Ok, here's my problem:
After about 6 years of playing, my old flute has finally given out. So, I need a new one before I take my grade 8 (pretty soon). I have 5 options: the Yamaha 211, Trevor J James TJ10MKII (which couldn't find much information on), the Jupiter 511-ESSC, and the Pearl 505E and 525E. I'm thinking the best one is the last, but I don't really know any advantages or disadvantages between them all.
Any help? P-l-e-a-s-e??
xx

why does it matter what we think? Go try them and see what you like, they are good flutes, it is a personal decision, anyway, if you open the door to all opinions you will wind up very confused..

Get a Yamaha and put a nice handmade headjoint on it. I do happen to have a Yamaha with two choices of handmade headjoints. If you are interested, drop me a line as I have not listed it yet.

It would be so much easier for everyone if flutes could be ranked from best to worst, however, it just doesn't work that way.
A flute plays differently for each person, or more to the point, each person hears/feels a flute differently.
It is so very important that you try several flutes yourself before you choose to buy a flute. Take your instructor with you, or someone you trust who has music experience. Try to listen without looking. Narrow down your choices (budget is usually the first way to narrow choices).
You might even want to record yourself playing a short segment. Record yourself on your current flute, and on several of the flutes you are considering. See if you hear differences. Try to compare all of the flutes (even your current flute) in the same location if at all possible.
Don't feel like you have to make a sudden decision. Go back a few times to try again.
Good luck. Remember, there is no secret "best" flute. It is whichever flute works best for you!

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Hey I must have been typing while Kara posted. I bought a Yamaha from Kara as a back-up flute. I love it so much, that I've ended up playing it more than my regular flute!

Great advice from Patrick, Kara and Kippsix.

I was going to buy the Yamaha for a backup, and use my handmade/pro headjoints in it, but the flute available was a Pearl. It has been just dandy.

When you do try these flutes, the differences will be from a)headjoint and tonehole engineering and b)technician setup. The three flutes should be similar as far as the sound engineering goes, but one may sound more pleasant to you, or be easier to get fast articulation or high or low notes on. The technician who padded and adjusted the flute may have been a different person in each case, and the best job will make for the flute that sounds the best- no small pad leaks, etc. Anyway, if you choose the flute that plays the best, you'll be fine- and we can't tell you exactly which one that will be.

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And by the way, don't be swayed by open holes or a B footjoint. You really will not likely ever need them, unless you are SERIOUSLY into jazz. An offset G key (versus an inline G key) is a matter of hand comfort, most people find the offset G to be more comfortable and ergonomic.

yes, dont be swayed by said options (open hole, b-foot) BUT its harder to find a nice upper-level flute (not to say that a solid yamaha student model isnt nice so dont even get into that one) in america with closed holes or a c-foot without paying extra money for the special order. remember that as well.

I second the option Kara stated.

The sad truth about flutes is that 80% of the sound is the headjoint. All of the nonsense about keys and what metal and thicknesses and such... not as critical as a good headjoint. I've heard a $1800 Yamaha that blew a $20,000+ gold Haynes out of the water like a toy boat with the addition of a custom headjoint.(cost about as much as the Yamaha - a fantastic deal for $~4500 total, considering)

The cheapest method I know of for a really good and inexpensive flute is to find a good condition Yamaha 300 or 400 series flute(yes, used) and drop a 600 series handmade headjoint on it. The CY(I think it sounds better than the EC) headjoint is a fantastic option for not a lot of money. (about $450-$500 last I checked, if you shop around)

The 600 series on up come with an EC headjoint, the 400 and below come with the CY headjoint. The EC is the most prefered by flutists. If you are going to get a Yamaha and upgrade the head, I think you would be much further ahead by getting a different handmade headjoint by a different maker. Yamaha headjoints are not sought after as much as say.. Powell, Arista, Nagahara or Williams. I don't much care for the Yamaha heads, they are okay but don't stand up to the competiion in my opinion.

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Sorry, it is the 500 series on up come with the EC head.

I know a guy here in NYC, has been heard on many recordings and for shows, etc, big free-lancer, successful, plays a closed hole Haynes from 1927...

I should have been a bit clearer - the handmade Yamahas come in about a dozen combinations of cuts. These are different than the machine-made ones on the lower-end.

Of the *handmade* ones, I like the CY cut, but I do jazz and rock mostly. The EC is superb for orchestral use, though, and comes standard.

Now, if you have the money, yeah, you can get a custom headjoint. The best I know of are Landell - his titanium headjoints will cost you about $2000 but are amazingly fast and powerful.(plus nearly impossible to dent)

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edit: It's about $2700 now for titanium. OTOH, a plain silver one will cost only $1050 and is a very good deal - pro quality for a budget price. I didn't realize that the silver was that inexpensive or I'd have recommended this instead of the Yamaha.

I have 3 handmade 'pro' headjoints, one of which might be considered custom.

The first is a silver Prima Sankyo NRS-1, which is handcut but since it is a popular design it is fairly well available, new and used. I bought mine new for $800, I have seen them used, with options such as a gold riser, for $600 or less.

The second, I saw on eBay and planned to resell, but I like it too much now. It is a handcut Miyazawa MZ-5 cut silver headjoint with an engraved lipplate. It cost me $400.

The third is a real gem, a Powell Philharmonic-cut wood headjoint. It was bought used for $1200.

Anyway, a good used, handcut silver headjoint can be had for a really reasonable amount of money. The good thing about headjoints is that they don't have the mechanism/padding problems that the flute body does, so they're a little less of a risk to buy used over the internet, though you will probably want to try before you buy.

Those are all good flutes...Just play them all and pick the one you like the best.

Joe B

I like the Powell's myself, and no one can ever deny that Muramatsu makes a very nice line of high end flutes. I have played those and they are strong on both the high end and it is harder to "break" the note by blowing too, hard, something I do waaaay too often. Whatever you buy, make it what plays best for you, because a 1500.00 flute may be better for you than a 10000.00 flute. I found I liked the cheap ones just as well, after all I play a PF-775 Pearl flute! (There, got my Pearl plug in! hehehe)

(I am just an amateur, but that is my 2 cents)

-AZFlutist