I've been reading your posts for quite awhile and finally got the nerve to post.
I need a new, or good used, flute. I am over 50 (ouch, that hurts to admit) and have played flute for 40 years.
I'm not a pro, nor ever intend to be, but have been playing regularly at church for the last few years.
This last Christmas, the music for our program was a bit more intense than usual. There were some parts I just couldn't master. I attributed it to "old age" (easy excuse) but after googling I think it is my flute. I have a 17+ year old Gemeinhardt 3shb. Although old, it really has only been played regularly for the last few years (raising and homeschooling 7 kids had little time for flute.) I would have it cleaned and adjusted, but I was never thrilled with the flute, and the inline G, so would rather buy another that I can keep "forever," but can't afford a whole lot. (Too many kids still at home...)
Anyhow-I have been looking at Fluteworld and reading old posts here and elsewhere and have somewhat narrowed my decision down to a Sonare, Azumi, Amadeus, or Pearl ($1000 range). I will probably try them out through Fluteworld, but was wondering if anyone is familiar with any music stores in central/southern California that I could visit to try out these, and possibly other brands of flutes? I would rather try and buy locally (well, somewhat locally--LA is 3 hours south of us..)There aren't any substantial stores in our town.
Thanks for all the help you all have been so far--even if you didn't know it
Well the best that I know of in the area for new are Grayson's Tune Town in Montrose and Old Town music in Pasadena.
Used, they have mostly student models, though they will have a used Yamaha or similar for sale. Note - Old Town doesn't have as nice prices as Tune Town, but they do easily 4-5 times the rental business, so there's always an older used rental for sale if you ask and haggle a bit(politely though).
My recommendation is towards a Yamaha 500 series or a Pearl - both are solid choices, but they will also run you aboutr $1600-$1800 new(maybe $1000 used). These are a noticeable step up from the older Gemeinhardts, which have a very high resistance headjoint(low notes are difficult, right?) and have a very difficult upper end to keep in tune compared to modern flutes.
Ie - The Yamaha and Pearl have a more precise and easy to keep in tune scale, though it's a tiny bit more sterile tone-wise. All in all, though, the negatives of the Gemeinhardts outweigh the positives or two(literally - sigh), so the smart money is on the Pearl or Yamaha at this level.
WWBW is a good place to look as well, though Grayson's has nearly identical prices - sometimes a lot better, and they will set it up and do a lot of hand-holding. He's a very nice guy, a personal friend of mine, in fact.
ie - he quoted me $2395 a month or two ago on a Yamaha 684, and something like $600 less on the 500 series(lower than online prices). I was curious what my flute currently went for, and it was a pretty decent price, to be honest. Obviously, $2400 is out of your range, but talk to the guy - he'll help you if you want a good price on a Yamaha(only currently sells Yamaha, which is part of why he has good prices).
If you want USED, I like winds 101, mostly because the owner wont try to oversell you. There's always something used from the major lines as well. The prices on Sankyo are very good, IMO - just something I noticed today. Even the most basic Sankyo is a serious flute. The Edude/200 model is a professional level flute, just without the silver bling factor. All the sound and quality and none of the excess.
wwbw.com sells it for $2800! winds101... about half that.
I ditto that. Winds101 is a good place to buy from. Liz is very friendly and helpful and will send you flutes for trial.
My favorite is still the Azumi and the Muramatsu EX hands down in that price range of flutes. Liz tends to favor the Azumi like me, along with the older style Sankyo flutes. I haven't tried the older Sankyos, just the new ones, so I can't comment on them. The Muramatsu EX totally blows away the competition in that price range in my opinion though. The other flutes are not built as nice. The mechanism on them is the best I have played on, even over some $10,000 flutes too! They are the best bang for the buck, again in my opinion. You will never need another flute after owning one of them.
I just bought a Muramatsu EX as a backup and can't put it down. I am in need of a piccolo a lot more than another flute, so I may have to part ways with it very soon though Anyone want to trade a Burkart or Powell piccolo for my flute? lol!
There's going to be a flutechoir rehearsal for advanced flutists in Manhattan Beach this weekend, Jan 6th @ 2pm. If you join the yahoo group LAflutesandflutists, you'd get the group emails when a rehearsal is coming up. I'm planning on going to the flute choir this weekend after a year-long break. It's rather laissez-faire and once a month.
When you join the Yahoo group you'll see the message "South Bay Reading Sessions Starting Again", click the message, click reply, then change "To" to Eileen or you'll email ALL the flutists in the list.
Probably not. I would want to keep it as a backup. I have had nothing but problems with the two that I have had and all I know is that I never want to get anything made in Tawain again!! If it would stay in adjustment long enough for me to get through a concert, I would be thrilled.
Really? That sucks. I just had one on trial from Fluteworld so I know nothing about their longevity.
I guess I'll just stick with my crusty old plastic Armstrong from the 70s, which is ugly but plays remarkably well despite needing work. I'm sending it out today for an overhaul though.
We should petition Burkart to make a composite piccolo again.
About 8 years ago I used to own an all plastic Armstrong piccolo. I never once had a problem with it in the three years that I owned it. I like them a lot. I don't know how the older ones are, but I know I mine held up well.
Join the club with the Burkart thing. I guess people call them all the time still wanting those piccolos. I don't understand why someone can't come out with a composite piccolo with a NICE mechanism that is built well and not some crap from China.
Thanks for the store suggestions!
It will probably be Spring before I can really afford to go shopping (although a good deal can be worth using plastic), and now at least I have an idea where to go. I'm not too familiar with the Montrose area, but I did grow up in Torrance, and currently have a son who lives in Culver City. I am familiar with the Glendale/Burbank area. And calling Liz will definitely be an option if I never "get around to" the trip down south, or if I'm still undecided.
I do most of my shopping online (makes living in a small town here in Central CA bearable) but am still a bit uneasy about buying a flute without really knowing what I want. All the suggestions are great here. Thanks again! I'll continue reading your posts--I am really behind on flute info!!!
<Added>
Also-thanks Plekto-hitting the low notes was one of the problems that I thought was "just me." It's horrendous! But I'm also excited that a new flute can change that!
searching...
Anyone want to trade a Burkart or Powell piccolo for my flute? lol!
