Brio B3 Short Review

[P. Jr.]

I joined this forum to help those looking at the b3.

I have been playing flute for 8 years now. I started on a beginner flute, moved to an older 'professional' gemeinhardt. Eventually I made the jump to a haynes q2 with the gold riser. That was a beast, but I chose to sell it for various reasons, personal, not due to the instrument.

Anyway, the b3 is great if you can get it at a good price. What I mean by this is that the msrp is somethink like 5k for some places. Dont pay that. If you can find it used for 2k, its great, or even new for 3k. Honestly the headjoint is what makes it a good choice. The rest of flute is what you expect- high quality material. All sterling silver, the gold springs etc etc etc. The headjoint took me about 10-15 minutes to adjust to, but once I was there, it was great.

In my opinion, to use this flute well, you need to have the approval of your teacher to purchase this. When you can make the correct embouchure changes for the low, middle, and high registers accurately, then this could be a potential winner. When I had the Haynes it seemed so easy to play and I could be lazy with my embouchure positions. With this flute you really have to dial into those changes to get a good sounds. Which after awhile it becomes muscle memory in the long run.

The sound on this instrument tends to be on the warmer side. Very good low and middle octaves, but you have to dial in the most to get the higher register. After getting used to this flute headjoint it should be fine, and it sounds great.

I have also played a muramatsu ex. This is better imo. I never liked the headjoint on the maramatsu, but the b3 has one that sticks out.

If I had to rate flute, id say the b3 is equal to the haynes q2 or better, equal to or less than the q2 with gold riser, and better than the muramatsu ex.

Honestly the b3 has tended to see a lower price point because of a bad reputation that has followed it, but I am here to tell you that the b3 is like a new start. On paper the specs are just as good as others at the same price point, and this has a unique headjoint. I was surprised.