Share About Your Current AND DREAM Flute or HeadJoint...

[flutego12]

Tell Us About - Both Your Current & Your Dream Flute...& Why So.

To start the ball rolling, I have been playing the flute 17months - newbie amateur for pure enjoyment and appreciation of the instrument and the music it makes.

My Current Flute: Yamaha 371HIIAL Allegro (Open hole, Offset G, E mech, B-foot with Gold Lip plated) - because it was available. I had stumbled upon the ebay auction which was mere minutes away from closing

and I wasn't even looking to buy a flute that day (although I had mulled over the idea of picking up the instrument). It was providence! Took a gamble and got it MINT (and no it was not a lemon but real joy

to play) for $770 - won it by margin of $6. It's been playing perfectly for 17mths and is due for a visit to the technician for it's "annual checkup". My first eBay win and what a great experience. My teacher of

3 lessons was probably inwardly unimpressed with my unconventional acquisition but graciously conceded it was a good buy.


My Dream Flute: TBD (I don't really know yet, hence this forum for news and views)

What I Think My Dream Flute Might Be ATM:

Miyazawa 602 Heavy Wall with a 9/14k Lip Riser or Plate OR Powell Conservatory OR Heavy Wall Muramatsu DS

[evrmre]

My current flute: Gemeinhardt 3b kg ltd ed. J1 head, b foot, open hole, inline g.

While I'm aware that many people today put gemeinhardt down as a company, to date this flute has given me the nicest tone I've had out of a flute: rich, dark and resonant. Recently tried a yamaha 471, and was disappointed, since it was considered to be a better flute (supposably). Sounded thin and far too light of tone

Dream flute? Currently undecided. Access to high end flutes locally is near impossible, and I've played nothing that I liked better than the current one yet. New music shop has opened nearby that might just have a few muramatsu's, however...

[flutego12]

My current flute: Gemeinhardt 3b kg ltd ed. J1 head, b foot, open hole, inline g.

While I'm aware that many people today put gemeinhardt down as a company, to date this flute has given me the nicest tone I've had out of a flute: rich, dark and resonant. Recently tried a yamaha 471, and was disappointed, since it was considered to be a better flute (supposably). Sounded thin and far too light of tone

Dream flute? Currently undecided. Access to high end flutes locally is near impossible, and I've played nothing that I liked better than the current one yet. New music shop has opened nearby that might just have a few muramatsu's, however...

Thanks for sharing, evrmre. I'm glad your Gemeinhardt works for you. I've read somewhere that it "once" was a formidable flute maker - you either got a gem or are a very accomplished flutist - or both. Sounds like you don't need to upgrade, anyhow it's fun trying new flutes ! Let us know how you go with the new shop.

[az1983]

Current Flute: Muramatsu DS (HW, C# Trill, D# Roller, Open hole, B-Foot), 1930's Haynes Commercial Model (C-Foot, closed hole) and a Hammig 650/3 Piccolo with Mod Wave head.

Dream Flute: Gold Burkart or Sheridan. Someday I hope to replace my Hammig picc with a Braun <DROOL>

[flutego12]

Current Flute: Muramatsu DS (HW, C# Trill, D# Roller, Open hole, B-Foot), 1930's Haynes Commercial Model (C-Foot, closed hole) and a Hammig 650/3 Piccolo with Mod Wave head.

Dream Flute: Gold Burkart or Sheridan. Someday I hope to replace my Hammig picc with a Braun <DROOL>

wow a DS - Ive heard that's a great flute ! did you select it out of a few? How is that different (aside from the brochure description) from the GX and EX? or other brands you tried?

[az1983]

flutego12~

I was lucky enough to be invited to play again at the National Flute Association Convention in Las Vegas (Aug 2012), so I took that opportunity to try as many as possible in the exhibit hall. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I probably played around 60-80 different flutes over the course of 3 days. I played everything in my price range and I had my choices narrowed down to the Mura, a Miyazawa 402 and a Sankyo 401. I always found myself back at the Mura booth playing the same flute. It did everything I wanted, easy projection, light mechanism and a very full tone. The Miyazawa and the Sankyo both sounded great but the mechanism felt wrong in my hands. I'm thankful I had so many choices. I had my heart set on an 80th Anniversary Platinum Powell with 10K mechanism, but my credit card said no.

[evrmre]

My current flute: Gemeinhardt 3b kg ltd ed. J1 head, b foot, open hole, inline g.

While I'm aware that many people today put gemeinhardt down as a company, to date this flute has given me the nicest tone I've had out of a flute: rich, dark and resonant. Recently tried a yamaha 471, and was disappointed, since it was considered to be a better flute (supposably). Sounded thin and far too light of tone

Dream flute? Currently undecided. Access to high end flutes locally is near impossible, and I've played nothing that I liked better than the current one yet. New music shop has opened nearby that might just have a few muramatsu's, however...

Quick update... Spent a little time in that new shop playing with a few decent flutes. Now I reeeally want a Muramatsu EX111REB...

[flutego12]

flutego12~

I was lucky enough to be invited to play again at the National Flute Association Convention in Las Vegas (Aug 2012), so I took that opportunity to try as many as possible in the exhibit hall. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I probably played around 60-80 different flutes over the course of 3 days. I played everything in my price range and I had my choices narrowed down to the Mura, a Miyazawa 402 and a Sankyo 401. I always found myself back at the Mura booth playing the same flute. It did everything I wanted, easy projection, light mechanism and a very full tone. The Miyazawa and the Sankyo both sounded great but the mechanism felt wrong in my hands. I'm thankful I had so many choices. I had my heart set on an 80th Anniversary Platinum Powell with 10K mechanism, but my credit card said no.

That's fantastic - love the free passes. There's nothing better than to know you've found your match. How does one select from such a smorgasboard of choices? Your sensory pathways must be hypersensitive. One of my goals is to become proficient in flute testing and selection. I'm starting to get some idea. 3 of my flutes are used & were picked up from ebay over the last 1.4yrs, none which I regret (perhaps I don't know better but I love each one with their idiosyncracies if there is such a thing), the new one I tested there wasn't a lot of choice and I admit I was too hasty and should have waited. Curiosity skinned the cat I suppose. Having said that it sounded the best of the lot but of course I"ve found it harder to hold as compared to the wonderfully lightweight other 2 in particular the Atelier 1(PA202equiv) and 807E - as I have relatively small/average hands, the mechanism is actually quite suited to me.

I love the sound of the Powell (Conservatory) as well but have not seen or tried one yet. Thanks for sharing =D and I hope your credit card will be in the affirmative the next time you are tempted to acquire the Platinum Powell - Do you know much about current or past Powell headjoints?

[flutego12]

My current flute: Gemeinhardt 3b kg ltd ed. J1 head, b foot, open hole, inline g.

While I'm aware that many people today put gemeinhardt down as a company, to date this flute has given me the nicest tone I've had out of a flute: rich, dark and resonant. Recently tried a yamaha 471, and was disappointed, since it was considered to be a better flute (supposably). Sounded thin and far too light of tone

Dream flute? Currently undecided. Access to high end flutes locally is near impossible, and I've played nothing that I liked better than the current one yet. New music shop has opened nearby that might just have a few muramatsu's, however...

Quick update... Spent a little time in that new shop playing with a few decent flutes. Now I reeeally want a Muramatsu EX111REB...

Haha. Another one falls for the EX. Did you get to try a few EXs or did you play the DS GX as well. Did they let you swap headjoints?
We are so relative aren't we? Our current flutes probably sing beautifully enough until... we get to compare with another and we are hooked!
It's a conspiracy!!! But always nice to have another to aspire after.

[pied_piper]

Current flute: "Williamatsu"
That's a Muramatsu AD flute (predecessor of the DS) with a Williams Headjoint (14K white gold with platinum riser and rose gold lip plate)

My flute headjoint also sports my custom made crown called the "King of the Pigs". It's Rose gold plated with sterling silver pig art figure:

More of my custom crowns can be seen here: Royalty Flute Crowns.
My avatar to the left shows another example.

Dream flute: maybe add a C# trill key and D# roller to above.

[evrmre]

My current flute: Gemeinhardt 3b kg ltd ed. J1 head, b foot, open hole, inline g.

While I'm aware that many people today put gemeinhardt down as a company, to date this flute has given me the nicest tone I've had out of a flute: rich, dark and resonant. Recently tried a yamaha 471, and was disappointed, since it was considered to be a better flute (supposably). Sounded thin and far too light of tone

Dream flute? Currently undecided. Access to high end flutes locally is near impossible, and I've played nothing that I liked better than the current one yet. New music shop has opened nearby that might just have a few muramatsu's, however...

Quick update... Spent a little time in that new shop playing with a few decent flutes. Now I reeeally want a Muramatsu EX111REB...

Haha. Another one falls for the EX. Did you get to try a few EXs or did you play the DS GX as well. Did they let you swap headjoints?
We are so relative aren't we? Our current flutes probably sing beautifully enough until... we get to compare with another and we are hooked!
It's a conspiracy!!! But always nice to have another to aspire after.

They didn't have the DX, but we are talking Christchurch NZ, here. And they only opened a week ago. I did try an altus (model?) of similar $, but was not even close to being as nice, so didn't really play it any more attention. Savings account now has a definite goal (might take a couple of years, but...)

[cflutist]

Current flute is my dream flute:

Williams 14K Rose Gold HJ with Platinum Enhanced riser

14K Rose Gold Brannen body with 14K rings and toneholes, silver keys. Low-B, C# Trill, Split-E, and D# roller.
I really like the buttery feel of the Brögger pinless mechanism.

Backup Flute - 1970s Haynes, soldered-toneholes, Low-B. The C# Trill and Split-E were added by the factory later.

Camping/Outdoors Flute - Gemeinhardt 3KSB, silver body, plated keys, 12K gold springs

[Zevang]

I'm so happy to anounce you that. My current flute is actually my dream flute as well.

I've got my All 14K Gold Nagahara!!!

It's sooooo amazing!

And I'm pretty happy in being here in Vermont at Landell's course (rapairing, maintenance and building!)

Cheers!

[cflutist]

I'm so happy to anounce you that. My current flute is actually my dream flute as well.

I've got my All 14K Gold Nagahara!!!

It's sooooo amazing!

And I'm pretty happy in being here in Vermont at Landell's course (rapairing, maintenance and building!)

Cheers!

Congrats !!! I am so happy for you as I know you waited a long time for your flute to be made.

Please tell us more

[flutego12]

Current flute: "Williamatsu"
That's a Muramatsu AD flute (predecessor of the DS) with a Williams Headjoint (14K white gold with platinum riser and rose gold lip plate)

My flute headjoint also sports my custom made crown called the "King of the Pigs". It's Rose gold plated with sterling silver pig art figure:

More of my custom crowns can be seen here: Royalty Flute Crowns.
My avatar to the left shows another example.

Dream flute: maybe add a C# trill key and D# roller to above.

How cute and original indeed! Sounds like you're on to a winning combo Williamatsu! What an alchemy of precious metals too (drool...) - how does each element add to the tone/ response etc etc? Really curious to know. What made you choose that?

What lovely crowns, are you a metalurgist, do you craft them yourself? Love the royal piggy and dragonfly - in that order.
We now know where to get them now. Thanks for sharing.