purchasing a flute

elaine · Post by **elaine** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:43 pm

I use to play years ago (ok, decades) and am interested in a flute that is NOT a student model to play with the church (small) choir and along with my husband's guitar in church. Looked at a Jupitar Carnegie CF-650 concert series open hole flute with plugs (definately need plugs). Liked the B note below middle C.

Any recommendations out there? The price of nearly $1,000 made me hesitate today. The head is sterling silver with gold plated lip plate and the body silver plated. Quality sounded good - even with me playing but better with the sales person playing it.

Thanks for your advice.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:10 pm

Sound is the most important factor. Try many flutes before deciding on one. Others you may want to look at include Pearl 665, Emerson, Gemeinhardt, Armstrong, and Sonare (to name a few off of the top of my head). Jupiter as a company has come a long way and the flutes I have seen have been good flutes, and I would not be the least bit afraid to recommend them as well. If the store you are looking at does not carry different flutes, try another store or try a company such as Fluteworld who will ship you several to try out. Features should meet your current needs. Gold plated lip plates do very little for your sound (actually, nothing that I am aware of) so that option may not be necessary and may cost you more. A B foot may or may not be necessary. How often will you actually use the low B? Are you wanting to learn to play with open holes at some point? There are flutes out there without open holes that may fit your needs as well.

Have you considered a used flute? Try your local music store, high schools, flute teachers . . . to name a few places to look at. When buying used, do not buy a flute without playing it first and take it to a repair tech if possible. A good used flute should cost you no more than half to three fourths the flute's selling price (not retail value).

After trying many, choose the one that fits your price range (you don't have to spend a fortune), sounds best with you playing, and feels right.

Good luck and have fun!

elaine · Post by **elaine** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:30 pm

since i posted my question - i've already looked at the website you suggested and sent them an email requesting info on similar b flutes. you are correct about many things which i should question myself and my playing abilities so thank you for those reminders.

i think i will just stick with what a rural technician who travels the circuit to our local hs might have to offer (i also emailed our music teacher informing her to call him).

i'm glad i did not spend the $$ today on the flute. as far as the gold plated lip plate - it was more for my skin allergy - found out after i quit playing that my skin is allergic to nickle which tells me why i always had my annual chin zit in the school pictures! go figure.

thanks again for your comments.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:55 pm

You should definately consider a gold lip plate if you have an allergy, but keep in mind that a silid silver lip plate may do just as well if your allergy is specific to nickel. I have a student with a similar problem. She went with a solid gold lip plate to be on the safe side (gold plating will more than likely come off over time). Pearl offers a flute with a solid gold lip plate.

elaine · Post by **elaine** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:00 pm

Hey fluttiegurl - thanks for your feedback

i was just checking out ebay flutes. has anyone had any luck with purchases herfe (of flutes, I mean?).

squints · Post by **squints** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:11 pm

Try woodwind Brasswind
http://www.wwbw.com/
or musicians friend
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 2:01 am

I have purchased instruments of eBay previously, but do not expect too much. First of all, you won't be able to play the instrument until it is paid for, and there may or may not be a return policy. That means that even if you decide it's not the right flute for you, it may be impossible to get your money back. Second, you never can be sure what kind of condition the flute will be in when you get it. many of the flutes listed are sold by less than knowledgeable sellers, and their descriptions are not always quite right. You also have to be very careful what you buy from eBay in the way of instruments. Today it is flooded with cheap imports flutes that will literally fall apart as you play, and you don't want to waste your time on these. Sticking to a name brand flute (if you have any doubts, ask here) will help avoid this problem, but eBay is by no means the best way to purchase an instrument. WWBW and Musician's Friend both are sort of iffy when it comes to flutes. I have dealt with them before, and their flutes almost never come set up (which means you have to pay a tech to work on the flute out of the box before you can even play), and those that are are usually not done particularly well. They are far less knowledgeable (at least when it comes to flutes) than Fluteworld, and less willing to accept returns as well (at least in my experience). I would stick with fluteworld or another flute dealer in most circumstances.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:14 am

Couldn't have said it better myself. Ebay is not the place to buy a flute unless you are willing to take huge risks and are extremely knowledgeable about them. When buying online, stick to flute specialists. Other companies claim to have specialists on hand, but thy can never answer any of my questions and I have had the same poblem with flutes coming to me without being set up properly or needing work done (new instruments).

elaine · Post by **elaine** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:42 am

how many flutes do you people have? Your experience in flutes is like my experience in real estate or my husband's car hobby!

I got a little overwhelmed when scanning ebay and seeing all the different makers of flutes. I think my old student model was a Powell. That was a good flute for my hs years. (now i've dated myself).

anyway, what do you think about Jupiter flutes. The store I went to only sold new Jupiters and I looked at the Carneige level (b flute).

RuskuyuMuzyku · Post by **RuskuyuMuzyku** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 11:47 am

I don't know much about Jupiter flutes as I have never played any of them, but they have a pretty good reputation. If you are happy with the way the flute plays you shouldn't be overly concerned about the brand name.

Right now I play a Powell and have played Yamahas as well.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 1:01 pm

I have around ten flutes of varying sizes (alto through to Db Picc). As for Jupiter, they have in the past made some questionable instruments, but currently are doing quite a nice job with the production. I would not hesitate to recommend them to a potential buyer, along with several other makers (in fact, I have recommended them many times). However, you should play other flutes to see what you do and don't like about each, so you can pick the best flute for you.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 5:35 pm

I have only one flute that I perform on at the moment, a 1970's Haynes. I also have a few others that I use for practice and travel when I am not doing gigs, as well as an alto.

Jupiter flutes seem to be pretty well made at the moment. I would be cautious buying an older model, but they have come a long way in the past ten years. If that is what you like, go for it. I still recommend trying others though. Otherwise, there may be a better flute for you out there (maybe even for less $). It is a big investment to choose the first one you play. Just a suggestion.

flutytooty91 · Post by **flutytooty91** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 5:42 pm

I used to play a Yamaha 381 open hole and have always been pleased with yamaha quality. Although, i felt unhappy with how it responed somtimes. So, last christmas I went to Chuch Levin's music store in Maryland and tried numerous flutes including Pearl, Yamaha, Sonare, and Muramatsu. I didn't feel that Pearl was for me and I still wasn't happy with the Yamaha's response. I loved the Sonare! Then I tried the Muramatsu and knew it was perfect. I still think the Sonare is great alternative to the Muramatsu's price but I had to go with the Muramatsu!

elaine · Post by **elaine** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 5:47 pm

hi flutiegurl - thanks for the info. that confirms what the sales woman said at the music store.

i think i will go for a lower type flute - used for now and see how my schedule works in practicing and performing locally.

anytime any of you want some r&r in the desert, just give me a buzz. my email is tulvingfamily@cableusa.com. thanks!

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:37 pm

I just played a Jupiter 711, looking for a silver flute in the $800-$1000 range for a student. I thought, for the price, it was pretty good.

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