DD is playing the flute this year in band (Yay....I think). I went through the school and rented a new flute for her to use. It's pretty expensive. I've found several of the same brand and make on Ebay. Is that a terrible idea? Of course the company that was at school when she tried out said it was a terrible idea. What should I be looking for if I do buy a used one on Ebay?
I started playing the flute in the 5th grade and eventually went on to major in saxophone performance in college. We buy and sell a lot of instruments on eBay, but I don't think I have any flutes laying around. Well I have one, but your daughter doesn't want to use this as her starter flute, and it's well out of the price range for a beginner.
Here is what I would look for. Make sure the instrument has plenty of pictures so that you can see that it has no big dents that would block the air flow. A small dent isn't a big deal, but anything that disrupts the air flow would cause it to play out of tune. You'll probably be looking at a flute that is either nickel or silver plated, those are student level flutes. If you see one with a solid silver head joint at a similar price, that will be a huge step up in tone quality.
Even if you get a flute for cheap, it won't be cheap if the pads are shot. If you're not familiar with pads, they are under the keys and they seal the holes to make the various different pitches. If they are not sealing tightly on the holes, there will be leaks and your DD will be frustrated that she can't make a very good sound. Ask the seller if they know the last time the flute has had a "repad". If they don't know, ask for detailed and up close pictures of the "undersides of the keys" or the pads. If you can see visible tears or holes, walk away! A complete repad runs somewhere in the neighborhood of $5-700 for a professional flute. Definitely worth your money when the flute is worth $5-$7,000, but not on a $75 student model flute.
Stick with Brand names. Don't buy a cheap Chinese or Korean flute, some repairmen won't even work on them because they are so flimsy and poorly made. Good brands are Yamaha, Armstrong, King, Blessing, Evette (Buffet), Selmer, Artley, Bundy, Gemeinhardt, these are the basic student models. I popped over to eBay while writing this and took a look, there are a TON of decent flutes up there, just ask good questions.
You should get her a closed hole flute. If she sticks with it, I got my first open hole flute around 7th or 8th grade and I got the one I play now just before my Sr. year of HS. Go for a used flute. Beware of the ones that say "NEW 2010 MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL SILVER BAND FLUTE" or "*BRAND NEW* SILVER FLUTE *BEST*" These are probably cheap knock offs.
The man at the instrument store was right, buying a flute off of eBay CAN be a bad idea, but if you do your homework, ask the right questions and know what you're looking for, there are some great deals to be had. Just keep in mind that a lot of people selling these flutes either know nothing about them or are just trying to unload them in the condition they're in. Don't get too emotionally involved and get in a bidding war, otherwise the price will go through the roof!
The best thing would be is if the seller offers a guarantee. If you have a reputable repair shop in town, take the flute there as soon as you get it and get an estimate on the cost for repairs or minor adjustments in alignment (needs to be anually anyways). The flute you buy on eBay will need repairs, but it's possible to get a good one that doesn't need as many. Ask lots of questions of the seller before placing your bid. If you have any other questions feel free to ask me!
Good luck!
