Question about Yamaha 400 series

lula · Post by **lula** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 8:16 pm

Hi. I have a question about the Yamaha 400 series flute. Does anyone here own one? Would you recomend this flute to a freshman flute player? I have been in band for 5 years and I have a Buffet student flute. I think I should get a better flute. So my main question is this: Is the Yamaha worth the money or should I get an Armstrong?

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:37 am

The 400 series, in my opinion, is a great line of flutes. However, for a little more money, you could go ahead and go for the 584. Last week, I tried one out for the first time in a couple of years and I was pretty impressed. Even though it is a plated flute and the 400 is a solid silver flute, the 500 had a better overall feel and I really liked the headjoint.

In reality, it should probably come down to what kind of financial commitment you want to make. You should also try out many other flutes. You may be surprised at what you find.

wally · Post by **wally** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:30 am

Lula there are so many good flutes out there, you really need to get out to a shop and play a few. No one can really say what you will like, except you.

fluttiegirl, it's news to me that Yamaha would produce a 500-series flute that is just "plated". I once owned a 581 and all sections were sterling except for the keys.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:53 am

The 584 specs indicate it has a sterling head and nickle silver body:

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Con ... TID=237800

See the Specification tab in the middle of the page...

wally · Post by **wally** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:21 am

I stand corrected. How odd and confusing ..... That pretty much skews their model number designations, at least in terms of precious metals.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:43 am

CORRECTION!!!!

Depending on the age of your 500 series flute, EITHER could be true. Several years ago they changed the way that they number their models. The 500 series USED to be a sterling silver flute with plated keys. The flute model that used to be the 500 series is now the 600 series. I believe that they introduced the current 500 series flute as a step between the old 400 and 500 series. That way you have an all sterling intermediate, then a sterling/silver plated pre-professional flute then a sterling pre-professional flute. I have known people with both versions of this series.

So either could be true depending on the age of the instrument.

wally · Post by **wally** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:45 pm

Head spinning ....

Somewhat off-topic but maybe worth noting if you are in the market for a used 500-series Yamaha....

The 581 I owned was one of the early ones, made back in the mid-1980s. I purchased it new from Yamaha's Ginza store in Tokyo. All-sterling tubing, plated keys. This was probably several years before Yamaha began making EC headjoints. I think the cut on mine was equivalent to the CY designation, but Yamaha did eventually equip the 581s with ECs, even before renaming the series to the 600-level.

I sold mine a few years back but the US buyer a couple weeks later fussed that her instructor insisted it should have included an EC headjoint. As if I were somehow deceiving her....

lula · Post by **lula** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:20 pm

Thanks for all the help!

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:32 am

Personally, I love the 581 flutes. I actually like them better than the newer ones. They are getting pretty hard to find, but I still think they are great.

The switch to the plated model in the 500 series happened a few years back. I was told that it had something to do with cutting the cost and promoting their higher end flutes to professionals. Not sure, but that is what a Yamaha rep told me in 2001. Who knows for sure.

I think Yamaha's are a little overpriced myself. There are so many flutes out there, it would be a shame for anyone to buy without trying at least a few more. They are good flutes, but there may be something better, depending on the player.

MathWizard · Post by **MathWizard** » Sun Dec 06, 2009 2:10 am

I own a 400 series flute, and I couldn't wish for anything better (for now at least). It is an excellent flute and has a great potential to sound amazing depending on the level of the player. Probably the most annoying thing is how much you have to polish it though, as fingerprints love silver flutes.

All in all, it is an excellent quality flute and pretty to look at, even if it is not a professional flute.

Bo · Post by Bo » Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:37 pm

I've got this one (+ B foot): http://bestmusicshop.com.au/yamaha_yfl3 ... Path=23_46
... and am pretty happy with it too. I actually love it!

shanti · Post by **shanti** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:26 pm

I bought my Yamaha 481 a couple of years ago. I tried several different flutes, including quite a few that were listed as 'professional' and that the sales person told me were better than the 481. I tried them all and found I consistently got the most beautiful tone in all registers with this flute. I am sure they would have been happier to sell me a more expensive flute but the sound and ease of play sold me on this one and I have no regrets.