ok i know the debate over which is the `better` brand has been around for ages and will forever remain a controversy. so i`m not asking which one is the better brand here, but i have two options:
1. Palatino 006-SP. new from the shop.
2. Yamaha 200/300 series, used, 4 years old.

I`m not sure which model of Yamaha it is cuz the seller hasn`t got back to me (it`s her aunt`s flute but she`s pretty sure it`s a student flute). she says her aunt hasn`t played for 2 years. prior to that i have no idea whether the flute is well-taken care of. but if it is, then would leaving the flute unplayed in the case for 2 years affect its condition? what constitutes `taking good care of`?

so, which one should i go for? i`m a beginner here, i`ve played around on a flute before so i know how to produce a sound and i play clarinet so i know the fingering. am unsure how far i wanna go on the flute, but i would like to get pretty fluent.

hope some of the technicians out there can give me some tips!

That is an easy one. YAMAHA. The other one is crap.

always go with an older more reliable instrument, a good instrument can be overhauled and maintained over many generations.

I am not sure if I agree with that comment 100% Patrick. Parts wear off over time even on the oh so great brands and even a top repair tech can make the mechanism like new again.

When it comes down to Off brand vrs good older brand, then yes, I agree with you there.

I know Kara, that`s what I meant, my flute is functioning fine and it`s from 1951

It didn`t sound that way Patrick. Wow, I didn`t know that anyone actually still played those antique flutes. The scale must be horrid on it. Can you not afford another flute? You can get a nice used Yamaha for not too much.

are you kidding, do you know how many pros play on old Haynes, Powell and Louis Lot flutes, and you dare compare them to Yamaha? And yes, I play in tune, as does William Bennet, who plays on a Louis Lot flute with a cooper headjoint

Do you know who Louis Lot was?

Sure, I was comparing Yamaha to those old Haynes flute. In fact, the Yamaha student flute plays better and more in tune then those old Haynes do. You are quite funny though, saying that a lot of pros play on those old Haynes flutes. Good one! Do I know who Louis Lot is? I own an 1865 #913 Louis lot. Did you know that Verne Q. Powell and George W. Haynes modeled their flutes after the Louis lot? Powell did a better job in my opinion.

I know at least 5 or 6 pro flutists here in NYC that play on old Haynes and Powells, in fact, I worked on a recording for a soon to be released movie with a colleague who was playing on a Haynes from 1927

Uh..okay.. sure you did.

Patrick,
When they play on those very old flutes, do they use newer modern headjoints? I`m told that there has been so much improvement in headjoints/cuts etc.

I think that the vintage Powells are wonderful. Haynes are okay too, but they wouldn`t be my first choice. Everyone has a different style with what they like.

Kippsix, I do have a modern Jack Moore headjoint, that is tradional cut, etc, so I agree that some of the older headjoints are lacking, although, you would be suprised at the number of people here that prefer the older headjoints.
COMMENT, I won`t even comment on your sarcasm, I could name names but it would not be professional to put peoples names on this forum without their permission, but I guess you would not know about or understand professional protocol

Patrick,
When they are playing on older instruments with older headjoints, do they sound in the least bit bad? In other words, is all the push for newer tech headjoints a lot of hype more than necessity?

Obviously these are professionals who could sound good on an old Bundy (in good repair), but it is intresting that they choose the flutes/headjoints that they choose, rather than the "new and improved" models.

Kippsix, that`s a good question, thanks for being so cordial, unlike some others on this forum. I think newer headjoints make playing easier in some ways, not better. Some players have the old headjoints undercut to create some edge, some stick with the originals. I like the Jack Moore headjoint I have because it is very traditional cut yet is warm (14K) and more responsive than the original headjoints. Also, all the major boston companies have improved greatly on headjoint design over the years.