Flute choose without testing!

valter.carvalho · Post by **valter.carvalho** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:45 am

Hi everyone,

As I've been reading on many posts here, the best way to choose a handmade flute is to try out the models, until we find the best one for ourselves. Ok, but my problem is, basically, I can't try the models! Because I live in Brazil, where almost any authorized dealers can be found, so I will have to import a flute from USA or Argentina.
So my question is: In a blind (or better, a deaf!) choosing, which brand could be more interesting, assuming I play mostly jazz, celtic and irish folk music, and some amplified tunes (blues, rock&roll, progressive), but less frequently than the acoustic ones.
The brands I'm looking for are:

Muramatsu
Miyazawa
Powell
Sankyo

Between these, and assuming I will not have a chance to test (only to get it back, of course, in case of receiving a damaged or terribly insatisfatory one), which one is your personal choice? I'm looking for good acoustic projection, ease to blow, good relation between octaves, facility to speedy octave changes, some good response to effects like double sounds, singing with the flute, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Valter

piccolo1991 · Post by **piccolo1991** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:11 pm

I have a Sankyo and love it...great big sound and projects great. However, I know that many of the other flutes you named are great too. If I were you...and if there is NO way you can try any...I would try to listen to some recordings of people playing them. James Galway plays 13 (?) different flutes on one site...you can probably search for other things like that. Good luck.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:11 pm

The only problem there is that everyone plays each flute so differently. For instance, I had an incident at a recording session where my flute went crazy and I ended up playing on a Bundy that was handy at the time. After all was done, no one knew I was not playing on my Pearl (what I had at the time).

I would contact some of the flute companies before ruling out a trial. A handmade flute is a huge investment, and it is very possible to go with the wrong flute. I have some friends from Brazil. When I get a chance, I will ask about flute dealers and see where their flutes came from. I will PM the results.

valter.carvalho · Post by **valter.carvalho** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 2:39 pm

piccolo1991
fluttiegurl
Very thanks for your replies.
I would certainly appreciate any information you can find about dealers here in Brazil! I'm also going to ask for some masters in music university here.
I take a look on Galway's site, but only could find his audio lessons, I found no information about different flutes played by him. Do you have any direct links?
If anymore fellows wish to give me more oppinions on this subject, I would appreciate it very much!

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 8:56 pm

Not only would I try finding a few dealers, I would also recommend contacting the companies directly [calling Powell, Miyazawa, etc. etc.]. They should be able to get a couple of flutes out to you to try out if finding a dealer is an issue.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:11 am

Here is what I found out so far. I thought others may be interested, so I just posted instead of PM.

As fluteguy18 suggested, contact the dealers directly. There are some who will ship to you at your expense, but they will give you several days and several flutes to try. Powell seems to be up on this, as well as Muramatsu America. Still keep looking at places like Flute World (I do not know their policies out of the US). You may have some luck there. I am sure there will be some companies who will allow you to play test. As for dealers in Brazil, I have not heard back on that one yet. I am still waiting on one friend to reply. I will keep you posted.

I just cannot justify buying a handmade flute without a trial, and am very unsure of what I would do in the same situation.