Beginner Flutist Seeking The Right Flute

chrystine95 · Post by **chrystine95** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 1:47 pm

Greetings to all flutists! New
to the board here. I''m actually a 30 (something) female getting back into
playing the flute. Played about 5 or 6 years ago with not much success. When I
took the private lessons, I wasn''t receiving a clear sound. I figured it was
the flute never thinking perhaps it was me. Well here I am now, motivated to do
this all over again as a fun hobby (and extremely serious about plugging at it
all the way). So of course I must pose that all too important question, which
flute to buy. Unfortunately I cannot locate or remember the previous flute I
purchased. But I know it wasn''t expensive. From internet research and just
reading flute boards, its come down to two, Yamaha YFL221 or the Gemeinhardt 2SP
(I''m starting out as a beginner since I feel my previous lessons taught me
nothing valuable or how to play properly). I find that a majority of people
recommend the Yamaha and as a result am leaning in that direction. Of course,
I''ve heard also that its best to try out all types cause no flute is the same
to each person. Unfortunately, I cannot bring anyone along with me to the stores
and I would hate to ask to try out flutes only to be embarassed I can''t
produce a sound. I was going to ask several teachers whom I''m interested in
taking lessons from what they suggest. But thought I''d throw it out on this
forum until then. Thanks for all who read and for those who could give me any
advice. I wish luck to all out there. Keep Fluting! Chrys

krzymunkey · Post by **krzymunkey** » Wed Nov 05, 2003 6:36 pm

yamaha 221 is a great flute! i
play on the older version (though i am getting a yamaha 400 series soon), it has
a good clear tone, and a lot of beginners use it. geimenhardt (i can never spell
it right) quality is not as good... (not many pros play on them, they do play on
yamahas though), i think geimenhardt's quality diminished, it used to be better
, but, it's a matter of opinion[:bigsmile:] hope this helps!

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Sat Nov 15, 2003 5:11 pm

I would recommend purchasing a
used flute for your first flute. Go to a pawn shop with another flutist and
check out what they have. Be sure to play it before you buy it- the tone/sound
is everything when it comes to buying a flute. If you decide to purchase a new
flute, I would recommend going to a petting zoo, or even to a Music Store that
has the instrument in stock. You need to play the instrument before you buy it-
the "feel" and the tone is what is important. You could have a Haynes or Powell
flute, but if you don't like the tone of it, it's a useless instrument.

piccylo789 · Post by **piccylo789** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 5:51 pm

Personally, I've never tried
a Yamaha flute but I have 2 Gemeinhardt Flutes and 2 Gemeinhardt piccolos as
well. I've been playing both flutes for six years and both piccolos for 3 and
they're stil in great condition! I've heard that they're very good to have.
They've been through a lot and are still playing well so I recommend the
Gemeinhardt. Good Luck!

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:51 pm

If it is down to 2 begginer
flutes, in my view it isn't close. Yamaha makes a clearly better product. When
it comes to that level instrument Yamaha has the market. Gemeinhardt is a decent
product, maybe the second best choice in beginner flutes.

MattMom · Post by **MattMom** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 9:24 pm

I just purchased a new flute
through Fluteworld. Barbara and Brenda were awesome, EXTREEEEEEMely patient ( I
think I called them every day), and very knowledgable. They sent me flutes to
try in my home - which eliminates the store nerves. I had a 10 day trial. Yes,
you have to pay shipping and insurance, BUT, you get to hear the flute where
you're going to play it. I highly recommend that route.

lhampton · Post by **lhampton** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 1:16 pm

Oooo!! Geminhart, definetly. I
just bought a flute from fluteworld and Itz AWWWESOME! I recommend checking them
out. They price almost all of their flutes down to half-price or more. I'm in
love with my geminhardt and all of my friends want the flute I purchased. I
never have any trouble with it. Before I boutght it, a lot of ppl said that
geminhardt quality had dropped. I don't think so. I'm happy with my flute and
my friend Julie said she was disappointed with the yamaha flute she had gotten.
We have the same type of flute, french model with silveer head and b foot, but
she likes mine better. I love my flute and I think gemiehardt still makes great
flutes. You've just got to shop around. Also itz about personal preference. I
recommend going to several retail stores and trying out the flute. Whichever one
you like better I suggest going home and ordering off of fluteworld.com. I did
the ten day trial and it helped me decide. I got a chance to play with it and
have my lesson instructor take a look at the quality. Gemienhardt still makes a
great quality flute but I heard Yamaha's are great also. Just shop around. Good
luck finding your dream floooote! Leanne

Penny · Post by **Penny** » Wed Dec 24, 2003 10:35 am

Big agreement on Fluteworld,
supporting them is good for the flute community and good for you. Anecdotal
evidence is often misleading. I own this flute and its wonderful. I owned one of
those for 2 years and it was great. Those mean very little unless you amass
hundreds. Once you amass thousands you find out that no matter a how good a
flute maker someone will get a bad one and no matter how bad the flute maker
someone will get a good one. Fact is even the cheapest junker flutes sometimes
work out, stay in tune across the scale decently enough for a beginner and if
handled with care require mininal repair. When you have spoken with people
involved with hundreds of instruments and hundreds of people involved with one
or a few instruments you start to get a statistically significant opinion. Not
just I have one of these and it sounds great for the past month of beginner
band. So you need to decide how much its worth to have an instrument that is
less likely to have problems and play well. It maybe a 10% improvement in repair
history or a 90% difference. It maybe rarely in tune to usually in tune across
most of the scale. So don't get angry if you are told your instrument isn't of
the quality of another. Just be happy its shiney and you can make a note come
out. Then one day if you get to the point when you depend on it sounding good or
not being in the repair shop worry about getting the most for your money,
whether its a Gemmy or a Haynes, a Jupiter or Muramatsu, an Emmerson or an
Altus. Those of us without much money that have to investigate these things and
not go through unnecessary flute buying steps.[:)]

falling4ever_3 · Post by **falling4ever_3** » Tue Dec 30, 2003 6:26 pm

get a yamaha! their awesome..
great tone, and excellent for beginners [:)]

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Tue Dec 30, 2003 6:38 pm

I have a great flute its all
purple and neat looking. I have never heard a better sound and we have pleny of
flutes in our band but they are all boring and silver. Mine is better much
better.

BandGeek16 · Post by **BandGeek16** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 4:28 pm

I don't recommend yamahas,
because they tend to play sharp, so the head joint has to be pulled out alot to
play in tune. I highly recommend a gemeinhardt. I've played on one my whole
flute career, and absolutely love them.

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Sat Feb 21, 2004 4:55 pm

Gemeinhardt's tend to play
flat so when you tried the Yamaha it probably seemed very sharp to you. Also the
European or models not made in the USA for Yamaha do tend to run sharp. Its not
much of an adjustment if you know how or it was sold by a competent shop. Both
Gemeinhardt and Yamaha make a fine student flute worth owning or renting while
you are a beginner. If you get serious you might want to look at other makes.

Flutey007Tooty · Post by **Flutey007Tooty** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 7:18 pm

Get a Gemeinhardt! I got a
gemeinhardt beginner and I just bought a gemeinhardt open-hole. Wouldn't have
any other brand. Unlike other brands, gemeinhardt specializes in flutes and I
feel they make better flutes because of that. Hope that helped!