." It was a very busy week for all, so he didn't really have time to make new reeds. He returned to the next rehearsal very proud of the alterations he had made to the reed he had been playing in the previous rehearsal. As the conductor uttered the words, "I think I like your other reed better", well, he looked positively ill!

avins · Post by **avins** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:32 am

Well , I did it, I finally got the Muramatsu EX , I'm now even more excited about this purchase , because in the store I didnt have the ideal place to try out and appreciate its great sound quality, now at home I can see why people like this flute so much , great big round warm sound . This is defintely going to be a great instrument to play for the next few years

Thanks for all the help

MonikaFL · Post by **MonikaFL** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:46 am

Congrats Avins!!!

When I was choosing my professional flute, it was VERY close between the Muramatsu and the Yamaha for that same reason -- the big, round, warm sound. My teacher had covered up the labels so I couldn't tell which flute and which. LOL Yamaha ended up being the one I chose (and I LOVE it), but ohhhhh it was so close. I know you will enjoy your flute a great deal! Yay, I'm so happy for you!!!

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:23 am

Congratulations! I nearly picked out a Muramatsu DS when I was last shopping for flutes, but in the end I opted for my Tom Green. The Muras are excellent instruments (my personal favorites behind only Tom Greens), and I'm sure it will bring you many years of musical enjoyment!

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:56 am

Congrats! I understand your excitement [my new flute should be arriving sometime this afternoon!]. I hope that your new Muramatsu [and my Miyazawa] will bring both of us years of enjoyment!

As for Monika's comment: when I tested at the convention, it was held at my school [so I was already familiar with the room] and none of the flutes were labeled except the company's name. So, I was very glad that I got to do a virtually blind test [Miyazawa doesnt engrave the model name on the barrel, but rather under the keywork, so I chose not to look...

] And, the results were very pleasing [to my ears and my wallet!]

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:26 am

congrats to you both on your new flutes..

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 10:12 am

Mark wrote:congrats to you both on your new flutes..

Thanks, but unfortunately for me, FedEx is having some trouble. It was supposed to be Over night shipping, but it was labed ast 3rd day shipping, and it wont get here until monday....

But it will be worth the wait.