Sorry to break this to you Lera, but you got ripped off big time! First Act flutes are a dime a dozen that are made in China and are basically toys. I wouldn`t even spend $10 for one. They are available off line and are not hard to come by. So however told you this, was giving you a line of BS.

Oh yeah...no joke. Lol!

First act flute product desctiption for the curious:

First Act Concert Flute - MCFL1
• Hand-finished, innovative headjoint design, allowing for better response and superior quality tone production
• Silver-plated body and keys for optimal feel and appearance
• Responsive plateau-style (closed-hole) keys
• US-made PrestiniTM pads
• Offset G for comfortable hand position
• Key of C
• C-foot
• Includes
• Silver-plated flute
• Innovative, lightweight patented Zing SlingTM carrying case
• Cleaning/tuning rod and cloth
• Care & maintenance manual

http://www.firstact.com/products/product-details.asp?id=143&back_to=products&rtn=id%3D12

Pretty much the basics of any flute.
It would at least be slightly encouraging if they mentioned power-forged keys. But no, they are probably soft and bendy.

"It would at least be slightly encouraging if they mentioned power-forged keys. But no, they are probably soft and bendy."

Yep, That`s the main problem. I also think that replacement parts are not easily found when a key or Ab arm happens to fall off from normal use.
~Bilbo

I had several students purchase theses flutes from the various whole sale clubs, none of them were playable and had to be returned

I actually think the technician`s line about replacement parts being not available is overdone and somewhat dishonest.

For woodwind it is almost never that a replacement part is needed apart from screws and pad washers.

It is very rare to actually loose a whole key! And if this does happen, it is possible to difficult to adapt one from a different brand.

Broken keys? They can easily be silver-soldered together, just as the manufacturer did when they were bing made.

The only replacement keys I have ever had to actually buy were for a B&H Regent clarinet, because they were made from unsolderable pot-metal.

Pivot rods? Any half-decent technician routinely makes them.

Pivot screws? Especially on a cheap instrument, a different brand of pivot screw can be used, often with a small modification. Jupiter screws are the easiest to obtain,probably the cheapest, and fit the majority of Chinese/Taiwanese instruments.

Pad screws? Very easy to use a different brand, because there is little variation. Likewise the washers.

So the `parts not available" line is more to do with the technician`s stock, saviness with screw threads, and attitude than anything else.

Lera,
Are you happy with your First Act flute? Is it fulfilling your needs? How long have you been playing and what level are you?

It may be possible that Lera is a young, beginning level flute player who is getting along fine with a First Act flute.

If that is the case, then it`s nice to know that there is at least one positive story about First Act.

The only places I`ve seen them are at Walmart, K-Mart, Target, Costco and Sam`s Club. They come in a sealed box, and you can`t try them out. They usually run around $199. I do not think any music store sells them. I`m sure they are very appealing to parents on a tight budget.

Well yes I’m happy now.
But before when I just got my flute It had to be returned.
They sand me another on soon.
And now I was a first chair. But now I switched to Saxophone in band.
I steal have my flute and I can prove it.
My band director liked it to. And she was the one to figure out what was the problem with it and call the company.
I play at advensed level.
I was playing for 7 years.
And I had my flute for 6years.
I never saw them at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Costco and Sam’s Club.
I got mine out of Tristan Music.
And it did not com in a box .And I got to try it out.
My Parents did not buy it for me either.

I am glad that you are happy with your flute, but MAN! You got ripped off if you paid $600 for it!