new flute

Starqle · Post by **Starqle** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 8:41 am

I am interested in buying a flute. It should last me at LEAST through
college, and I would want it to last me the rest of my flute-playing career
(read: the rest of my life). I''m not picky over who made the flute, whether
or not it is hand-made, e-mech, French arms, and off-set/in-line g. The material
should not be overly corrosive or fragile, but otherwise I don''t care about
that either. However, the flute should be in tune over the whole range - this
includes extremely high c and all those other fun notes. It should have good
dynamic range, being able to play low notes loud without sounding aggressive and
high notes quiet without sounding thin. It should have a wide range of timbres,
including angry buzzing, warm, light, cold, sweet, mournful, etc - and never
sound breathy. It should make emotative playing easy. It should be easily able
to slur even large intervals. Staccatos and legatos should both be highly
responsive. Vibrato should be easily controlled. The keys should move easily and
spring back readily. If at all possible, it shouldn''t be way too expensive.
Does such a flute exist outside fo my dreams?

sweetensour · Post by **sweetensour** » Mon Apr 21, 2003 5:05 pm

that's a pretty extensive list of requirements! anyway.. my
friend is getting a muramatsu (?? i don't remember exactly, it's a japanese
brand) and it's supposed to be REALLY nice. no need for alternate fingerings,
perfect pitch, but really expensive.. hers is gonna cost 12k. so if you're
willing to fork over lots of moola but think it would be a good investment, i'd
look into that brand.

Starqle · Post by **Starqle** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 8:50 pm

thanks for replying. I found a Dean Yang (from the same
company, but less expensive) that does basically what I want it to.

sweetensour · Post by **sweetensour** » Tue Apr 22, 2003 11:49 pm

kool! let us know how everything goes when you get it.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Mon May 19, 2003 12:27 am

I found the flute for me through Gemeinhardt with a 33SB.
However, I am not going to be a professional flute player- it's going to last
me the rest of my time in school (I'm a Junior in college) and the rest of my
life. The head joint may have a good deal to do with your tone (though James
Galway may tell you different), so pick one that is good for you. You just need
to try a lot of flutes. Miramatsu is an excellent flute from what I'm told. It
depends on your price range as well. Don't buy something you can't afford!

Good luck in finding the "flute of your dreams"! Cass <><

tarzaflute · Post by **tarzaflute** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 7:13 am

Hi

I just upgraded too, and I found an amazing flute! I
got a Trevor J. James Virtuoso II and it has a fabulous in tune sound. This
particular model has a split E, B foot (optional) Open holes (optional i
think??) solid silver head, body and foot and a contoured lip plate. I played
other models but I fell in love with its rich tone. I can get the HIGH HIGH C
and a couple of notes above that on this one, but as a progress I'll be able to
get more (I'm Grade 6 AMEB) but yeah I find the HIGH HIGH C and C# easy enough
for me to get. The model I got retails for around AUD$4500, go to
http://www.trevorjames.com/ to see all the models [:)]

porschia28 · Post by **porschia28** » Wed Jun 11, 2003 6:57 pm

i myself have a yamaha model 481H and i think it plays
beutifully.. but i do not plan to keep it for the rest of my playing career...
my teacher has a prima sankyo which is an excellent flute... it probably costs
around 7,000 though.. what is your price range?

porschia28 · Post by **porschia28** » Wed Jun 11, 2003 6:58 pm

i know you have found a flute already but just in case in the
future you need this info again: i myself have a yamaha model 481H and i think
it plays beutifully.. but i do not plan to keep it for the rest of my playing
career... my teacher has a prima sankyo which is an excellent flute... it
probably costs around 7,000 though.. what is your price range?

flute friend · Post by **flute friend** » Fri Jul 11, 2003 9:24 pm

I would get a good Armstrong It won't cost much as flutes go
and it is amazing!! It has a wondurful soft and sweet sound that is very
smooth!![:bigsmile:]

krisgmusic · Post by **krisgmusic** » Mon Aug 25, 2003 1:36 pm

That is a HUGE list. My best advice is go somewhere that
specializes in flutes and take a ton of different music with you to try. Low
passages with staccato, high passages at pianissimo, etc. Take a tuner also. See
how close you can get to being in tune in extreme ranges the first time through
with an instrument. That reveals a lot. I recommend Flute World or Cincinnati
Fluteworks. Both have websites. You should also pay attention to the way the
mechanism responds and the feel of the pad cups under your fingers. Weird pad
cups are annoying after a while. Are you going to study flute to begin a
professional career or are you a serious hobbyist? That makes a difference in
the decision also. You might want to check out Altus or di Medici flutes with a
Drelinger headjoint. Sandy Drelinger is based out of Indianapolis and is on the
web also. Remember that any flute's feel and mechanism would coordinate with
any number of custom headjoints. The headjoint is most important so start there.
Then find a body that feels good. And as far as that goes, everyone is
different. krisgmusic

Kimbralwyn · Post by **Kimbralwyn** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 10:05 pm

I had that same huge list as I'm a jazz flutest, and I found
it all in one flute for under $1500. I have a Gemeinhardt KG Special, mine is a
little different from what they list them as, so I will be doing some research
as to why mine says Custom. The entire KG series is really good though, so I
would suggest that. Happy playing Kim P.S. If you want, when I learn more about
my flute I can give you the model mnumber and if you can afford any price you
might be able to get one made like it.

fluteandcomputercountrybo · Wed Mar 24, 2004 9:39 pm

hi everybody! the flute of your dreams wont cost 12k im sorry
but no. a nice flute that is under 5000$ is the yamaha series flutes. i have
owned mine for a couple of years now and it works better then any other brands i
have tried! im a believer in yamaha flutes! but if you want to become a pro.
then your best bet might to go with a 12k flute and get a haynes that is if your
ready for one.

IDigAPony · Post by **IDigAPony** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:21 am

There are reasons that about 300 companies make flutes. One
is everyone thinks they have a better idea, another of course to make money, but
the other is different toots for different folks. Yamaha makes an excellent
student flute and their upper flutes are good but not really competitive with
other brands. Haynes also will still a solidly made and excellent quality
instrument has not stayed in the lead of flute makers and aren't really very
popular any longer with pros. Oh the traditionalists often play old ones. But
until the recent buy out the company basically ran on old knowledge of its
founder who has passed. The Haynes have not kept up with newer scale changes and
while still among the top brands is not in the elite 2 to 5 As far as buying a
solid 12K Haynes for under 5 thousand dollars, in your dreams. You are correct
about one thing, you can buy an excellent flute that will meet almost everyones
needs for 3-12 thousand. But if you really get serious, the sound of a solid
gold flute is another step up and it is a lot more money.

Cleartone · Post by **Cleartone** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 4:48 am

Well, most of responses have missed the point. Look at the
list of things this flute player wants. He/She might as well rub a magic latern.
And after the want list there is the answer. A Dean Yang flute. priced from
around 1000-3000 buckaroos. this is the price range that most flute players have
their parents pay when they are in the last years of high school or enering
college. Flute makers know this. This is why Hanes went out of business. They
tried the high end route. The population buying high end flutes is very small.
Even Muramatsu is looking to put more effort into the 1000-3000 range. I almost
think from the initial topic question that this particular flute player works
for Dean Yang and is looking for some free advertisement knowing that the
competition is Yamaha, who has cornered the market on 1000-3000 dollar flutes.
REMEMBER!!! It doesn't matter what the manufacturer is. It matters if you like
the flute. Try out a few at the same time. find the one that you like.

saiphrigel · Post by **saiphrigel** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:16 pm

I am also in the market for a new flute, so I have been doing
some research. I have spoken with several well-respected flute instructors and
professors, and everyone swears by Yamaha. Check out yamaha.com/band. I have
owned a Yamaha for 10 years...it's a high-end student model. The only problem I
ever had with it was a bent key on the foot joint, but that was only because my
son swiped it and used it as a light saber! Check out the Yamaha 500 and 600
series for good value on a low-end professional model. Also check out
fluteworld.com...they offer range of manufacturers and they are a reputable
company that will give you a decent price (though probably not the lowest
price).