newbie ...

newflute · Post by **newflute** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 11:04 am

Hi all, complete newbie here. I play guitar, bass and piano,
in a pop group for several years, and also studied some classical guitar and
piano. I decided one day of of the blue to learn flute and purchased this
Maestro Flute Kit from musicyo. Anyone have any views on it ?
http://www.musicyo.com/product_specs.asp?pf_id=444 it was actually reduced to
$99 ! I''m aware its a student instrument but any insight into the brand would
be helpful, i.e. should I buy some a bit better if I decide to stick with it ?
Thanks Ernie www.eazi-k.com - my band

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:00 pm

My momma said to say something nice or not say anything at
all. I don't always make momma happy. Do you play a 100 dollar piano or $50
guitar? I would recommend renting a decent student flute before buying a throw
away because you can at least be fairly certain its you making the mistake as
you learn not the flute. But that is just me. Now you ask if you stick with it
should you get a better one. I would think that since you already play other
instruments you have a pretty good idea of what the answer to that is. A hundred
dollar flute is pretty much the equivalent of a $25 K-mart toy department
guitar. Would you recommend I buy one of those and stay with it should I decide
to stick with the guitar?

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 1:41 pm

Hi Ernie~ Welcome to the board. We have quite a few people
here just learning so you will be in good company. My guess would be that
eventually you will need to buy a better flute. I have read about a couple of
people on other message boards that purchased these lower priced instruments and
they had lot's of problems. One other problem also is that you may have
problems trying to get someone to fix it if it gets broken. Kim

newflute · Post by **newflute** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 2:34 pm

thanks guys... well yes I don't play a $100 guitar now ...
but I did when I decided to learn guitar in the first place ! in fact for the
first few years I didn't even have one of my one just borrowed my dads beat up
classical. any recomendations on what to get should I decide to stick with it ?
I know this $99 flute isn't a lifetime instrument but I figured it would be ok
as a starter to see if I like it. You see around here music stores are
non-existent and renting an instrument (of any kind) is unheard of, no pawn
shops either so one doesn't have many options. Ernie

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 5:01 pm

Hi Ernie~ Yamaha has a pretty good reputation for student
flutes. We had a Gemeinhardt student model here that was good for us too. You
will get different reactions on different brands of course. I guess the most
important part would be to stay away from those "deals" on ebay and at local
shopping centers. You might even check with a local High School as a band
director may know of a student that is upgrading and you could get a good deal
that way also. Kim [quote] any recomendations on what to get should I decide to
stick with it ? I know this $99 flute isn't a lifetime instrument but I figured
it would be ok as a starter to see if I like it. Ernie [/quote]

Crazy · Post by **Crazy** » Wed Feb 18, 2004 6:00 pm

Welcome, Ernie I have a Gemeinhardt 2SP. It's a starter
model under $350. I tried a student flute (the brand escapes me) for under $200
and it was so out of tune and couldn't be tuned that I returned it in less than
a week. My flute teacher was very happy. It drove her nuts the first lesson
trying to get it in tune.

newflute · Post by **newflute** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 3:59 am

thanks again guys... I'll most likely be buying new as the
secondhand market is practically non-existent over here. in October I'll be
visiting the US for a holiday, so I'd probably get it then at a proper store
where I can see and try the flutes for myself. instruments are so much cheaper
in the US than in Europe... Ernie

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:10 am

With the internet there is no place you can't shop and get
almost any product. Tons of companies selling flutes do so online. As far as
Europe, some flutes are actually cheaper in parts of Europe like the
Netherlands. Many better flutes can even be purchased on approval. Not that you
have played long enough to make an educated judgement but you may know someone
who could help you.

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Thu Feb 19, 2004 11:44 am

Hi Ernie, You could also try places like Fluteworld.com and
JL Smith Flutes. They both send flutes out on a trial basis. JL Smith sounds
like they have a nice trial policy. They told me that they don't put a hold on
funds in your account like Fluteworld does. Kim

newflute · Post by **newflute** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 4:25 am

thanks guys, an online purchase/trial I think is out of the
question as shipping over here can be as really expensive, the cheap flute I got
was $50 to ship here. That would be $100 2-way I have no problems purchasing
online in fact I've got several guitars this way but there I know what I want
and what to look for ! I think my best chances are waiting till my trip to to
the US, especially as the exchange rate now is $1.9 to the pound ! Hopefully in
a decent store I'll be able test some stuff for myself...hopefully by then
I'll be able to play something as well ! In any case with the starter flute I
have now "seems" to be going ok for the moment. Ernie

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 6:58 pm

Ernie~ If shipping is that much I know I would also wait
until you can try a few out when you are here for a visit. I have a friend that
bought a flute for 40.00 at a garage sale for her daughter last year. I was so
sure that it would be a huge problem for her daughter and I was wrong. The girl
played the flute for a year and just recently got a better flute. You can also
use the time you are waiting to make your trip to do some research into the
flutes that you think will interest you when you are ready to try some. Kim

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Fri Feb 20, 2004 10:06 pm

Glad to hear you plan on coming to the states to spend your
pounds. But I doubt you will find an advantage to coming here to buy, either
because of selection or cost. Our economy needs the boost so please stay long
and spend generously.

newflute · Post by **newflute** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 9:55 am

well selection here is non-existent so that has to be better
and cost well... 1 pound is currently worth 1.85 dollars. last year I bought a
Gibson guitar in LA and saved over 500 pounds on the UK price. a Yamaha YFL381
for comparision is $150 cheaper in the US the higher the price the more the
difference. An Altus 807 is $2600 in the UK and $2150 in fluteland again thats
$350 less....... Ernie

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 11:10 am

Sounds like the savings will pay for the trip. Do you have
any import duties when you bring instruments back?

newflute · Post by **newflute** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 11:31 am

I also intend to get a Custom Shop Fender Strat guitar as
well these are thousands of dollars cheaper. I can imagine its difficult to
visualise but this part of the world is very backwards when it comes to music.
The nearest decent store is about 2hrs drive away. import duty shouldn't be a
problem by the way i've added some pics of my starter flute at the link below
http://www.eazi-k.com/flute Ernie