Greetings all,

I've been trolling the boards for a few weeks now reading as much as I could about various flute models. A bit of backstory, I played flute from 6th grade through college. Just before college (1983), I bought a Yamaha 481. It has served me well for a lot of years, but I really feel like it's holding me back at this point. So I've been looking at a number of flutes, and have a Pearl Elegante 795 CODA on trial. It's a very nice flute, the action is excellent, but I find the headjoint has very little resistance. The Yam was like blowing across a milk bottle, so I had to develop a serious wind stream. I could probably learn to play the easy blowing hj, but my initial impression is that it would take a great deal of time (old habits are hard to break).

Based on input from a dear friend and professional flutist, I want a flute with a C# trill. I'd like a split E, but it's not essential. I've looked at many used flutes, but none that I've found offer the C# trill until you get into the $8-10K range. Even then, they seem rare. My price range is up to $6K.

I'd appreciate any input from you all with regards to some good choices. I've read here about the Haynes Amadeus flutes (my friend switched from her Burkart hj to a gold Haynes because of low resistance on the Burkart) and about the low-end Powell flutes. Are these good choices, particularly considering the headjoint resistance?

Also, I've been working with Fluteworld and noted that they have a Pearl Maesta flute on closeout. The model is PF-9800RBCDD. It's handmade with all of the features I want. Any input there? (Joe B, I'd especially appreciate your take on this model, as I can't find any info on it online).

Thank you in advance for all of your input!

You should try out the newer Yamaha's. On the 500 (start of their professional line) and up series they all now include C# trill standard.

the miyazawas offer the C# trill and split e, even on the cheaper models.
i am not a fan of the yamaha flutes and probably never will be.
i also know that muramatsu offers a C# trill, but i dont know the details of which.

good luck!

Muramatsu flutes only come with the C# trill key on the GX and up series. If you do find someone that offers an EX with a C# trill key, please tell me because I would buy it. I love the EX that I have!

If you want the C# trill key then I would try out the Miyazawa. They tend to have plating issues though, so I am not sure if that would be a problem down the line or not. It is too bad Muramatsu does not offer a C# trill key on the EX
Yamaha is pretty good too, but I prefer Miyazawa over them.

If you can, have Flute World send some flute out to you on trial and test them for yourself to see what works best for you.

<Added>

I have sold a Haynes Amadeus before that had the C# trill key. I got to play test it for a while before I sold it and it was a very nice flute. The mechanism was very smooth and light. Of course they are no where near the Haynes flutes being made in Boston, but still nice. The only thing I say negative about it is that I found it to play kind of stuffy but it was on the dark sounding side. Try one if you can.

this persons price range is up to $6000. im pretty sure the gx with a c# trill and split e will be in this price range. HOWEVER - i recommend a donut over the split e. many others feel the same way.

http://www.fluteworld.com/index.php?action=prod&wart=49542

price: $5450

I'd also check out winds101. There are a lot of used like new condition flutes to be had for well under $6000.

Why spend any more than you have to?

Liz does have a very nice selection of flutes. Do keep in mind though that sometimes you can get a brand new flute for only $200 for what she has listed.

I am sorry, I didn't catch in the original post that he could spend 6K. If I had 6K to spend on a nice flute, I would look further then the Yamaha, Pearl or Amadeus personally. Don't get me wrong, they are fine flutes but I prefer some of the other top dogs over them.

New flutes under 6K with a C# for what I found in a quick search would be...

Muramatsu GX
Sankyo CF-301
Tom Green
Yamaha
Pearl
Miyazawa

I have never tried a Tom Green flute, so I can't comment on that one. If I were to choose from that list, I would go for either the Muramatsu or Miyazawa. My first choice is always Powell, but their prices are too high when you get into their models with the C# trill key.

I have to say that I LOVE my C# trill key and it is the best feature on my flute. That is a very good choice. I also agree with the others, I prefer a G donut over a split E. I despise split E mechanisms!!!!

I am probably a bad person to ask as I seem to have very expensive impractical taste in flutes. lol!!!

I hope this has helped. Oh and welcome to the forum! Keep the questions coming on flute brands and models, I like many other fine members of this forum have done years of research and tried out a lot of flutes and am always happy to share my thoughts.

<Added>

"Liz does have a very nice selection of flutes. Do keep in mind though that sometimes you can get a brand new flute for only $200 for what she has listed."

Sorry, I meant to say that you can get a brand new flute for only $200 MORE for waht she has listed.

You could always go for this "professional" Yamaha...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-Professional-Allegro-Flute_W0QQitemZ140200965070QQihZ004QQcategoryZ85874QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

These are the type of ads that make me cringe! If someone is going to sell something on ebay at LEAST do the research on what they are selling!!!! Okay.. done with my small rant now.

LOL, Kara you're too much.

Thank you all for your input. It's all very valuable and I appreciate your time.

I way lying in bed last night thinking about this, and something that might be a sound alternative popped into my head. The Pearl has a good body with a good mechanism and keywork, plus all of the features that I want. Assuming the tenon is not grossly non-standard, would it make sense to look at a Haynes, Powell, or perhaps Goosman handmade headjoint? I priced a Haynes silver handmade with a 14K riser and lip plate for under $2K, which would make my out-of-pocket about $4500. Thoughts?

I'd definitely consider that!

Although my price range was well below yours ($2000 was max), I did basically just that,and its been an awesome flute for me.

I really wanted a C# trill and D# roller (although I like the roller on Miyazawas more than Pearl) but the flute I sounded best on was the Yamaha 574. (I tried lots of flutes.. I still sounded best on the Yam even compared to a Miyazawa 402 with my choice of cut..and we really could not spend $4000 on a flute)

I ended up buying a Pearl Dolce CODA and then bought a Yamaha EC headjoint for it. I love it Total it cost us about $2600

Buying the Pearl plus a nice headjoint is definitely an option!

Hello again, everyone. I've spent a few weeks getting my Yam overhauled (I think it sounds better than it did when I bought it). In the mean time, I've been playing with a couple of Haynes Classic Q2's, which I *really* like. I've also tried three Powell headjoints (two Aurumite and one silver) on my Yamaha. Frankly, it still sounds like a 25 y/o flute, even with the Powells. I really dislike the Aurumite; it has this odd overtone that sounds like there's a bee inside the hj.

My only dislike about the Haynes is that they don't offer it with a D# roller. In playing other flutes, I noted that this was something that really helped out my cranky old pinky. So I'm back to wondering if the Pearl 795 CODA plus a handmade HJ would wind up as a better flute than the Haynes. The lack of a D# roller isn't a deal-breaker, but it was a selling point.

I'm also curious if it's possible to "retrofit" a foot joint with a D# roller by replacing the D# key? Alternately, I could buy a new footjoint, but Diane at Fluteworld indicated that one would be expensive and/or difficult to find.

Hi,
If you decide to get the Haynes Q2, let me know how much you still like it in about 6 months to 1 year. I am thinking about getting one of those. I love the headjoint and the key action is better than my Yamaha.

The only other flutes that I like are the Altus and the Heavy wall Muramatsu. I can't afford a Heavy wall Muramatsu even used. *sigh*

I am also considering a German made Sonare. But I like the Haynes for the price and the sound.

vampav8trix: whats your price range? because i may know of a flute for you. :-)

have you tried the dean yang as well? i really like their flutes. they sound great and feel nice as well. i just dont like the thumb key because it has that "hump" nd i like the flatness of my muramatsu.

You should get the Gemeinhardt Conservatory Flute 3SHB(Open-hole)French Model. Thats what I'm going to get for my birthday. If you go to musiciansfreind.com and read the reviews.

Hi,
I think that 5K is going to be my limit. I know I can get a used Altus for that. That's what I am leaning toward. If I want a new flute, the Haynes is in that range. But I would rather buy used.

I don't like Gemeinhardts. I have A SHB in about 130 pieces as my experiment take apart and overhaul flute. (I only paid about $40 bucks for it.) If I can't get it back together in good working order, I am not going to loose any sleep. Some kid had used it as a baseball bat. The headjoint is trashed and the footjoint has about a million dings. I think my Yamaha is way better. I even like my old Armstrong 103 better. But everyone likes what they like. Some people like Powell some people like Muramatsu. Thanks for the suggestion though.

I have never even heard of Dean Yang. Where are they made Mbrowne?