Any flute players here?

[HunnyPots]

I just thought I'd throw this out and see if anyone here can help.

My 16 year old dd plays flute in the band and is ready to move up to an intermediate level instrument. The problem is that I know very little about flutes and I do not want to get taken. We have three band directors: two brass specialists and one percussion, so no help there.

Experienced flute players: what brand and model so you prefer? What do you like about it? Which do you dislike?

We are currently looking at a slightly used Gemeinhardt 3SHB. Any comments, positive or negative would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Way back when, (too many ages ago) when I played flute in high school, Gemeinhardt was the flute to have.

 

[grinningghost]

I don't play the flute, but DD does. She's been playing since 4th grade and is now in 9th. She told me what she really wants for Christmas is a new flute - an open-holed flute. She currently has a closed-hole. If someone can offer me some advice on the difference between the two, and whether nickel or silver is better also?

Sorry to be horning in on your thread Hunny, but it just so happens we're kind of in the same boat, maybe we can both get answers.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Open holed is just what it sounds like. The middle of the key is open, so fingering must be positioned currently in order for the hole to be covered. Don't worry though, the open holes have cork in them which can be popped out when the flutist is ready.

Can't believe I'm posting about this after all these years.

Oh, and my Gemeinhardt had a silver head. I'd hate to think what it looks like now after all those years of non-polish!

 

[phamton]

You can't go wrong with any Gemeinhardt. I am still playing mine that is 40 years old. (Yes, I'm that old.) I got it at 12 years old and went to college on a music scholarship playing the same flute. I plan on passing it down to my grand children. One of daughters also played my flute when she was in school so it has already gone through two generations. It is solid sterling silver (not silver plated) and has had a few pads and springs replaced but still plays like new.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I am a woodwind teacher, and teach flute in a studio. The Gemeinhardt is highly overrated, in my opinion. I like the Upper intermediate Yamaha (try to get this used). My favorite for intermediate to more advanced students is the Miyazawa. Get the Solid Silver with open tone holes and the "B" foot. The Yamaha is much less expensive, but a decent flute too. Whatever you get, be sure to do the open tone holes and solid silver. B foot is optional.

BTW, the 40 year old Gemeinhardt was a great instrument, but the newer ones are not.

 

[HunnyPots]

Thanks for the quick responses! Great info from everyone!

Grinningghost, I don't mind at all; the more discussion, the better!

dianeschlicht, thanks for your input. Can you tell me why open-holed is more desirable?

Anyone else have an opinion to share?

 

[snuggles]

My daughters principal instrument is flute and I agree with Diane. She had a Gemeinhardt that was not worth the money we paid for it. Her flute teacher suggested a few brands and she wound up with a Miramatsu. Here's a website that might help you out a little. Take a look around, they have some good advice there. Larry Krantz Flute Pages

 

[Stephen's Mom]

I also play the flute (for 24 years now) and I used to have a solid silver open-holed Gemeinhardt with a low-B foot and I switched to a soild silver open-holed IWAO flute with a low-B foot joint. I love it and I've been playing it since 1986. I don't know if you can get these anymore but it was made by someone named Iwao that used to make Murumatso flutes (I think). It has much more responsive key action than my Gemeinhardt ever did and it is tuned slightly higher (which for me was great because I was always flat on my Gemeinhardt and now I'm sharp which is way, way easier to adjust). Maybe I just had a crappy Gemeinhardt, I don't know. I also have heard really good things about the Yamaha's as well. I have one of their wooden piccolos and it's great. As for the low-B foot joint, I have rarely if ever in my life needed to play a low-B but it does have a trigger key that you can press when playing a high-C which does make that note come out a lot clearer (although it's not a real common note either!).

 

[sharbear]

My DD plays the flute also and we just bought her an intermediate flute. I did not buy the most expensive intermediate flute because she doesn't have an interest in playing the flute past HS. She plays in a flute choir and needed a better sounding flute that was open holed. We decided to go with the silver head but not with a solid silver body. She loves her new flute, much easier to play, and easier to hit certain notes. Her flute teacher is not a fan of Gemeinhardt to say the least although she agrees with the other posters that older Gemeinhardts were nice. My DD's flute teacher is a fan of Pearl flutes, in fact she is a rep for the company. She was a fan of Pearl long before she reped the line, she thinks that it is a well made flute that is very competive price-wise.

This is the flute we bought our daughter. http://www.wwbw.com/Item/?itemno=53718

The company was great to deal with. They charged us no shipping and no sales tax. I have talked to other people who have dealt with this company and are also happy.

 

[HunnyPots]

You guys are the best! Your info is most helpful.