I've been doing some thinking and i really want a different type of flute becuz i dont like gemeinhardts becuz they have such a fuzz & airy tone even though there pretty. In my last post Airy I forgot to say that i have tryed other flutes like Emerson,Armstrong,yamaha, and some other one that starts with an A, and they did not have a tone like the gemeinhardt i have.
I think im going to take some of ur guys advice and try a flute before my mom buys it for me.
im thinking about getting a Miyazawa becuz i really like the tone when someone plays one of there flutes plus i've heard its a good brand , but if there are no dealers where i live how do i try the flute out then?

You should try other brands besides Miyazawa. Trying one flute is not the way to decide whether it's the best possible match for you, especially when you're picking which one brand to try based only on other people's sounds when using them. Different players can sound entirely different on the same flute. Before you go buy a new flute, take your Gemmie to a tech and be sure there's not a mechanical reason (such as leaks at the headjoint cork or in the pads). That could very well cause a fuzzy, airy sound, and it would cost far less to have that fixed than to buy a new flute. If the tech finds nothing wrong with it, perhaps even just a headjoint would suffice, as airiness is mostly determined by the cut of the head, assuming the flute is in proper working condition. If you need to try flutes that you can't find locally, many dealers, such as Fluteworld, JB Weissman, Carolyn Nussbaum, etc. will ship you flutes to test out.

try several good flutes and buy what feels best to you, just because someone else likes something doesn't mean it is right for you...

I have an open hole Armstrong flute,and I absolutely love it.I am very impressed in the tone of it.Yes,I do agree gemienhardts are nice,but they do not produce a very pleasing tone.I,in my personal experience with many flutes,recommend the open hole Armstrong flute.But it does also dpend on how advanced you are.If you are a beginner,than I say nop,but intermediate-advanced,yes.But be wise and careful in choosing your flute.

Why would you not recommend an Armstrong for a beginner? I would say beginner to intermediate and for more advanced, start looking at the more professional line flutes.

I agree with Kara. For advanced players, an Armstrong probably isn't going to do the job, but they're good student/intermediate instruments. If you're looking for a high quality flute, Armstrong is probably not the way to go.

Thats what im looking for. something thats good thats on the pro line of flutes even if im only 15.

Kevin, whatever you do, get something reputable and serviceable, get something you feel comfortable with, most of us buy a flute that feels right, even though there are many good ones on the market. I remember being your age and feeling peer pressure in matters related to "type" of flute, don't be swayed by that, rarely does a member of any audience ask what type of flute you play on.

Well,I being a pretty knowledgable player,recommend an Armstrong to a begginer,but not an open hole.Yes I do agree that My FLUTE would not be suitable for a more advanced player,but that's all I can afford at the moment.I am working on getting an Alto flute*drools*or maybe my own piccilo....

I like my Gemeinhardt. Yeah, it gets me quite a bit of flack, but it's mine. It's no different than one of the regulars that comes to my dad's open mic each week. He's one of the only guitar players there that does *not* own a Taylor. Actually, neither he nor his wife own Taylor guitars, or even own the same brand themselves. They just happen to like the sound they produce from their particular guitars.

Gemeinhardts might sound fuzzy sometimes, but I do think having played on a Gemeinhardt as I learned the flute, and for the last 15 years, maybe it's not as much of a problem for me to produce a clear sound from it. I'm used to Gemeinhardts. Also, I learned a few things in my lesson on Saturday that had my old 2SP sounding better than it has in a loooong time. (Beyond the fact that my teacher fixed it. The store that repaired it tightened the leaky key too much, and they missed another leak that I wasn't able to see with my naked eye.)

Or, perhaps I simply got lucky with my old 2SP. I've had mulitple compliments on the shape it is in now in the last couple of weeks. Yeah, I've taken exceptionally good care of that flute.

Anyway, the point being.. I couldn't care less that I get flack for owning now two Gemeinhardts because I like them and they respond well for me.

Hi kevin!

I also had gemeinhardt 2SP. The sound was nice but it's not the best, most of the time it's airy and fuzzy...
I changed flute this year. I'm 15 too and from gemeinhardt I passed to Muramatsu Ds.
The sound is much more louder and solid.
But to buy a new flute you really need to try them and be patient... it took's me a lot to choose the Muramatsu.
I can still use my gemeinhardt at home, I can notice a lot of difference between both of them... but they're great flutes!!!!


[sorry 4 my english]

La Flautista,
I would like to compliment you on your English. I am always amazed by people who do so well with a second language.

There are others on this forum who also have English as a second language, I comliment all of you! I also enjoy the cultural differences that many times are shared.

kippsix, thanks for the compliment!
I'm a filipino who grew up in italy, so I speak italian and filipino, I learned english from my parents, but I really don't practise it anywhere! hihihi!
Thanks again!
Ciao

I never get a fuzzy sound out of my flute.But my friend who owns a gemeinhardt,all she gets is a fuzzy sound.She's been pl,aying the same amount of time I have and plus she has a tutor.I think in my personal opinion,that gemienhardts arent the best flute.That's what I think.Cause I LOVE my Armstrong.I can admit it's not the top top of the line,but it's one of the best I could afford,and I'm happy about that!!!

Gemeinhardts are not the best flute for everyone, but then no flute is the best for everyone. Gemmies are very solidly built instruments that are great for students/intermediate players.