Those are all very well made, respected flute brands. For what it's worth, I prefer the Yamaha or Miyazawa. I had a Muramatsu flute for a couple of years and sold it. Although it was mellow and dark, I had a lot more trouble getting anything but mellow and dark from it. The Yamaha and Miyazawa play for flexibly for me.

I share the same experience as Tim with the Muramatsu flute. I used to own a DS about four years ago until I switched to a Powell. The Muramatsu was very nice, but I do find them harder to change colors on and be more flexible. I like my EX as a backup flute, but I wouldn't want it as my main flute. It is nice to have for when I am in the mood for a dark mellow sound. One of the reasons I sold my Muramatsu DS is because it didn't project in ensembles like I needed. It tend to get more muddled. It may have just been my ears and was projecting, you know how the mind can be fooled at times.

I dont really like just only the dark, mellow sound even if it is in a high range....

I have just been browsing in the forums here and I found out everyone like muramatsu but only at the beginning! My teacher told me not to get a miyazawa because its weight is too light than other standard weight flutes and get a muramatsu and she also has a muramatsu but after she said maybe they already changed the style and upgraded to a better and realiable instrument as before they were. I don't really like Muramatsu because of their keys... I have shorter fingers... I fell in love with miyazawa though. I am going to try, of course, the muramatsu (DS) and will compare to miyazawa402's. Maybe she's right but maybe not.

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Oh yeah and I sounded very well on Yamaha, even though almost no one likes it. At the shop when i tried the Yamaha 674H and the miyazawa402 the guy told me miyazawa has a better tone. So it was me who made the sound. In my opinion Yamaha student flutes are perfect for students, but the more expensive professional ones are not that good in their tone. That's me. I am still hesitating though.

I love my Muramatsu. The reason I bought it is because I have small hands and I could reach all of the keys.

I love the dark sound. I have an EX. I am considering getting a DS. I spent a few hours trying different flutes and I decided that I like the high end Yamahas and the Muramatsu flutes. I still haven't had the chance to play for a while on a straight Powell. I think that they are hard to find at most of the flute shops because of price. I guess that I am going to have to get one on trial from flute world before I decide to get a new flute. But that is a couple of years off.

I'm a big fan of the Yamahas, but tht's mostly because I like the sound of their headjoints - at least for the price that is.

On the 674H.. Get the 574H. It's identical other than the material being silver plated versus silver alloy. Maybe 1% difference in sound. Maybe. Yamaha's 500/600/etc mid-range series might as well be designed and made by robots there is so little difference between the two.

Save some money - get the same sound. Win-win.

674H should be made by hands... at least on the website it says hand made flute... but maybe they lie... I am going to get a miyazawa 402's than muramatsu or yamaha... I just don't like the yamaha's sound.

There are other brands out there you know. If you (or your parents?) are going to fork over that amount of money then I would try to get my hands on more flutes. It sounds too much like you are are getting persuaded by others opinions too much. That is why it is a good idea you try for yourself and make up your OWN mind.

That is what I am going to do. I'll try the whole bunch of flutes and I'll make up my own mind. I just needed other's opinion about the flute mechanism and durability. Let's say I pick a flute wich sounds good and after 4-5 months I might have to brig it to the repair shop because it has a bad mechanism. That's what I want to avoid.

Note - the Yamahas are hand-made(or at least partially, like all flutes these days). My point about the robots is that the difference between the two is 100% marketing. Even pros can't tell the difference because Yamaha's own quality controls and specs are so exacting as to basically make any difference inaudible.

This generally also is true for most other brands. Metal composition makes little or no difference compared to the headjoint. They get around this in most cases by putting their better headjoint on the pricier models.

The smart money then is to just the cheaper body and the upper model's headjoint. In some cases, like with the Yamahas and Pearls(plus several others I'm sure) - the silver plated pro models and the silver models are 100% identical other than the silver content.

No need to spend $2500-$3000 in that case. win-win.

Here is an idea. Who cares about brand, right? Just go for the most expensive flute that your parents will buy you. Make sure to get all the gizmo's and gadgets with it too! Hell, why not splurge a little and get a gold flute while you are at it. You NEED to have this since you are going into grade 10, it is a must!

Sorry for the rant. I am so sick and tired of seeing these type of posts. Bad day too...

Kara!

Honey, you misunderstood me... I just need a better flute. I don't need the most expensive one. I just need a flute wich I sound very good on. My parents won't buy a flute for me cuz we're not as rich like you... I'll work and spare money and I'll get it, hopefully, for christmas I'll get one for myself. I'm okay with my nickel-flute now... but my C footjoint pads are garbage now... and I think the mechanism on the whole flute too, getting so bad. Keys are tarnished body has some black/dark spots... People are so amazed that I can make a really good sound on it and they don't know anything about my flute condition... Hard to play on it... I need a new/better flute. So I think I am going to get a nice one.

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I meant under "nice one" like a good one what I play on with so brilliant, warm, nice tone. And it doesn't have to be the most expensive one or the gold one... By the way I don't like the gold flute's sound... I like he miyazawa's sound.

Oh heavens.. I wish I were rich, but thanks for thinking so.

Really, I am sorry. When you said you were going into grade 10 I assumed that you were in High School. I really thought that you were another one of those kids that posts wanting a new flute because Mom or Dad was going to buy it. It is crazy how things have gotten out of hand in this society today. It just erks me to see post after post on it. Of course you deserve a new flute. You are an adult that is going to pay for it yourself and earn it. Again, I am so sorry for the misunderstanding.

)) No problem )) I didn't know at the first time what you were talking about and also didn't know kids get flute their parents easy like this... Now I am "jealous" too about those kids who want a new flute and they just tell to their parents "Mommy, daddy I need a silver/gold flute!" and they get it within 1-2 weeks and after 1 year they have to put it in the garbage because they don't take care of their instrument. That flute is going to serve me lot of years. That's why I was asking you and others opinion about flute brands wich is the most reliable.

Don't be jealous You are going to work hard for your flute as I did and appreciate it that much more. It is much more rewarding that way! I am sickened by this sort of thing that happens with kids getting handed these handmade flutes like it is nothing, but certainly not jealous. I have the flute of my dreams! (Okay, well it would be nice to have engraved keys!) I am still confused though, what did you mean by you are going into grade 10?

I am guilty however of something.. I did not buy my first very nice semi pro flute. My husband bought me a Yamaha 581 the first year we were married. I had gotten into the the Symphony for the first time and was struggling on an Armstong. I cherished that flute so much!! I still kick myself for ever selling it, it had so much sentimental value

Hi!

Yesterday I had a rehearsal and my teacher told me I must buy a new flute cuz that one what I got is not good: it leaks, and it has a terrible tone. :D And I told her of course I will as soon as I can. She said it's ok I still can practice on it for a meantime. I meant Grade10: she said I am between grade 7-8 and I still have gaps what we need to fill in cuz she said I started to play otar taktashivili and however I am not at that level yet. I started chaminade concertino and however I still need more practice and need to fill those gaps what i've skipped. So it means I can't play these pieces yet. So she said in May I'll reach Grade10 level, cuz I learn too fast. :P I was happy when she told me these things