Hi,

I've played with a Yamaha 361H for around 2 years, and I'm now considering upgrade to a pro flute. I've focused on two models: Yamaha 674H and Muramatsu EX, with similar prices which are both acceptable to me (budget around $2500). 674H has a silver body and nice tone, while EX has a copper body but with perhaps "sweeter" tone. I tried EX once last year and really like its sound. I also tried a 784H of my friend and it sounds different but great as well - with perhaps more clarity and windiness. I suppose 674H has the same tone since the major difference between 600 & 700 is the key material. Now it's really a hard choice between 674 and EX. I know different people have different opinion but - just let me know yours please. Also, I heard that Muramatsu's mechanism is somehow susceptible to corrosion(a flute tech told me) and the silver plating tarnishes very quickly; while other people told me that even the pro flutes from Yamaha (600/700/etc) do not have their pads perfected adjusted, compared with the excellent padding of muramatsu. Are these true? Thank you!

I will tell you my experience based on the fact that I've owned both Yamaha and Muramatsu.
This tarnishing problem is a common issue in any silver flute. The difference is who is playing the flute. I have an all silver second handed Muramatsu. This instrument were all tarnished when I first bought it. I sent it to my tech to a complete cleaning and it just didn't tarnished any more. Why is that? I think it's because my body chemicals are different from the Mura's previous owner.
About the quality, well, It's a challenging decision, because both are great brands, in my opinion. It's up to you to feel what's the difference among them, and that's only possible when you acctually play them.

cheers,
Zevang

Well, first off, the EX has a body of silver plate, with a nickel silver base metal, not copper. The mechs on Muramatsu flutes should be no more susceptible to corrosion than those of any other flute, and probably more resistant than many, and the amount of silver matters much less than the quality of production. Pad jobs vary wildly on new flutes. You might get a beautifully set up flute, or one that needs some tweaking, and that's not necessarily based on the company that made it. With any new instrument you should expect to pay for some setup, with the possible exception of a one-off custom order flute. Given the choice between a Muramatsu EX and a Yamaha 674, I would choose the Muramatsu. However, that really means absolutely nothing, since you'll be the one playing it. You really ought to playtest (which means trying them more thoroughly and recently and in a side-by-side comparison if at all possible) more flutes than just the Yamahas and Muras. There are many companies putting out flutes within your price range (Emerson, Pearl, Trevor James, Sankyo, etc), and one of the others may fit you much better than either of these two models.

Thanks a lot for the advice! Perhaps I'll go to a flute dealer nearby to try some flutes this week :p

I would definetly go with the Muramatus EX. I have never noticed a much of a difference with the standard Yamaha student flute to there upper line, even with the solid silver. Not worth the money to me. The Miyazawa has a much better scale in my opinion also.

<Added>

Oops... I meant the MURAMTSU, had a much better scale in my opinion. They all start to sound the same to me. lol!

Thanks a lot for the advice! Perhaps I'll go to a flute dealer nearby to try some flutes this week :p

You're very welcome, and I think that would be an excellent idea. Let us know what you think of the flutes you try!

I own a YFL 674 and I have been told several times it is an excellent instrument (by a couple of pros who had tried it).

However, after 7 months, I still find its EC cut somewhat difficult to play for some notes (middle E and Eb sound considerably duller than surrounding notes, 3rd octave F is quite difficult for my playing skill and I still fail frequently on it in quick changes and octave jumps).

My teacher owns a Muramatsu but she paid about the double of that price so it must be another model. I have not been able to play her instrument but it sounds so beautiful that I really envy it (or should I say, I envy her skill...)

<Added>

That Muramatsu I was referring to is full solid silver and costed here in Spain, about 6,000 Eu (some 6,000$ at the time it was bought).

I owned a Muramatsu EX. The right hand keys froze up three times in less than a year. I took it to the same repair tech the first two times. When they stopped moving the third time I took it to a different repair tech, and it held up until I sold it, which was only a few months later. Prior to that I owned a Yamaha 400 series. It never needed a repair, just the annual COA.

Both techs told me the problem was rust. I don't even live in a humid environment, and the flute was wiped down after playing.

Anyhow, the thread originator asked us to provide our experiences. I was simply complying.

hi Tim,

talking about the rust, here's a pic i saw on a taiwanese website about the corrosion problem of muramatsu flute.

http://www.abamusic.com/files/sections/muramatsu_corrosion1.jpg
http://www.abamusic.com/files/sections/muramatsu_corrosion2.jpg

it is an axis in the mechanisms on a Muramatsu PTP flute(platinum-plated solid silver) (#59466) which is about 4 years old. don't know why this happen but it looks really horrible. the author claims that the plating on the mechanism on muramatsu flutes is not quite reliable. not sure if this is the problem on your flute...

i went to a flute dealer's shop today and tried a muramatsu EX and a YFL-684H (he's run out of 674 this week). I have to say that the EX sounds amazing. the 684H sound more solid than my 361H, with a little bit silver ringing-tone, but still can't match the EX. The EC cut, though, doesn't appear to be a issue for me. the only concern now, is the reliability issue of EX. my 361H got heavy tarnish under the mechanism where i can't reach using cleaning cloth, but there never was a mechanical problem except for replacing one of the pads last year and adjusting the screws occasionally.

still struggling between them... perhaps i'll end up with flipping a coin to decide, lol

Yes, I loved the sound of the EX, which is why I originally bought it. However, after the problems I sold it back to the flute shop where it was purchased. Since their warranty had expired they were going to send it back to Muramatsu America.

Obviously not ALL people are having this problem, or else Muramatsu wouldn't be so popular. Hope you have better luck with yours.

If so, why was this not an issue with the other flutes and piccolos I've played years longer? I treated them all exactly the same. If perspiration was the cause of the corrosion, it would make sense that the instruments I used in marching band would have had this problem (Texas heat). They did not. The Muramatsu was never played outside.

I don't think it's completely fair to rule out the possibility that Muramatsu has a flaw. But again, most people I know who play Muramatsu have had no issues at all.

Tim, you should know by now not to say anything against either Yamaha or Muramatsu with Micron. Just don't say anything against Powell or then you will have me to deal with. Haha! JK!

Or Tom Green, or I'll have a few things to say!

Powell and Tom Green....aren't they made in China out of aluminum foil and Elmer's Glue?

Just kidding, I too play a Powell now and no problems. Never had the opportunity to play a Tom Green though.