M3S flute

[kqandrews]

Does anyone have any idea what a M3S (Gemeinhardt) is worth. It is about 30 years old, in good shape, all 3 parts are solid silver (i think the keys are silver plated). Does anyone know how well they sound? I found one for sale and I am considering purchasing it, but I need some info.

[Zevang]

kqandrews,

Do you have any chance of trying this flute?
The best way to choose an instrument is actually playing it. This is indeed true if the flute is not new.
If someone had a previous experience with this particular model it will of course help you.
But nothing can substitute your experience or even an experienced flutist's.

good luck

Zevang

[flutepicc06]

Condition and playability will dictate what it's worth. I'm not familiar with the M3S specifically (what are the specs? Open hole or not, B foot, etc...), so I can't really give an estimate, but it's probably not worth more than a couple hundred dollars US. Unless it's in absolutely pristine condition, or the seller can provide documentation of it's last service (and it's within the last few years), you can probably assume it will need some work, being 30 years old. This may range from some simple adjustments (pretty cheap and fast) to a full repad and overhaul (can be pretty costly and take a week or two) to put it in playing condition, so try to find out what kind of condition it's in, and factor in the additional cost for servicing (which you'll need to find out yourself, as the cost varies widely from tech to tech, and regionally). As for sound, it's going to sound like most other student/basic intermediate flutes. It'll do the job, and may serve you well for many years, but most likely will be nothing terribly special. Try to get a trial period on it, and if you cannot already play well enough to test it yourself, take it to a teacher (or even an advanced high schooler if cost is an issue) in your area to see how it plays. Hope that helps!

[kqandrews]

Unfortunately I can't play it because it is on ebay. The pads were replaced several years ago and it has only been played a few times since. The person selling it is supposed to be the original owner and said that it has been taken very good care of. It is an open-hole flute and does have the b-foot. I sold my flute several years ago (big mistake). Now i am wanting to pick back up where i left off (just for a hobby). i don't want to spend more than $400 considering i don't plan on doing much with it. I have seen this particular flute for sale (online) starting around $400 going up to $900.

[flutepicc06]

Well I can tell you that new, a comparable flute costs $790 from Fluteworld. Being 30 years old, the scale is probably kinda funky, and Gemeinhardts don't generally hold their value like a handmade flute would. I personally would not buy it at $400 (you might feel otherwise, though, and in the end, it's up to you), as there's really no guarantee that I would like it, and that it would be playable from the start. How many years is "several" to you? Depending on the quality and recentness of the pad job, they may or may not be sealing properly now, as pads can dry and crack, or otherwise become useless, even if the flute has not been played. Sometimes eBay sellers (particularly of instruments) will allow a grace period for trials, so you might find it worthwhile to ask about it, as well as how well the pads seal.

[kqandrews]

Several years is how she worded it not me, anyway she said everything works properly. When buying from ebay you never what you may get , i'm sure i'm probably better off staying away from it. I kind of liked the idea of it being an antique. Anyway, thank you for your replys. I will check out flute world and see what I can find.

[flutepicc06]

No problem. Good luck finding what you want.

[fluttiegurl]

Antique is not always a good word when talking about flutes. As flute makers learn, they tend to share ideas and findings which usually (though not always) lead to improvements. I got in this conversation a little late, but I am familiar with the M series Gemeinhardt produced 30 years ago. Yes, the scale is a bit off from todays standards. The design of the flute has changed significantly as well. I am not impressed with the headjoint designs either (Gemeinhardt produced 2 at the time - one design for handmade flutes and one that was used on standard flutes). Overall, these flutes don't tend to be up to the standards and demands of today. I had a beginner start with an M2 a couple of years ago, and the intonation was very bad (yes, we checked the headjoint cork ). The lip plate also sat somewhat crooked as I have noticed most M flutes do. This was awkward at best . . . who comes up with these ideas? Anyway, I don't recommend them simply because there are much better modern flutes for the same money. For a collector, they might be great, or even for someone who just wants a flute to mess around with. As for value, I would not give more than $100 for an M3. I know someone who owns one that he played in school, and gave $300 for it new over thirty years ago . He can make it sound great, but the intonation is always off, and he has to work very hard to make it sound good at all.

[kqandrews]

Thanks for submitting your thoughts. I was hoping to get more than one opinion.

[ifyougotitfluteit]

For what it's worth, I have a 25 year-old M3S that still plays very well. I have taken excellent care of it. I know having a good quality flute can make you sound better, but ultimately it is the person playing the flute that makes a good sound. I am not qualified to give you an estimate of the flute's worth. I would suggest only buying an instrument from Ebay if there was a return policy in place. I did purchase a Yamaha YFL-481 on Ebay and have been very happy with it.