Sonare 709

Mandera3 · Post by **Mandera3** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:18 pm

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the Sonare 709. I am looking to buy a flute and I have a limited budget and after trying out a bunch of flute in my price range I really liked the Sonare 709. I am a music education flute major and currently play a Gemeinheirt. I loved the sound I got but it was hard to understand why it is so cheap. And does anyone of any insight about gold plating? I didn't knwo if teh plating woudl eventually wear off or something. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:51 pm

Basicly the Sonare is a hybred flute. It has a hand made head joint, and a manufactured body. The gold plating is really just a gimmic. For the money I would rather have a D# roller and a split E than gold plating.

Have you looked at other brands and models? What made you decide on this one? What is your budget?

Phineas

Fleming · Post by **Fleming** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 6:56 am

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the Sonare 709.

In my opinion, Sonare is a good deal just because of the headjoint. Normally you would drop more on a Powell headjoint alone than you would on a whole Sonare. I bought a 501 with the intention of replacing the body with something I like better (though even the low end China-made body is surprisingly nice).

I am looking to buy a flute and I have a limited budget and after trying out a bunch of flute in my price range I really liked the Sonare 709.

If you're on a budget and want a Sonare, I'd say look at the 600 series instead of the 709. You'll get the same flute as the 700 series (minus a few frivolous features that have no effect on the sound) and save about $1,300. What's your budget? If you can drop $3,000 on a fancy 709 Sonare, you can fit into the lower end of some other nice flutes (Muramatsu, Sankyo, Haynes, etc...) that might suit you better than a discount brand like Sonare.

I loved the sound I got but it was hard to understand why it is so cheap.

All of the manufacturing cost goes into the headjoint (hence, why the sound is good). It's a great idea: put a high end headjoint on a relatively low end body and you have a very good flute for a fraction of the price. Players have been doing it manually for years and years. In the case of Sonare you get a Powell for a fraction of the cost of a fully handmade Powell.

Mandera3 · Post by **Mandera3** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:09 am

my budget is about $3,000. Another ones that I haven't had a chance to try are the Altus and Azumi. I have heard they are great instruments but have not had the chace to experience that myself.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:07 pm

Those are nice too, but if you are looking at other models, you might as well try the Avanti [Brannen headjoint], Lyric [Miyazawa headjoint], and Amadeus [Haynes headjoint] flutes as well.

These headjoints are great headjoints, but I will add this: It is quite common for these headjoint to be good, but not quite as good as the ones that come with the actual handmade bodies themselves. So the Sonare headjoint is a Powell headjoint, but from what I have tried, it isn't quite as good as the headjoint on a completely handmade Powell. [The reason I know/think this is my flute teacher and I experimented when some other studio members were upgrading flutes]. But either way, these are still really nice. But if you are getting into the $3000 range, I would take a look at some of the lower end fully handmade flutes. Even though they are plated, they are in another league entirely.

DivaricationOfMind · Post by **DivaricationOfMind** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:18 pm

With a budget of $3,000 I would definitely invest in a well-rounded instrument. The Sonare has a nice headjoint, but, you can probably find a flute with a nicer headjoint and much nicer body in that price range.

I’d suggest trying:
-Yamaha flutes from the 500 series and up,
-Haynes Classic
-Sankyo Etude
-Pearl (especially the 40th anniversary model)
-Miyazawa 102
-Altus 807

and if you’re willing to stretch your budget a few hundred:

-Altus 907
-Muramatsu EX
-Miyazawa 202

There is probably a few I forgot to list, but, I could think of those of the top of my head.

Mandera3 · Post by **Mandera3** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:50 pm

thannks for all teh help. i am planning on ordering some more trial flutes after I get out of school in 3 weeks so hopefully I will find something i like.