Hello there, I was wondering if somebody might be able to help me with a couple questions.

My aunt asked me if I could find some information about flutes for my cousin. My cousin has recently started high school and is in need of a new flute apparently. She has been playing an Orlando of some sort for the last 5-6 years and I hear that it is in atrocious shape(considering it has malfunctioned four times in the past two weeks, I tend to agree). Neither I nor my aunt have much, if any, knowledge about flutes in general and as such are at the mercy of others.

I was told that she needs a "b flat, open hole, silver head joint" flute that would work for her over the next four years of high school. She gave me a couple names that were suggested:

Gemeinhardt 3SHB
Pearl Quantz Series 665RBE or 765
Jupiter 1400 or 1600

However these were all beyond her budget ($300-$500). It seems that the price of a quality flute would rival the national deficit. I would imagine she needs to purchase a used instrument to stay within budget.

Some questions:
Does anyone here have any suggestions for her situation?
What are some things to watch for when doing so?
Do you have any links I could follow that offer some information?
Are there any other models/makers she should consider?
Are used flutes a bad idea?
Did I ask too many questions?

Does anyone here have any suggestions for her situation?

Realistically, the chances of you being able to purchase a flute of those specs that is of reasonable quality (or can be repaired, and yet stay within your budget) is extremely low. I would suggest going for a reconditioned student model flute from a reputable maker. The B foot (rather than Bb), open holes and solid silver head will be of almost no use. A well designed head (which is not synonymous with a silver one) is important, but even most professional players do not use the open holes or B foot. The low B appears in roughly 80 pieces, most modern chamber and orchestral music, and are extremely unusual by any standards, and the open holes serve no purpose beyond pitch shading, extended effects, and some notes into the 4th octave, none of which are things that the average intermediate player will be doing. Another good alternative would be to get a student model body and upgrade the headjoint.

What are some things to watch for when doing so?

Make sure anything you buy is from a reputable, established maker and is in good, playing condition (a tech should be able to look over any potential purchases and give you a rundown on quality and condition).

Are there any other models/makers she should consider?

There are many others. Emerson, Pearl, Yamaha, Gemeinhardt, DiMedici, Armstrong, Jupiter, Sonare, Amadeus, Azumi, and Trevor James all make flutes with the specs you've listed, though some are more expensive or difficult to find used.

Are used flutes a bad idea?

Not at all. In fact, you can usually get far more for your money going for a used instrument than you would otherwise. As long as they are in good condition, or you're willing to pay to have them reconditioned, used flutes make excellent economic sense.

Try here:

http://www.flutestar.com/Usedflutes.html

If your cousin takes private lessons, let him talk to his Private teacher about it first. I'm sure his/her teacher would want your cousin to try a few new flutes first before going off and just buying one.

I was told that buying a new instrument is like buying a car... compare and see which one fits you best.

www.usedflutes.com

a good portion of the flutes listed are still very expenssive, but every now and then there is something reasonable so check it every so often and you might find something.

Deals can also be found on eBay as long as you stick to the reputable brands. Note that you do take a risk that the flute will need work before being in good playing condition, however. You can always look for a lenient return policy if you're not satisfied.

This one looks like it might be in your range: http://cgi.ebay.com/Gemeinhardt-French-Flute-W-B-foot-Solid-Silver-Head_W0QQitemZ160087118290QQihZ006QQcategoryZ47101QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

As does this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Armstrong-80-Open-Hole-SOLID-SILVER-flute_W0QQitemZ160087076026QQihZ006QQcategoryZ47100QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The seller has a 30 day guarantee and a 100% feedback rating.

I'd be very careful using eBay for instruments. Many sellers don't know anything about what they're actually selling, so you have make up for that with your own store of information, and unless you really know what you're looking at, you can wind up getting taken. Those flutes Atoriphile found are nice, but as (s)he said, there's no way to know what kind of condition their in. Whenever I buy off ebay, I include the price of at least a COA or possibly an overhaul in the final price, and either of those would put the flutes Atoriphile found over the top of your budget anyway. You're best off buying face to face if at all possible.

i only have an answer to one of your questions: i don't think it is a good idea to use a used flute. for one you don't know what happened to the flute before, and i am pretty sure i have a used gemeinhardt because it had a dent in the head joint when i first got it and when we use a tuning rod,(my notes always come out extreamely sharp when the head joint is all the way in)and we do get it in the center as what we were told to do for a flute, and the cork slides right back down in just only a few days! So getting a used flute is a bad idea.

Reality check: If you only have $500, the only way you can get the kind of flute you're looking for is to find a used flute locally or on eBay or some other website (as listed above).

Again, the seller of the eBay items I listed above has a 30 day guarantee. If the flute doesn't work, just send it back for a refund (less shipping).

Schoolbandgeek, most flutes are made to play with the headjoint pulled out at least a couple of mm. If you push the head all the way in, it makes sense that you'd have difficulty with sharpness. And there is nothing wrong with a used flute as long as there are no visible signs of abuse. Any little problems with the mech can most likely be set straight without too much difficulty, and dents are pretty obvious. If you're at all in doubt about condition, take the flute to a tech and let them tell you if that particular instrument can be reconditioned for a reasonable cost, but don't immediately dismiss the idea of used flutes. There are some phenomenal deals to be had if you buy used, and in some instances with rarer instruments, it's the only way you could ever hope to get them.

do u have something against me flutist06? lol i was just wondering because everything i say u disagree with. also i can't pull it a couple mm out i have to pull it half way out to stay in tune that's what i meant

<Added>

by the way, no offense i was just kidding about the "do you have something against me" thing. but the rest is true.

I know your aunt says "B-foot" but C-foots are generally less expensive than B-foot.

Yes...the importance of the B-foot depends on the level and type of music that your cousin will be playing (you may want to refer to previous discussions about how often a B-foot is actually used). Sticking to a C-foot may help you be able to get a great flute at a cheaper price.

You might also ask the senior flute players if they're going to be selling their flutes. That's how we got ours. The director will know if it's a good price and if it's been taken care of. Also, ask the director to keep an eye out for other flutes like from someone who dropped out of band.