I am steppin up to a new flute soon and I don't know which one to pick. I 've played the 3sb and it was nice but i haven't played the yamaha. What should i do?

You should play both and decide which you like better. There is no way to decide without playing them. We can offer opinions on the two makes, but they will be biased, and not always to your benefit, so it's up to you. both are solid instruments, but if you will be going through college on this flute, the Yamaha probably leaves you more room to grow than the Gemmie. If you'll be stepping up to a pro flute before college, or don't intend to be involved in music seriously, the Gemmie may be just fine. It's all about preference.

I would also suggest playing others in your price range, as you may like a Pearl, or an Azumi. Yamaha and Gemeinhardt are not the only makers out there. Check out fluteworld.com to see what else exists within your budget.

Try them both and if you have a teacher have h/im/er try them out as well. Yamaha uses compressing felts in their 400 series flutes, so it will be thrown out of adjustment in a couple of months. Don't know whether current Gemeinhardt do as well, my 3SB was fully corked, but it's 10 years old.

There is also a NOTICABLE feel difference. I have held Yamaha flutes had key rise set way too low so that it is uncomfortable to play them if you have larger hands. It will be immediately apparent when you hold and Yamaha versus other makes. Their market is school aged girls with small hands...

Regards,
Stephen Kaupiko

I had a Yamaha 481 for four years and not once did it ever go out of adjustment.

I also had a Gemeinahardt 3SB and prefered the scale more more than on the Yamaha 481 that I has owned.

I had a Yamaha 481 for four years and not once did it ever go out of adjustment.

The new Yamaha's 400 series now use stick on felts which compress over a short period of use, much like current Pearls. They will go out of adjustment in a matter of months.

While Yamaha's specs states it uses cork key bumpers, that is only on the trill keys.

Regards,
Stephen Kaupiko

Ah, I see. I had an older one. I haven't worked on any of the newer Yamaha 400 series as I usually carry student models.

My bandmate has a Yamaha 481 that's only a couple of years old and her felts were visibly severely compressed. I had to show her how to use Thumb-Bb until she can take the flute to someone to adjust it for her. Even the low C felt was severly compressed! She has depress C# along with C to play a low C.

I was suprised at how bad the felts were on such a high level flute.

I did expect to see corks on a higher level flute than felts as well. Is this really not normal anymore?

Get an armstrong.