gold plated flutes

octoberwinds · Post by **octoberwinds** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:39 am

Hi,
I am currently searching for a new flute and have an opportunity to buy a yamaha 674H with several special options, including gold plating. I know what effect it is supposed to have on the sound production, but my question is, how does the plating wear and what happens when it wears off. A flute of this caliber should last at least a good 30 years. I wonder if the plating will last that long. If anyone has any knowledge in this area it would be much appreciated.
Thanks

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:17 am

I strongly recommend reading the FAQ that sidekicker mentioned in response to your other post.

But, basically, it says the following:

Plating does not have any impact on sound production because the gold is too thin [according to a documentary I watched about gold plate/ gold leaf, it is about 6-8 atoms thick, and is quite likely the same thickness of gold that is put in various forms of dessert and alcohol--if you want to know how it is made, just message me]. The sound production claim is merely a marketing ploy/ sales gimmick because the plating is too thin, and the gold wash used on the bore of the flute is thinner than the plating. If the flute is properly plated, the plating should last quite a long time as long as it is properly cared for [meaning dont use treated polishing cloths, and avoid scuffing the flute]. Treated cloths utilize an abrasive polish that removes a very thin layer of metal. So, over time, it will wear all the way through.

Yamaha knows how to do plating properly, and if you care for it properly, then it should last quite a long time.

However, I recommend you read through the FAQ, because there are many sections that could be useful to you.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:30 am

Fluteguy is right. Gold plating will not affect the tone of the flute. Yamaha is a capable of doing good quality plating, but with your face rubbing against the lip plate, and skin oils and the like coming into contact with the plating, I would be extremely surprised if it lasted 30 years. But there's no guarantee that you'll like the flute enough to play it for 30 years. Plating tends to wear any place that there is friction and wherever your body chemistry has the greatest effect....So pretty much anywhere you'd be touching. When it wears off, the base metal is exposed. Most likely this would be solid silver since it's a 674, and would pose no problem, but it can look a little less than appealing.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:43 am

octoberwinds,

I think assuming that any flute will last for 30 years is quite optomistic. What I have found is that over time, we all change (our abilities, styles of playing, ideas of sound, venues for playing, etc). Also keep in mind that the Yamaha 600 series are not handmade flutes. These are great flutes, but not exactly top of the line as far as flutes go. Again, it is much more likely that you will want or need a different flute before it actually wears out. However, how long it lasts from a mechanical standpoint depends greatly on how it is cared for.

As for gold plating, it is very likely that the finish will wear. However, it can be replaced every so often by a company that specialized in plating. I would contact Yamaha directly to see if they will do this for you and what they charge for this type of work. It may be more costly to keep up than it is worth to the eye.

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 12:51 pm

fluttiegurl wrote:octoberwinds,

I think assuming that any flute will last for 30 years is quite optomistic. What I have found is that over time, we all change (our abilities, styles of playing, ideas of sound, venues for playing, etc). Also keep in mind that the Yamaha 600 series are not handmade flutes.

I agree with these statements if they are read together (which is probably what was intended). In other words, a quality professional caliber handmade flute may very last several decades without being outgrown by the player. I, myself, have played on a 40 year-old handmade Haynes for coming up on about 25 years. Even though I got it early in high school, it has been versatile enough to get me through high school, college, graduate school, and now occasional free-lance on-the-side playing. I wouldn't trade it for anything (I'd certainly add another flute, though

). But you are absolutely right in that we all change in those respects and sometimes need an instrument and/or head joint change to accommodate that, especially when that instrument is a lower grade model to begin with.

Flutes that people tend to "outgrow", IMO, tend to be those that were never intended to be played for long periods of time to begin with, i.e. beginner/student model instruments or intermediate grade flutes (although plenty of people find the latter to be just fine for them for quite a long time).

SK

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:23 pm

I too have a vintage Haynes and aside from a headjoint change and pads of corse, the flute is original and should last me the rest of my life. Ironically, it was over 20 years old when I bought it. You are right that the flutes that are quicky outgrown are designed to be that way. In dealing with many manufacturers, I have learned that it is as much strategy of the companies as it is the players themselves. Althoug lets face it, most players never go on beyond that first upgrade (or even the beginner flute), so they have done their jobs and are good flutes for these players, not to mention the money involved. I don't feel that the Yamaha 600 flutes are in that category, but they are still not quite the caliber of a handmade flutes either.