lol yeah, i should do that too.

i just got the catalogue today on a sunday for some reason.
well yeah, Aldi is also selling other musical stuff from Livingstone.
Tuner w/ Metronome $20, stands $20 (i think), guitar somethingers (pedals that do something), guitar amplifiers, drum accessories, keyboard and violins.

that just gives me one more reason to buy the flute.

<Added>

guitar somethingers = guitar effects pedal

Found this auction for a nickle plated flute from the US. Looking at the case it comes in (which is all I can go on from the pics - it looks VERY similar.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-Nickle-Plated-16-hole-Flute-Key-Range-C_W0QQitemZ130176009837QQihZ003QQcategoryZ10183QQcmdZViewItem

Compared to http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b293/philipinoguy/ALDIS.jpg

What do you think?

Joolz

Also noticed that both ads talk about the ABS case (not sure what that means exactly but the cases are identical. It's not a common looking case either so it could be the same flute there as well. Would be cheaper to buy this one from the US than the queue up at Aldi.

Joolz

I would not want my students using this sort of Aldi instrument.

1) I find the nickel silver fifish uncomfortable and inferior for them.

2)I would not recommend a younger player to have a screwdriver as part of the "package" thie will tend to cause them to actually use the screwdriver to misalign the keys.

3) Generally,, a discount grocery store isn't the place to buy a flute whch is not generally accepted by players in the music industry as adequate for beginners to use.

4)My fear is that the finish may peel off or the thing may not stay in adjustment, it may actually fall apart, play out of tune, the local repair person may refuse to work on this instrument, the player would assume that all flutes are like this and decide that they are the cause of their lack of "talent" and quit music. Of course, I would not presume to guarantee that any of these things would actually happen.

That being said, if you buy a flute from Aldi then I wish the best of luck in this purchase. At least with them, someone mentioned the return policy as being acceptable. So when you discover that the flute really isn't working outfor you, you can more easily return it with refund than from a mail order/ebay type purchase.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a type of plastic, so a basic plastic case.

it may be an okay flute but it would also make a pretty paperweight when it brakes.

Also interesting to note that most jewellery is now nickle-free indicating that many people have an allergy to nickle. Children with these kinds of allergies could have a reaction to the flute!!

joolz

P.S Definately not buying it and have convinced my mother that it is not a good idea. Was worried there would be one under the tree for my daughter!

The flute in the ebay auction that I posted is Aria1851 and is made in China. I still think it's the same flute, named Livingstone for the aussie Aldi market. If that is the case, Aldi are making alot of money on each flute if this ebay seller can sell them for $60 US.

Joolz

isnt aldi a store where you can buy like... a can of soup for like, a penny each?

the aldis around here are really ghetto and cheap. i dont trust their food, let alone their musical instruments...

Yes that's Aldi's.
I was disappointed with a CFL light bulb that I bought there that was supposed to last longer but it only lasted 6 months.

The do have some decent vegetables and Christmas stollen (If you are looking for that kid of thing)

my friends dont trust them much either, so we stole all their catalogues at the store next to our school, lol.

i told my music teachers about it and they said that they might check them out on the day. a private excursion with the accompianment of a tuner.
she said that most cheap wind instruments play out of tune on some notes, especially the high ones.

i might try a flute out.
and just buy a tuner.

What I've actually witnessed with one of the cheaper flutes is that it didn't play all that bad (At first) but because of the softness of the metal and the bad design, it had a needle spring for the rh 1st finger come loose. As I tried to replace the spring which is easy to do on a decent flute, the flute began to have more and more problems. As parts were beginning ot fall off and come loose, I realized that it would have been better constructed if it were made by a more reputable company like Hasbro or Fisher Price. It was self-destructing in my hands.

A well respected flute dealer told me today that he had seen flutes like these at the trade show in Japan. He said that they retail for $30 USD. I'm guessing they'd make a nice wall display.

Joolz

I think that it won't be too ong before the time when the parents will be getting angry with the repair people because they won't fix these instruments. I can see it now, "What dewya mean ya WON'T fix my child's flute? I was told by the Ebay seller that this (insert silly brand name) Flute was the finest proFESSional flute that there is...for the price!!!"

and also, watch out for the statement, "German Engineered!" It means that the oroginal Boehm flute actually WAS "engineered" by T. Boehm (A German) but back in 1839 of course....

Bilbo: lol.
-
Well, toda, my music teachers went over to Aldi, and had a look at the instruments.
They said the violins were fine.... but then again, they dont teach string...

well, the flutes have those hard PLASTIC rods, in place of the metal wires that move the keys (or w/e u call them. the thin ones, lol, im not a flute technician..)
and i think she said something about the clarinet.... but i forgot.
suprisingly, the trumpet seems to be okay.

the tuner. the packet says metronome/guitar tuner ><. so i dont think i can tune my flute with that.

and yeah.
now we can ignore this thread =D.