Buying a used Yamaha

[seashell]

Hi everyone,

I'll start with a short intro:
I'm brand-new to this forum, and also to the flute - although I play Piano and Harp and a bit of Trumpet. 8 months ago, I injured my hand playing the harp, and it's becoming clear that even with therapy, I will never recover enough to play harp again. I'm devastated, but determined to continue with music. So, I started investigating other instruments that are still playable with my injury, and I fell in love with the flute!

Onto my question:
I've been lurking the forum for a while now, and have read many threads about buying a good brand-name instrument. My budget is incredibly small (pretty much non-existant), because I just finished my undergrad degree and will be paying for grad school this fall. Therefore, I've decided to get a used instrument.

I have found a used Yamaha 225S nearby, and it is priced at $150. The instrument has only been played for a few months, but it was purchased 7 years ago. I know this is a pretty "old" instrument, and I'm worried it will need lots of work after sitting in a closet for so long... I know I will probably need to pay for a tune-up, but I'm hoping it's still worthwhile.

Does anyone have any input on this? Does this sound like a good buy, or should I be looking for something more recent?

Thanks! Sorry for the length of this post!

[dogster]

Not a good idea since it will also need a new pad job so you could spend over 250.00 and its not worth it . Seven years is a long time for it to be stored without much use I would stay away from it

Doug

[seashell]

Thanks for your input. I was worried about pad replacement, so thanks for confirming that issue.

I'm curious, why do the pads degrade when the flute isn't in use? I thought they were more affected by the compression that happens when you play. Do they dry out or something?

I don't know much about flutes, just trying to learn!


Side note: does anyone know a used flute dealer in Canada? I'm starting to think I should go through a shop..

[FluteMonkey]

Yamaha makes excellent flutes and $150 is a bargain price. You may have to sink some money into new pads and a tune-up, but you'll still be coming out ahead. That is, assuming there are no serious issues with the flute. I'd suggest you have the flute checked out by a reputable repair person for a repair estimate and their assessment of the instrument before you commit to buying it. Seven years is not that old for a flute.

Good Luck.

[pied_piper]

I'll add a bit to what dogster said. I disagree slightly with his comment that a a flute stored for seven years would need a repad. If a flute is stored properly, the pads should not degrade significantly. The key however is how it's stored. If it is kept in a climate controlled area at normal room temperature and low humidity, they should still be useable. Some may need to be re-seated and adjusted, but that's not really serious. The problem is (and here I agree with dogster) you don't know how it was stored. If stored in a damp basement, then yes, the pads may be shot or the steel shafts may have rusted (a much more serious problem). The worst enemy of pads are so-called pad bugs. These are actually carpet beetle larvae and they love to feast on the wool in pads. If that's the case, then it must be repadded.

The problem is that a complete inspection is needed to determine pad condition and the condition of the rest of the flute. That can be a problem when buying over the Internet.

An equivalent Yamaha flute today sells for about $600, so at $150 plus let's say another $150 to put it in playing condition, that's still a relative bargain if you are willing to assume a little bit of risk... Even if the repairs cost $300, that's still less than a new Yamaha flute.

[seashell]

Thank you for the replies.. it seems that buying the Yamaha might be a bargain in terms of value and potential quality, but it also feels like a bit of a gamble financially. My budget really does max out at around $200 - so if it needs any work I will probably have to re-sell it.

However, I am looking at another flute for $150 that seems to be less risky. I'd love to hear what you think:
It's a Jupiter 511 purchased new in 2003/4. However, this one has not been in storage for as long, and has been very well taken care of. It has also been assessed by a shop that does flute repairs, and was deemed to be in excellent, playable condition. They also said the pads would not need to be replaced for the foreseeable future.

It seems that this particular flute is less risky financially than the Yamaha... does this seem like a good option?

I should add that I am not looking for a wonderful long-term flute with gorgeous sound. If it turns out that my passion for flute grows, I plan to invest in a newer, better quality instrument. As long as my first flute is playable and doesn't need expensive repairs - I'm happy to explore with it.

Any input on this older Jupiter 511?

[pied_piper]

Jupiter flutes are not bad. Many people prefer Yamaha, so they often cost more, but both are reputable brands. As a beginner, the Jupiter would serve you well to start on. Since you said that it has been inspected and is in good playing condition, $150 is a bargain. The 511 sells new for about $700. At that price, I'd grab it. If you continue on the flute and decide later that you need a better one, you can probably sell it or perhaps trade it in for what you paid as long as it is still in good playing condition. I'd say that's a win-win deal for you.

[seashell]

Thanks very much, pied_piper. I do feel somewhat "safer" with this Jupiter, so I'm glad to hear what you have to say about it.

[Tibia Argenta]

Hi, seashell..
I haven't tried any Jupiters before, but as I read some reviews here and there, I found that they are a good choice.

So, how do you feel with your new flute? It will be good to hear a review from you..