Hey everybody,
I`ve been playing for about 7 years and I`ve decided to finally move up to an open- holed flute. The lady at the music store recommended an Armstrong 103B, which runs for $585 there. I have heard the Geimenhardt open-holed flutes are better, anyone have any ideas? (Right now I have an Armstrong student flute, not sure what the exact model is.)
Thanks a bunch!

I have to say this, but you really would not be upgrading any, you are just paying for open holes. The 103 is still silver plated and has all the same features as the closed hole student model. The only difference is holes in the keys. Holes are not going to make it sound or play any better.

Music stores will tell you just about anything to sell an instrument.

Have you thought about purchasing a different brand? The Yamaha 300 series is very good.

hi everyone, still doing my research, thanks for the advice! and no, I'm definitely not limiting myself to Armstrong

As long as you try and stay away Gemeinhardt, you should be doing okay. Armstrong isn't bad, but I still say Yamaha is going to be better.

Do you have a teacher? Have her check the mechanism and the scale of your flute. If that is fine you are better served by fitting a professional headjoint to your flute.

No flute under $1800US will touch a professional head on a good flute body. Headjoints range from aroudn $800US on up to many thousands of dollars for the heads alone.

When your flute ages to the point where the mechanism is failing you, then you can upgrade your flute to any flute make with good scale and mechanism and just tranfer your head joint.

... or outright buy a $2000 flute.

Do not fail to test different flutes against each other to make sure you get the best flute for yourself.

A poor mechanism on an Armstrong is just going to be holding her back even if she put a $2,000 headjoint on it. If you are going to put a professional headjoint on a student flute, at least get one with a good solid mechanism like a Yamaha.

Why waist your money by putting a nice pro headjoint on a student flute? If your goign to upgrade, then do upgrade. If you can, look into a Muramatus EX or a Powell Signature flute. I have seen the Haynes is also making a flute called the Amadeus. It looks promising, though I have not tried on yet. Good luck in your search.

A poor mechanism can hold someone back. There are good and bad flutes amongst ALL brands. That's why one must check them out.

If you believe Yamaha is without fault you obviously never tried out used ones from the classifieds or ebay.

There's a reason a Yamaha's value can drop by half the second you walk out the door. There is no special something that it offers compared to other flutes.

When people try out flutes they generally pick the flute that plays best... if they can tell.

If Yamaha flutes truly were so superior they would command a higher used price than $200-300 which an equally plated Gemeinhardt sells for.

You have issues getting a non-breathy tone from a Gemeinhardt flute, that's your embouchure problem. Not mine.

The suggestion to add a professional head to a student flute is in lieu of buying another student flute.... for which there is no point.

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Unless there is mechanism problems with the current flute.

As you know already, I buy used flutes and sell them. I can say without a doubt that Yamaha sells far better then any Gemeinhardt that I have ever had. I have not seen faults in Yamaha flutes, so please specify what these faults are, I would really interesting in knowing.

Any student-intermediate brand that someone buys is going to go down in value once it is used, regardless of the brand. I still don't see Gemeinhardts going for more money then Yamaha's when being re sold.

I have seen used Yamaha student flutes sell higher in price then it would cost for a new Gemeinhardt.
When comparing the 3SB to the Yamaha 400 series, I still see the Yamaha selling for more.

Stephen I was not aware that you were also in the business of buying and selling flutes. If you come across a newer Emerson, I know someone that wants one, so please do let me know.

I am not trying to defend Yamaha here, or cut down Gemeinhardt, I am just pointing out that I have seen things differently being that I am in the business of buying and selling flutes and I spend a good part of my time doing so.

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It seems that everytime someone brings up Yamaha, you get into this whole debate on how Gemeinhardt is a good brand too. We get it. I am sure we are all tired of the Yamaha vrs Gemeinhardt debate. I know that I am. You play on Gemeinhardt and like it, end of story.

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Oh, okay sorry. Inserts foot! I didn't see that comment about Gemeinhardt by Reeni. No wonder you got a little defensive. I will shut up now.