Still, most players will agree that even a Yamaha is better than a Gemienhardt. The keys, headjoint, scale, and durability are a little bit better.

As for "headmade" - at the under $5K level, let's redefine the term:

- Machine made and assembled by one of their normal employees.
- Machine made and assembled by one of their pro/expert employees.

95% of the makers out there call the latter "handmade" and the former as not. It's all marketing B.S. All made to surprize... part you from your money. And honestly, as we've pointed out, soldered tonehoels appear to be mostly a method to get more money. Kind of like how they make Katanas and then put fancy hilts on them. Making those hilts is an art, to be sure, but it's mostly window dressing.

What matters is the specs. Take Yamaha - their better models use thinner walled metal and better keywork. It's clear by looking at the specs where that breakpoint is.(600 series - a bit too high priced, IMO, since you have pay $1000 more for a silver body, which isn't exactly required)

For every maker, there's a similar breakpoint where it's essentially pointless to spend more money, because other than the metal and gimmicks, you've already bought their best engineering and design.

Concentrate on that breakpoint if you are trying to do this for cheap. Thankfully, many top-end makers also make an entry level version of their top-end flutes in your price range, so you're on the right path.

Now, if you really want to go cheap, find a used Muramatsu or similar and add your own headjoint if the thing isn't to your liking. I doubt, though, that going from a Gemeinhardt to something better like this will be anything but acceptable as-is, without the extra cost of a headjoint.

Still, most players will agree that even a Yamaha is better than a Gemienhardt. The keys, headjoint, scale, and durability are a little bit better.

That would depend entirely on the player's level and preferences, as well as what level of instruments from each maker we're discussing. For a beginner, Gemeinhardts are perfectly acceptable, and many people at this level play them. In fact, because of Gemeinhardt's headjoint design, many people who start on Gemeinhardts complain later that anything but a Gemeinhardt is too difficult to play, so a relatively large section of those that begin on Gemeinhardts stay on Gemeinhardts. Once you reach a level of basic profiency and are ready for a different flute, playtesting may easily lead you to a Yamaha, but just as likely is a Gemeinhardt, an Emerson, a Jupiter or any number of other brands. To broadly label any brand as "better" than another is to stand on shaky ground....What about it is better? Are we talking about design? Quality of construction? If you said that Yamahas were among the most reliable flutes (especially among student models) on the market today, I would absolutely agree with you, but assuming at least decent quality has been achieved, "better" lies entirely in the eyes of the beholder.

One would think that Gemeinhardt could put their brainwashing embouchure technology to other uses. <g>


-Stephen (Piko)

i would try yamahas because i have heard they are ment to be the good for the price you pay, also look on flute world and gear 4 music they have some good stuff