Hey! i got a gemeinhardt 2sp for a school year... i have had
it for about 1 year and it didn''t seem to be great its a student flute. Most
people told me to get the gemeinhardt and a lot of people seem to be happy with
it but it had a lot of problems and i wasn''t very happy with it. I was
wondering if anyone had any other great brands that seemed to hold up for them??
not very espensive the most of 300. THankS again!!! ~Meg[:bigsmile:] [:(]
I need some help :(
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
I need some help :(
As the saying goes They ain't what they used to be.
Gemeinhardt was once a greatly respected name in flutes. Unfortunately their
quality has dropped and problems have gone way up. The standard in student level
flutes is now Yamaha with no real competition. You could save a few dollars with
a Pearl, Armstrong, Emerson, Jupiter, etc. but in the long run you may not save
at all. Fortunately many people sell used student flutes as they step up to a
better instrument or sadly give up playing. Used 200 level Yamaha's regularly
sell for 150-250. You may even find a new one for not much over 300. If you are
serious and improve you will outgrow your student flute in a year or two so why
not search for a used that is still in sound playing condition especially as the
supply is so high and price so reasonable. Just my 8 cents[8)]
Gemeinhardt was once a greatly respected name in flutes. Unfortunately their
quality has dropped and problems have gone way up. The standard in student level
flutes is now Yamaha with no real competition. You could save a few dollars with
a Pearl, Armstrong, Emerson, Jupiter, etc. but in the long run you may not save
at all. Fortunately many people sell used student flutes as they step up to a
better instrument or sadly give up playing. Used 200 level Yamaha's regularly
sell for 150-250. You may even find a new one for not much over 300. If you are
serious and improve you will outgrow your student flute in a year or two so why
not search for a used that is still in sound playing condition especially as the
supply is so high and price so reasonable. Just my 8 cents[8)]
-
fluteluversmom
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Sun May 11, 2003 10:22 pm
I need some help :(
This is a topic that really gets me thinking LOL My daughter
started band about 2 years ago on a new Gemeinhardt student flute. She played on
that flute for approximately 18 months and it never had a problem with needing
repair. This past year I purchased a step-up flute for her. I am not brand loyal
but we had been happy with her Gemeinhardt so we included them in our testing
for a new flute. My daughter decided on another Gemeinhardt for her new flute.
She has had that for 7 months and there have not been any problems with it as of
yet. It seems that for every person that says Gemeinhardt flutes are junk there
is person that is happy with them. The same goes for other brands. I have talked
to people that wouldn't touch a Yamaha with a 10 foot pole. I recently tried
both a used Gemienhardt and a used Yamaha for myself. I was going to go with the
Gemmy but decided I liked the Yamaha better. So my daughter plays a Gemeinhardt
and I play a Yamaha. There is a opinion on just about everything it seems when
it comes to flute playing. Some people say a person shouldn't play a open hole
flute until they have played a plateau model for a few years. My daughter
started playing an open hole in just over a year of playing. Now my daughter is
dreaming of owning a Maramatsu with a Drelinger headjoint like her flute teacher
plays. I am sure when the time comes I will hear plenty of opinions on those
also LOL Kim
started band about 2 years ago on a new Gemeinhardt student flute. She played on
that flute for approximately 18 months and it never had a problem with needing
repair. This past year I purchased a step-up flute for her. I am not brand loyal
but we had been happy with her Gemeinhardt so we included them in our testing
for a new flute. My daughter decided on another Gemeinhardt for her new flute.
She has had that for 7 months and there have not been any problems with it as of
yet. It seems that for every person that says Gemeinhardt flutes are junk there
is person that is happy with them. The same goes for other brands. I have talked
to people that wouldn't touch a Yamaha with a 10 foot pole. I recently tried
both a used Gemienhardt and a used Yamaha for myself. I was going to go with the
Gemmy but decided I liked the Yamaha better. So my daughter plays a Gemeinhardt
and I play a Yamaha. There is a opinion on just about everything it seems when
it comes to flute playing. Some people say a person shouldn't play a open hole
flute until they have played a plateau model for a few years. My daughter
started playing an open hole in just over a year of playing. Now my daughter is
dreaming of owning a Maramatsu with a Drelinger headjoint like her flute teacher
plays. I am sure when the time comes I will hear plenty of opinions on those
also LOL Kim
Some
days you catch the bus and other days it runs over you.
days you catch the bus and other days it runs over you.
I need some help :(
Probably just like cars or vacumn cleaners. Just picking
numbers out of the sky but out of a 100 flutes probably 5 have trouble with a
yamaha, 10 with a Gemmy, 20 with an Armstrong, Emerson etc and about 60 with the
no name throw away models. That means 90% of the Gemmy people are happy but if
you know that is the case you might be more likely to go Yamaha. I'll bet you
could find someone that just loved their $2000 Yugo but they don't sell em
anymore because the other 95% of people had em fall apart. I would never say
Gemmy's are junk, not even Emerson or Armstrong, only the no names that sell
for $100 new and you throw away when the brake, but even those have players that
did just fine with them for a year or two. I was told that Gemmy was taken over
by another company and some cost cutting measures were instituted and the
overall quality and quality control suffered some. This isn't to say, that like
your daughter there aren't tons of people that love them. As for the Muramatsu
or the Drelinger headjoint, I don't think you will find too many people that
think those are junk. We have been looking at Muramatsu since mid summer as
well. You will always find your loyalists, especially in high level flutes.
People who swear by Haynes or Powell or can't wait for their Mateki and don't
have an open mind to other brands. From what little I know a student level
player won't sound all that different on any decent brand. But when they are
ready for a semi-pro or pro flute they really need to play the specific
instrument they will buy. That every handcut embochure hole is different and as
great as a Haynes or Powell or Muramatsu maybe, it might not be right match.
[:0] [:0]
numbers out of the sky but out of a 100 flutes probably 5 have trouble with a
yamaha, 10 with a Gemmy, 20 with an Armstrong, Emerson etc and about 60 with the
no name throw away models. That means 90% of the Gemmy people are happy but if
you know that is the case you might be more likely to go Yamaha. I'll bet you
could find someone that just loved their $2000 Yugo but they don't sell em
anymore because the other 95% of people had em fall apart. I would never say
Gemmy's are junk, not even Emerson or Armstrong, only the no names that sell
for $100 new and you throw away when the brake, but even those have players that
did just fine with them for a year or two. I was told that Gemmy was taken over
by another company and some cost cutting measures were instituted and the
overall quality and quality control suffered some. This isn't to say, that like
your daughter there aren't tons of people that love them. As for the Muramatsu
or the Drelinger headjoint, I don't think you will find too many people that
think those are junk. We have been looking at Muramatsu since mid summer as
well. You will always find your loyalists, especially in high level flutes.
People who swear by Haynes or Powell or can't wait for their Mateki and don't
have an open mind to other brands. From what little I know a student level
player won't sound all that different on any decent brand. But when they are
ready for a semi-pro or pro flute they really need to play the specific
instrument they will buy. That every handcut embochure hole is different and as
great as a Haynes or Powell or Muramatsu maybe, it might not be right match.
[:0] [:0]
I need some help :(
Just to ramble on a little more: While in student flutes one
size pretty much fits all. In top end, certain manufactures are a better fit
than others of the same of even greater quality or price. My daughter tried out
a $6000 flute that sounded little better than a step up, yet another companies
under $2000 sounded like a dream. Yet name brands and price tags can get in the
way of "sound" decisions. I am pretty sure Fluteworld will let send you several
Muramatsu flutes on approval (if your credit card will handle it unlike
mine[:knockout:] ) or a flute and several heads. You keep the one you love and
send the others back and get full credit only losing the cost to ship the others
back. Or you can do it sequentially if you can remember how one sounded. We are
considering doing that. If you live near Massachessets you can visit Haynes or
Powell. Or go to an NFA convention where tons of mfg will let you try out their
instruments. (from what I understand) We really wanted to go to the one in LV
last week but between the cost and school starting today it was not possible.
Good luck and have fun playing and shopping[:bigsmile:] [8)] [:bigsmile:]
size pretty much fits all. In top end, certain manufactures are a better fit
than others of the same of even greater quality or price. My daughter tried out
a $6000 flute that sounded little better than a step up, yet another companies
under $2000 sounded like a dream. Yet name brands and price tags can get in the
way of "sound" decisions. I am pretty sure Fluteworld will let send you several
Muramatsu flutes on approval (if your credit card will handle it unlike
mine[:knockout:] ) or a flute and several heads. You keep the one you love and
send the others back and get full credit only losing the cost to ship the others
back. Or you can do it sequentially if you can remember how one sounded. We are
considering doing that. If you live near Massachessets you can visit Haynes or
Powell. Or go to an NFA convention where tons of mfg will let you try out their
instruments. (from what I understand) We really wanted to go to the one in LV
last week but between the cost and school starting today it was not possible.
Good luck and have fun playing and shopping[:bigsmile:] [8)] [:bigsmile:]
-
flute friend
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2003 2:51 pm
I need some help :(
My favorite and best brand I think there is is a Armstrong!!
I had got it for the school year also and it is the best flute it holds up
really good and Its not the expensive too for a new one at our music store
depending on the modle was $400-600. But you could find a new one probly for
about 300$ I'm guessing!! -hope this helps you[;)]
I had got it for the school year also and it is the best flute it holds up
really good and Its not the expensive too for a new one at our music store
depending on the modle was $400-600. But you could find a new one probly for
about 300$ I'm guessing!! -hope this helps you[;)]
~Vanessa~
-
tarzaflute
- Posts: 131
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2003 6:59 am
I need some help :(
Hi. I've had my yamaha student model for 6 years and I
recently got a new Trevor James Virtuoso. My yamaha still works amazingly and I
often play it for a change. The only thing I've ever had to get done was
repadding, so thats saying something for them. My friend has the same model as
me, maybe a bit later, and yesterday one of the bars came undone, lol, and she
had another incident where the keys fell off, so u get both good and bad from
brands. I personally didn't like the gemeinhardts in both student and
intermediate, but thats just personal preference again. I don't have a personal
favourite brand because I haven't tried every brand there is, and every flute
is different, and certainly no one has played every flute ever made, lol. When I
upgrade to a professional in around 5-8 most likely, I'll definately be looking
at a range of brands. I dream of getting a gold Muramatsu too, but after playing
one, I might choose something completely different, so I'm just going to keep
an open mind which is the best thing to do when buying any new instrument. Well
good luck in finding your perfect flute, toodles!
recently got a new Trevor James Virtuoso. My yamaha still works amazingly and I
often play it for a change. The only thing I've ever had to get done was
repadding, so thats saying something for them. My friend has the same model as
me, maybe a bit later, and yesterday one of the bars came undone, lol, and she
had another incident where the keys fell off, so u get both good and bad from
brands. I personally didn't like the gemeinhardts in both student and
intermediate, but thats just personal preference again. I don't have a personal
favourite brand because I haven't tried every brand there is, and every flute
is different, and certainly no one has played every flute ever made, lol. When I
upgrade to a professional in around 5-8 most likely, I'll definately be looking
at a range of brands. I dream of getting a gold Muramatsu too, but after playing
one, I might choose something completely different, so I'm just going to keep
an open mind which is the best thing to do when buying any new instrument. Well
good luck in finding your perfect flute, toodles!
Tara!
-
krisgmusic
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2003 12:56 pm
I need some help :(
Sell the Gemmy, buy an Armstrong model 104. They're built
like tanks but play with a nice medium feel of mechanism and usually play quite
well as far as the headjoint is concerned. Look for one that is cut on the sides
of the tone hole (angled in) to help you focus your beginner tone. You could
keep it for marching band later and then get an upgraded model. I have never had
a private student who had good luck with a Gemmy. That may be a fluke thing, but
I have been teaching flute for over 15 years. I am a band director also, and I
have always repaired many more Gemmys than Armstrongs. I suggest di Medici brand
(between Jupiter and Altus, beginning professional) because they are priced well
and they are not too heavy or sluggish in mechanism. I have an 18k rose gold
plated di Medici sterling silver flute with silver keys. It was a monster at
first because the headjoint was cut large. Now I get tone that far surpasses
anything I could get from other instruments. I could sell it and go for a solid
gold instrument, but who has that kind of cash? I have also played several Pearl
flutes that were a dream to play. Their step up flutes are nice and maybe just
$100-150 more than others. Worth it in my opinion.
like tanks but play with a nice medium feel of mechanism and usually play quite
well as far as the headjoint is concerned. Look for one that is cut on the sides
of the tone hole (angled in) to help you focus your beginner tone. You could
keep it for marching band later and then get an upgraded model. I have never had
a private student who had good luck with a Gemmy. That may be a fluke thing, but
I have been teaching flute for over 15 years. I am a band director also, and I
have always repaired many more Gemmys than Armstrongs. I suggest di Medici brand
(between Jupiter and Altus, beginning professional) because they are priced well
and they are not too heavy or sluggish in mechanism. I have an 18k rose gold
plated di Medici sterling silver flute with silver keys. It was a monster at
first because the headjoint was cut large. Now I get tone that far surpasses
anything I could get from other instruments. I could sell it and go for a solid
gold instrument, but who has that kind of cash? I have also played several Pearl
flutes that were a dream to play. Their step up flutes are nice and maybe just
$100-150 more than others. Worth it in my opinion.
I need some help :(
Lot of individual taste and anecdotal evidence when it comes
to flutes. Plus different players play best on different models. From my
experience Armstrong is pretty much on a par with Gemeinhardt if anything a
little weaker. Pearl's have their fans and quality is above Gemmy, Jupiter,
Emerson and Armstrong. And DeMedici is not on par with better companies. I did
not like the headjoint compared to other flutes in the $3000 range. So while it
definetly has a better mechanism than student flutes, I think there is a reason
you don't find many being played by top players. Just shows you for every
player there is a differing opinion. If you look at surveys, especially of
better players you find almost no Jupiter, Demedici(being the upper model
Jupiter) or otherwise. Nor will you find any Armstrong to speak of. And just a
few Pearl. You find a pretty strong showing by Powell, Haynes, Yamaha and
Branen. With the Muramatsu, Altus and Sankyo rising fast. A few old timers have
stuck with their Gemmy and they still show respectably but I would guess none of
them is of recent make. Then again I know one of the very top young players
around and she plays a Gemeinhardt, so go figure! You also run into companies
that make good student flutes but their better flutes aren't that impressive
and the other way around very good expensive flutes with weak student flutes.
Then again many will tell you a flute is a flute its the person blowing it that
counts. If you are strictly talking 2-500 dollar student level flutes Yamaha is
pretty much the concensus winner for least repairs and most likely to stay in
tune accross the widest range. Try em yourself and ask your teacher or band
director.
to flutes. Plus different players play best on different models. From my
experience Armstrong is pretty much on a par with Gemeinhardt if anything a
little weaker. Pearl's have their fans and quality is above Gemmy, Jupiter,
Emerson and Armstrong. And DeMedici is not on par with better companies. I did
not like the headjoint compared to other flutes in the $3000 range. So while it
definetly has a better mechanism than student flutes, I think there is a reason
you don't find many being played by top players. Just shows you for every
player there is a differing opinion. If you look at surveys, especially of
better players you find almost no Jupiter, Demedici(being the upper model
Jupiter) or otherwise. Nor will you find any Armstrong to speak of. And just a
few Pearl. You find a pretty strong showing by Powell, Haynes, Yamaha and
Branen. With the Muramatsu, Altus and Sankyo rising fast. A few old timers have
stuck with their Gemmy and they still show respectably but I would guess none of
them is of recent make. Then again I know one of the very top young players
around and she plays a Gemeinhardt, so go figure! You also run into companies
that make good student flutes but their better flutes aren't that impressive
and the other way around very good expensive flutes with weak student flutes.
Then again many will tell you a flute is a flute its the person blowing it that
counts. If you are strictly talking 2-500 dollar student level flutes Yamaha is
pretty much the concensus winner for least repairs and most likely to stay in
tune accross the widest range. Try em yourself and ask your teacher or band
director.
I need some help :(
I've played an open-holed Armstrong for 4 years now, and i
haven't needed to bring it in for repairs in all that time. of course, i take
very good care of my instrument and all, but as far as tone quality. i found
that while gemienhart sounds smoother... for me...as far as the people in my
band go, they still can't get their lips and embouchure just right for the
purest sounds. so, in comparison, i sound a whole lot better even though they
have nicer flutes, and newer flutes. (My mom got my flute when i was like 3 at a
yard sale) So, you could say it's WAY old, but it's in GrEaT condition and it
sounds fine compared to other people around me. And and just for kicks n grins,
my old band teacher was a professional flutist and her flute was specially
individually made 14k gold through and though with silver keys that were
engraved with tiny flowered vines. It didn't have a scratch or dent on it. It
was the MOST BEAUTIFUL flute i've ever seen. Plus the sound was smooth and
rich... she also revealed that it cost as much as a small car.[:0] [:p] My mom
said if i go professional with my playing that she'll get me one just like it
(somehow i think she hopes i forget thatpromise!) [:bigsmile:]
haven't needed to bring it in for repairs in all that time. of course, i take
very good care of my instrument and all, but as far as tone quality. i found
that while gemienhart sounds smoother... for me...as far as the people in my
band go, they still can't get their lips and embouchure just right for the
purest sounds. so, in comparison, i sound a whole lot better even though they
have nicer flutes, and newer flutes. (My mom got my flute when i was like 3 at a
yard sale) So, you could say it's WAY old, but it's in GrEaT condition and it
sounds fine compared to other people around me. And and just for kicks n grins,
my old band teacher was a professional flutist and her flute was specially
individually made 14k gold through and though with silver keys that were
engraved with tiny flowered vines. It didn't have a scratch or dent on it. It
was the MOST BEAUTIFUL flute i've ever seen. Plus the sound was smooth and
rich... she also revealed that it cost as much as a small car.[:0] [:p] My mom
said if i go professional with my playing that she'll get me one just like it
(somehow i think she hopes i forget thatpromise!) [:bigsmile:]
~CuteFlute~
"Cuz flutists RULE!!"
"Cuz flutists RULE!!"