Rosedale - value for money?

[sprout]

I found an "intermediate flute for the advancing player with dscerning tastes" at Gear4music.
http://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Bras ... -Flute/1K2
Sounds brilliant, but I can't go to York to try it - I live in the Southwest! I can return it within 14days if it isn't suitable, but I'm still not sure whether to risk it. Has anyone come across the brand before and can tell me some more?
I'm grade6/7 standard but not having lessons, I play mainly jazz and some orchestral works. I want a flute that I won't need to upgrade again, but I'm planning on doing music at Uni or as a career, just a hobby.

[fluteguy18]

I fear that this instrument is one of those "knockoff" varieties. It claims to have several professional features, but because of the price you can guarantee that the construction quality is poor. If you are looking at doing music (even as a hobby), I would not continue looking at this instrument. If this is the price range you are looking at, look at a better established brand name and look in the "student" model range. But I don't think that's what you want to do.

I may be wrong, but I seriously doubt it. At best, the flute may play, but the plating will flake off after a couple of months. At worst, it would fall apart when you open the case.

[wtogami]

At that price, this is highly likely an instrument of questionable quality made in China. Instruments of that price range are notorious for poor construction. They might work when they are new, but they might fall out of adjustment too easily. Some reviews of cheap Chinese flutes (like Suzuki or counterfeit Yamaha) that I read on various sites talked about metal too soft, mechanism not robust, or thick felt pads that only seal with indented surfaces that soon fail after they lose the factory imprinted shape.

Your best bet for a decent open hole student instrument is to find a used flute of a respectable brand. A few years ago I sold my Pearl 761RBE that I had from high school for ~$700. I have an old 1980's era DeFord flute here that needs some work. I will practice padding skills, unbind part of the mechanism, then polish. I could probably sell it for $700 after it is fully fixed.

http://fluteworld.com/index.php?action= ... h&ppk=flut
Di Zhao is the only 100% Chinese brand that I tried that seems decent. I tried one of the more expensive models. I didn't like it, but it was seemingly OK.

http://fluteworld.com/index.php?action= ... o&ppk=flut
I can speak from experience that Burkart's Resona line, a hybrid of American and Chinese construction, are student model instruments of the highest quality... but the price reflects that.

http://fluteworld.com/index.php?action= ... a&ppk=flut
Powell's Sonare is another hybrid Chinese and American seems to be good too, although I haven't tried any of them yet.

There are numerous other brands. My only other thought is to look at Yamaha. But BE CAREFUL! A great many flutes on Ebay claiming to be Yamaha are counterfeit fakes made in China.

[saxmad]

I am considering buying one of these as I have used a Gear4music baritone sax for years with no problems at all (Chinese at about £900! - I couldn't afford £4000 plus for a 'pro' instrument) . Yes, there are instruments of doubtful quality coming out of China but also some really useful bargains. Some of the factories over there have greatly improved their acts over recent years so don't always assume the worst. Gear4music offer a 90 day returns policy anyway and the one year warranty can be extended to five at little cost. Budding musicians could easily be put off by being advised to stick to the top brands, some of which are frankly over-priced anyway.