Haynes? Gemeinhardt? Jupiter? Powell?

lhampton · Post by **lhampton** » Sat May 01, 2004 5:59 pm

My lesson teacher has sugested
getting a new flute and I am lost on what make and model of flute to get. I
started out with a second hand student model buffet (silver plated, plateau,
c-foot) then I got a gemeinhardt 3SHB (silverhead, b-foot, french model).
I''ve been playing almost three years, but I have achieved so much in so
little time. I''m already playing grade four advanced solos and winning
competitions. But I don''t know if I''m ready for a better flute. My lesson
teacher thinks I''ve outgrown my flute because the pieces I''m playing
require a lot of technique and the notes aren''t responding fast enough. He
said to look on the internet for haynes flutes, but I always hayenes flutes were
for the serious professional, not the competitng middle school student. Also
haynes flutes are very expensive so I''m wondering what the next step-up flute
would be. A solid silver gemeinhardt or something of that sort? I don''t know,
I''ve also heard that jupiter makes a nice flute, just it''s metal is very
soft. Any input is welcome. thank you Leanne

embum79 · Post by **embum79** » Sat May 01, 2004 7:10 pm

Maybe trying out different flutes
will give you a better idea of if you are ready for a new flute. I just posted
something similar to this in another thread. Seems like your teacher is a little
biased toward Haynes?? I've heard they're good flutes, but they are not the
only company that makes good flutes. Personally, I've heard bad things about
Gemeinhardt flutes.. although I had a friend who loved hers. I've tried a
Jupiter, and I really didn't like it. Seemed too LOUD or something. It was very
difficult to play softly or have any sort of dynamic range. (And I can't get
out of my head the fact that Jupiter also makes tubas!) [:)] See if you can try
some intermediate flutes, either at a music store or Fluteworld or
Woodwind/Brasswind. You're probably not ready for a professional flute.. at
least not for a few years. [:)] Good luck with your search!

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sun May 02, 2004 9:58 am

Leanne~ It sounds like you have
really been moving along with your flute playing. I would guess that if your
teacher says you are ready that you may very well be ready. I have read many
discussions about what flutes are considered professional flutes. Some say if it
is solid silver, open holes, pointed arms etc that it is professional. Others
say it has to be handmade to be professional...I have also read discussions that
say that many of the hand made flutes are still made in part by machines. As you
may have read here, a couple of months ago my daughter got a new flute that is
considered a "pro" flute everywhere that I have researched. Before that she
played the same flute that you are playing and she is your age and has also been
playing for 3 years. I am glad that we didn't wait until she was in college,
she was ready for her flute. My daughter's teacher is selling her Muramatsu
AD..would my daughter be ready for it?...yep. My point is that only you and your
teacher know if you are "ready" for a new flute. If I came here and asked if I
should buy that Muramatsu for my daughter everyone would probably tell me that a
Middle School player is not ready...when in fact I and her teacher have
witnessed first hand that she would be ready. If we had not purchased the Yamaha
that we did we would probably be purchasing the Muramatsu that her teacher is
selling. I would suggest trying a few pro level flutes out and see if you can
hear/feel a difference in your playing. Good Luck, Kim

Kim · Post by **Kim** » Sun May 02, 2004 10:13 am

[quote] ---------------- You're
probably not ready for a professional flute.. at least not for a few years. [:)]
Good luck with your search! ---------------- [/quote] Emily~ I was wondering
what criteria you think a flutist needs to meet in order to be "ready' for a
professional flute ? I have read so many places where people say you are
probably not ready...I was wondering what makes a person ready ? Kim

embum79 · Post by **embum79** » Sun May 02, 2004 11:22 am

Mostly, I'm thinking of price!!
If you're not sure whether you need to advance to a new flute and you are
currently using a student flute, it might not be the best idea to jump straight
to a pro flute. Because maybe if you tried more immediate-level flutes alongside
the "professional" flutes, your sound might not be that different depending on
where you are with your playing. I liked the quote someone posted here that a
good flute won't make a bad player sound good, and a good flutist can make a
crappy flute sound good (or something like that). The bottom line is that it
totally depends on the individual. You and your daughter were able to determine
that she was ready for a pro flute. But for other people who are not sure yet,
why spend tons of money on a flute that you might not be ready for yet? That's
why it's good to try out lots of instruments before you make a decision.

Kendall · Post by **Kendall** » Sun May 02, 2004 12:44 pm

Some great flutes that I think
would be good are Pearl Quantz or Elegante models Jupiter(I don't kno the
models) Gemeinhardt (You seem to be as fluent with the gemeinhardt line as I am
www.gemeinhardt.com is a great site. Emerson(I'm also not sure of what series)
I don't reccomend Jupiter diMedici, I think it is not advanced enough. Mabye if
your wanting a better sound and response I would reccomend checking on the
gemeinhardt website at the headjoints page they offer 6 or 7 headjoints in both
solid silver and solid gold.....best of luck!!

powayflute01 · Post by **powayflute01** » Mon May 03, 2004 12:07 pm

Probably the biggest thing I
dislike about flutes is that which flute is good and which flute is bad is
almost completely subjective. I also play saxophone and it's pretty much a
known fact that the Selmer Mark VI (made from the '50's to around the '80's)
was THE BEST saxophone ever made. It's not like that with flutes...some like
Haynes, some like Muramatsu, some like Powell... Anyway, I think you should try
out several different lines and try to determine what makes you sound best. I
have a friend (she's a very good player) who plays on a Jupiter diMedici--I
wouldn't say they're not advanced enough, but I wouldn't buy one because I
dislike the feel of Jupiters. I tend to dislike the Gemeinhardts because I feel
that the sound is a little stuffy and I feel like the response from the keys is
a little slow (I have noticed this on my own flute and also on one of my
friend's flutes, a Kurt Gemeinhardt Millennium model (not sure which). It looks
like an amazing flute, but I didn't like it at all after playing it.) If you
get a solid silver flute, it should improve your sound. I'd say try some
Pearls, Haynes, Muramatsus and Sankyos. If you somehow feel like those are too
advanced, you could try out a nice Yamaha...but I really think the "more
advanced" ones would do the most for your sound. Keep in mind though...if
you're in a band/orchestra at school, you probably don't want to bring a
really good flute to school; they can get stolen or damaged quite easily.

lhampton · Post by **lhampton** » Mon May 03, 2004 7:42 pm

Thank you all soo much. Sorry I
haven't replied sooner. Our computer was down due to the sasser
worm.[:knockout:] Anyway, my lesson teacher also plays saxaphone and he's
always talking about how great the selmer VI was and how he's upset they don't
make it anymore. Your advice helped a lot but I'm still baffled at my lesson
teacher's comment on getting a "professional" flute. I've never thought of
myself as a "professional" and even though I think I play very well for my age
and time playing, I don't think I'm a prodigy or someone exteremely talented.
Oh well, I'll figure it out! Thanks so much, you opened my eyes to the world of
advanced flutes! lol Leanne

embum79 · Post by **embum79** » Tue May 04, 2004 8:27 pm

I'm baffled at the teacher's
comments too. Not because I think you're a bad player, but for telling you you
should do this. Everyone has their own individual way of knowing when they are
ready to advance to a new flute. You obviously have questions about whether you
are ready, and it is your decision. Does the band teacher KNOW how much
professional flutes cost?? LOL I think it is good for you to question this.. it
is sometimes difficult deciding what your next step is, and you should take as
much time as you need to figure out what you want to do (and can afford!!).

Cleartone · Post by **Cleartone** » Fri May 07, 2004 11:58 am

I have to agree with Emily about
the price thing. It sounds like to me that this flutist just needs to upgrade to
an all silver model in a 1000-2000 dollar price range. The thing I don't agree
with Emily is that her teacher believes she should upgrade and since he/she is
getting paid to help her I think she should take their advise. It sounds like
her teacher is a little old school mentioning the Haynes. Leanne since you have
a Gemeinhardt you might want to try a solid silver one. I am not a big fan of
Yamaha, but it seems Kim's daughter likes hers a lot. I think a Powell, Haynes,
or Muramatsu should be another step down the road, if you want to go that way.
And again like I have mentioned before, the best way to buy a flute is to check
out as many as you can at one time. Flute Fairs are good for this, or trials
from places like Flute World, or if you have another way. And remember above all
else, HOW MUCH DO I WANT TO PAY!!!!

lhampton · Post by **lhampton** » Sat May 08, 2004 3:31 pm

I totally agree. I think a solid
silver gemeinhardt would suit me best. I now think that those flutes are a
little while down the road. Maybe I'll get one before college. we'll see, but
for the meantime, I'll check out the silver flutes. Thank you all so much!
THANK YOU! Leanne

Cryformyabsence · Post by **Cryformyabsence** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 10:43 pm

I have a pro model Armstrong, and it's really good for me. Armstrong doesn't make the best instruments, but the model I have was a particularly good model..but i'm not sure if they make the model anymore

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 9:40 pm

I woud definately choose the Armstrongs over the Gemeinhardts these days. They have a better-designed scale and pretty nice tone for their price. The 80B (under $1200) series and the now-replaced 55Bs are really good-sounding for their price range. There is also a choice of several headjoints.

Cryformyabsence · Post by **Cryformyabsence** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 3:39 pm

MeLizzard wrote:I woud definately choose the Armstrongs over the Gemeinhardts these days. They have a better-designed scale and pretty nice tone for their price. The 80B (under $1200) series and the now-replaced 55Bs are really good-sounding for their price range. There is also a choice of several headjoints.

Yep

And I would also suggest that you get a gold plated mouth piece. Yes, it is like, $90 more, but it makes the sound so much sweeter.

woof · Post by **woof** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:56 am

One question I have is "how fragile is a professional flute compared to a lower priced or student model"? If they are more fragile then that might be another factor in deciding whether this is a good time to buy into one. i.e. if the flute is going to get knocked around a bit (e.g. in band ) would a professional model stand up as well as student model?? Is the care and feeding of a professional level flute different from that of a student model? Certainly the consequences of being accidentally dropped would be greater for a professional model.

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