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Plekto
(259 points)
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I know that most everyone here, including myself generally thinks that they aren't very good flutes except for a couple of their upper models which are kind of okay...
My question is - I saw a couple of hem offered on Ebay - one 40th anniversary model and one 50th anniversary. How are these different? Are they standard models with some fancy commemorative logo or are they the top-end handmade models?
I looked online and found virtually no information on them, so I got curious.
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suzie
(421 points)
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I think the special anniversary models are higher quality. You can always call Gemeinhardt and ask... Ask for Sharon Knepp: 574-295-5280 . I have, however, stumped her before but I believe that the anniversary models (especially the 40th due to it being slightly older) were better. The anniversary models, however, have nothing to do with the currently-produced models (ex. 50-series and 70-series) as the 5 and 7 prefixes (as well as some of the 2's) are having parts produced in CHINA!
<Added>
**EDIT: I think I confused myself a little bit on this one and just noticed... There are the anniversary models and the series models. Anniversary models appear to have been issued on a 10-year span whereas the series models are more of a constant as given examples of earlier in my original post. I am, however, lost in regards to the differences between the 50-series and the 70-series. Personally I think the 70-series looks to be produced in a lower quality than the 50-series which is a lower quality of the 2-series. I hate to say it but, truth be told, vintage Gemeinhardt flutes and piccolos are in a different world than today's produced flutes from Gemeinhardt. In the vintage flute world pertaining to Gemeinhardt, I have had the opportunity to play: a handmade 3SSB model (the hand-crafted model: open hole, inline G, B foot, all sterling w/ gold springs), more than my share of the M2's, the J1 (funky model that looks like an alto flute) and I was the first player (in 2005) of a fully custom-made Gemeinhardt flute from the 1960s (closed hole, all sterling, gold springs, offset G, B foot and gold plated lip and interior of headjoint). With that being said, the instruments produced by Gemeinhardt from the late 90s and up until now are in no way comparable to those that were produced before the 90s. I've played and fixed 2SP flutes from the 80s-90s and those are still decent (as are the 22SP's which is basically a custom ordered 2SP with choice of headjoint) in terms of consistent quality control however the 50-series is incomparable to those other models (as expressed in the Brio topic a while back). This year is Gemeinhardt's 60th anniversary and, in my opinion, I have a feeling that their quality is not going to start going up from this point on. Can anyone say plummet?! I can dig out some photos and do a comparison between models if anyone would like! Hope that helps with my 2¢ worth!
<Added>
**EDIT 2: Why is that gold plated Gemeinhardt so darn high?! I thought they only sold for about $800-ish? Hmm...
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Alieannie
(782 points)
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Just from what I've personally recently seen of gemeinhardt's "special editions", they don't seem to be much better than their other offerings except with some more bells and whistles. The mech seems to be the same. And oh yeah, the price is higher. For that kind of money, I'd much rather just splurge for a mura ex or something. I don't care what the serial number is, I wouldn't spend $2k on it when for $2k I could get something much better for the long haul.
I can't say about their older "special edition" models because I don't have enough experience with them. I do think the older a gemmie is, changes are the better it is mechanically. I do think their piccolos are pretty decent and I like them a bit better than their flute.
<Added>
Suzie, if you seriously have nothing to do or can't sleep, I'd be interested in the photos. I like to study stuff like that. Nerd alert!
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