Bundy flute by Selmer

[Denaturasonorum]

Hi everyone.

This is my first post and I have a question.
I have for a sometime now a Bundy flute and I'm at a point of my playing ( with amateur pretensions only )
that I question myself if this flute is really bad or not.
The point is that this flute seems to be very inconstant and very difficult to get the same tone every time I begin to play.
Sometimes I can't get at all.
I've tried my embouchure in different forms and when I get a good, full tone it appears to be out of mere luck as can't figure out what produced this good tone because when I do it again in the same way it doesn't work.
Any tip is welcome.

Thanks

[pied_piper]

When was this flute last serviced or at least checked by a repair technician?

The reason I ask is that although Bundy flutes are not great, any flute that is not serviced regularly may not be in good playing condition. Even a $10,000 flute can be a problem if not maintained.

[fluteguy18]

I completely agree. When well maintained and well adjusted, a Bundy (like many other well known brands) will certainly get the job done. Not the nicest flute around for the beginner/amateur enthusiast, but will get the job done. If it hasn't been looked at in the past year it needs to be serviced before you decide to go flute shopping.

[Denaturasonorum]

It was checked 8 months ago.
The technician replaced the cork and fix one or two leaks. Beyond that he said it was fine, playable.
The problem is that since then, when I was at least certain that it has nothing wrong with it, and even before, I can't
always get the same good, full tone that once and while I get.
I tried to do everything the same way as when I get a good tone but even doing this it appears that
it can produce a good sound out of mere luck, as can't figure out what happens when it comes in good shape.
That is the reason I began to think that perhaps there is a problem with the flute itself beyond a simple defect.

PS : I've posted a reply before this one here. I don't know if I did something wrong, but I can't see it. So I did this new one.
Sorry if it was unnecessary.

Thanks

[GregLee]

I tried to do everything the same way as when I get a good tone but even doing this it appears that it can produce a good sound out of mere luck, as can't figure out what happens when it comes in good shape.
That is the reason I began to think that perhaps there is a problem with the flute itself beyond a simple defect.

I am also just a beginner. I think that your situation is ordinary, for a beginner. It's not just luck when it sounds good, it's you getting things right. When it doesn't sound good, it's you getting things wrong. Just accept that it's all in you, but you probably are never going to understand intellectually what exactly it is that you do right and that you do wrong. The little whirls of air that make the sounds are too complicated to analyze. You have to trust to your intuition, and practice, practice, practice, and experiment, to give your intuition a chance to work. It is just the nature of an artistic endeavor that it transcends our conscious understanding. Eventually, things will click.

[nelsojm]

If you are sure the flute is in good working order try having another flute player try it. Someone who is quite proficient at it. If they don't have the same problems you can rule out the flute. Bundy is not the best flute out there but I played on a very old one once and it had a beautiful tone. I think of flutes like wands in Harry Potter. You have to find the one that's right for you. When you do, it can be magic if you know how to use it.

[Denaturasonorum]

Thank you both GregLee and nelsojm.
I tend, lately, think as you said Greg. It's better be me the problem of producing a good tone than the flute.
This way the solution rests only on practicing more and I'll get there. These are the risks of selftaught learning.
On the other hand if I had the opportunity of asking to a more experience flutist to give me
a final verdict about it I would certainly do it.

Thanks.