Secondhand Miyazawa or new flute?

[peterflute]

Hi flutists,
I'm new to this forum. I joined because I am aiming to buy my first flute since the Armstrong 90 I bought 37 years ago, and a lot has changed in the musical instrument world since then.

I have a rather tasty dilemma. I've estimated my budget to be just about stretchable to $4000 (Australian $). I am looking at new flutes in the intermediate to semi-pro range, anything over 2000 and 4000. I am somewhat limited by living in a rural area in northern New South Wales (Australia), but by a fortunate coincidence I have learned that Australia's premium specialist flute shop, the Flute Tree, is doing their annual visit to Brisbane next weekend, to set up a temporary showroom with every model of flute they sell on display and there to try and compare. An unparalleled opportunity, but it won't be easy to try and assess all they have in my range in one day, let alone be sure enough to get out my credit card!

At the same time I am eyeing a second hand Miyazawa 402 which is on sale some 800 kilometres from here - it's four years old and the seller is asking $4000. She says it has been serviced every year, at the Flute Tree coincidentally, and she now wants to upgrade. It seems as though it might be a good buy, although I am wondering how much the 4 years old bit matters. Someone on this forum said never look at second hand flutes over3 years old. One hell of a trip to get there and try it out, and I've never blown a Miyazawa, so I've no idea how much I would like that brand.

Do any of the experienced flute people here have any ideas or advice on this? To give you the context, I am retired, quite old, and I've suddenly rediscovered my passion for music and the flute. Way back I got to my Associate Diploma and had all the ambition that goes with that. However now it's strictly playing for the love of it. Right now I'm playing about 1 hour a day, and probably won't be going much beyond that.

Any advice please?

[zummerzet_lou]

Firstly congrats on getting back your flute-playing mojo!!

Secondhand will always get you more flute for your money ... but it sometimes means you can't try multiple ones at the same time to find "the one". I've never heard the 3 year rule - if it's been well maintained and serviced (and well made to start with) should last a lot longer!

You probably have heard about the flute shop in Sydney? http://www.flutesandflutists.com/shop-main.html
I've never been there but heard good things - I also don't know if they stock secondhand flutes (just searched their page - to give you an idea they are advertising this in your price range:
John Lehner Sterling Silver 016 RBEOC ST #47
$4,750
Handmade All Silver Custom flute, B foot, offset G, split E, offset G, open holes. Completely overhauled with all new pads.

My last flute came from this guy - http://www.drtoot.co.nz/used-secondhand ... s-services in New Zealand.