What do flutes have to offer?

Question:Its about time i move up from my all silver advanced student flute. My teachers say at this point the best flute is one that you pick out. I need as much info as possible on every aspect of the flute. From looks to tone, professional vs. handmade, american vs. foreign, and maybe price. Brand names and models are more then welcome.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Its about time i move up from my all silver advanced student flute. My teachers say at this point the best flute is one that you pick out. I need as much info as possible on every aspect of the flute. From looks to tone, professional vs. handmade, american vs. foreign, and maybe price. Brand names and models are more then welcome.

Ok - I am a professional flutist, certified teacher, competition judge in NY, and have been doing this since 1971. Some of the previous advice is hilarious - nobody gets their headjoint warped! And Gemeinhardts stopped being any good quite some time ago - the company has been sold more than . . . well, you get the idea.

You need to really dig into some research at the top FLUTE houses - not some band instrument company that will sell you *what they have* , not what is best for you. Start at www.fluteworld.com. Also Google for the companies of Jeff Weissman, Caroline Nussbaum, Jeff Smith, and Phil Unger. Read all you can, and compare features. If you wnat to talk to MANY professional flutists, then got to Yahoo Groups and join Flutenet - there are over 3,000 of us there, who will help you. Some other flute lists either have little activity, are thinly disguised fan clubs, or are just SNOTTY - but Flutenet is very welcoming,

Also Google for Jeb Cluff's website - she has a great deal of information about just your situation. You will NOT find anything decent, even used, on eBay unless you are an expert in many makes and models and can absorb the price of costly errors in judgement. I have bought dozens of flutes off eBay, had them repaired, and resold them - but yes, I am an expert. NO - you do not have to spend ten grand, either. I am STUNNED that your teacher is leaving this up to you - sound sliek it is a BAND teacher who does not know a great deal about good flutes, because a PRIVATE teacher would show more interest in helping you. Without knowing you, or hearing you play, I can only estimate what would suit you - but a 400 series or up Yamaha, a good Pearl, a Jupiter DiMedici ro Altus, or one of the noew hybrids would be good. There are several makes now that have the HEAD made by BIG anesm, and the body made elsewhere (Far East0 the their spce. So look for Avanti, Azumi, Brio = but do NOT trust other names that you have not heard of - there are THOUSANDS of horrible flutes out there.

You might also consider a Miyazawa or Muramatsu. I play a Muramatsu now - I prevsiou played a Sakurai, which are like Rolexes - but not easy to get in the US. You should not think about a Brannen or WIlliams or one of the super-expensive handmade flutes until you are near graduation from a fine conservatory, with a degree in flute! Haynes and Powell are as always - as predictable, conservative, and serious as a Boston law firm.

If you can get to CONVENTIONS - like the National Flute Association, or you state convention - then you can try many flutes. You can always go to the shops I mentioned above - make an appointment to try flutes. Or, you can secure a few on a credit card, and have them sent to you to try.

This is a very exciting time for you - but a BIG decision. I hope you are not doing it alone - and not just based on what you read on this list! Follow the advice I gave you, talk to many people, play a LOT of flutes - and good luck!

Look into Haynes, Powell and Pearl. If you're buying new, their top models would be worth considering. If you're willing to go used (and there are some terrific bargains on ebay) then you'll want to study up on the history of each of those manufacturers and know which models from prior decades are the best to choose--too much information to list here.

If you go to ebay, you might get one that meets your needs for under $1000--depending on how patient you are. If new, consider $10,000.

Of course, if you buy used, have a couple hundred in reserve to take it to your favorite repair shop to get a once-over.

Now, the very top players go to one of a few top flute workshops in the world to have their factory-made headjoint put in a vise and warped every so slightly, trying it again and again until it produces that perfectly rich, buttery tone. But that might be a level of expense (in time and money) that you won't undertake until you're no longer a student.

look it up on google it has everything.!!!!!

I've been playing flute for about three years and I play a Gemeinhardt flute. This is one of the oldest and best companies you can get a flute from.
Mine's a nickle-silver alloy. I find it amazing and have never had any problems with it. I've never had to tune to others because of it. I can't say the same for other flutes that I've played. The material it is made out of gives it a very nice, dark finish. I think it looks better than silver flutes.
Also, because of the material, it is great if you do marching band. Cold football games don't really harm your sound because it warms up so quickly.