Yuppies and such tend to buy these high-end flutes and sell them just as quickly - more for bragging rights than actually needing a good tool to use.

Excuse me?! I take offense to that. I am NOT a yuppie and certainly didn't buy it for bragging rights either! I bought a Powell because I fell in love with it and struggled with intonation issues on my Yamaha. I have VERY sensitive ears to pitch. I get payed for using my flute and it has paid itself off and has been well worth every penny.(Yes, before you assume I bought my own flute.) I was able to afford this flute because I didn't waste my money on college and major in flute. I am sorry, but I really am tired of the stigma that comes attached to people that play on Powell flutes. We are categorized as automatically being rich, yuppies, snobby and so forth. It is just another brand of flute that is just as expensive as many other brands out there. People, I am NOT rich. If I was, we would have bought the house that I REALLY wanted when looking through houses today.

Okay, rant done for now..

<Added>

Oh and one more thing. I have worked my butt off for over 20 years on the flute. I am not some crappy player. I deserve a nice flute after all of it. I could see if I was some mediocre player, then I would play on a mediocre flute.

No offense meant. I just pointed out that there are a lot of them for sale at any one time(you don't seem to be interested in the least in selling yours, right?), and how this is due in part to people wanting "the best" and then later getting bored with it or needing the money for something else.

Guitars are similar. there are a lot of high-end models floating around that obviously don't get played much by most of the owners.(and those that do, aren't selling - heh)

No offense meant? You basically called anyone that plays on a Powell a yuppie and get them for bragging rights. There are a few people on this forum that do play on a Powell and we are not supposed to be offended by this?

Do you think you would get offended if I put a label on people whom played on a Yamaha by saying that they must be poor trailer trash? (By the way, that was only an example, I don't think this at all!)

I don't have any opinion on any (well known) branded flutes, since I simply haven't played enough to make any kind of informed statement.

But I do have a powell headjoint, which I love to bits. It's 12 years old, and I bought it - with a student yamaha 281 body - because my previous flute had just been stolen when our house was broken into, and that was the best way I could spend the money I had spare to buy a new flute (the insurance payout was laughable). Nothing yuppie about moi!

In my mind, there are two types of buyers - the "gotta have the best" type and the serious artists.

I feel completely comfortable with saying that most people who buy these top-end flutes are the former "yuppie" types, which seems to be backed up by the number of Haynes and similar brands that are always for sale and usually are hardly played at all.

Now as for the people *here*, no - we're mostly all artists and professionals here who use whatever instruments that we have to actually make music with. We buy the best because we want a serious tool to get the job done. I meant no disrespect to anyone here - but there are a lot of yuppies and the like who do buy these without the skill or intention to really use them to their potential.

But that's okay. Really. It just means that you can find good condition used examples all over the place without really trying very hard. As a result, you can find a used Porsche often quite a bit easier than you can find a used Viper or other sports car.

The same could be said for instance, about Porsche. There are those who love them and drive them until the wheels fall off and then there are the ones who use it as a status symbol and often barely let it out of the garage. Sadly, the latter type seem to outnumber the purists.

Case in point. Cars.com. Porsche 911 from 1999 to 2009, $5K+(to weed out most of the the salvage crud), private party only, under 20K miles.

1368 found.

1251 found with 20K plus miles.

An awful lot of people buy these cars with no intention of really actually using them on a daily basis(shame, really)

<Added>

Sorry - a sentence or two got deleted in that middle paragraph. - You get my point(was bringing up cars as an example)

I am still a dabbler on the flute, but I am working very had to become acceptably good.

<Added>

(Stinking button! I didn't hit post!)

I bought a used Muramatsu EX in April and I love it. I think that is really has helped me devlop my embochure. My intonation is improving. All of this has happened for a couple of reasons.

1. I really love this flute. Having a flute that I really like makes me want to practice more.

2. I have gotten really serious about going back to school and finishing my degree because I have such a fun instrument. It also helps that I have found a college that I might be able to pass the audition for the music department.

3. I have joined a wind ensamble playing a different instrument in hopes of getting some flute parts. ( That worked out. I got two flute parts because there were not enough percussion parts for me to play.)

So I guess that I am of the opinion that if you can afford a nice flute than go for it! I liked my Yamaha, but I had some serious intonation problems with the upper register that I just couldn't fix. My lips are still not as flexable as I would like them to be or as they probably should be. The scale on the Muramatsu is working out fantastically for me. I am really glad that I made this purchase.

I am going to play this flute until I can upgrade it for a solid silver forever flute with some of the features that I really want. I will be buying another used flute if I can find the perfect match. Unfortunately for me, there are not a lot of open hole off set G flutes out there with a C# trill, a split E and a D# roller. I really don't want to spend 8k on my next flute.

well, whatever you get, at whatever cost, the audience will never ask what kind of flute you are playing, they just care what you sound like...

Hi Guys!!

Finally.... I got my flute. After so many problems I've had in my family so that's why I delayed buying a new flute... Cuz I had to give my money to parents. LOL. So. I tried a bunch of flutes at the local shop in Toronto... I tried Muramatsu GX, EX. I really liked it. I tried Altus 907, 1107, 1207 I als liked them. I tried Miyazawa PA202, Br-602 (that one was just for "fun", cuz I can't afford almost &10.000 flute lol) and Yamaha 674H. I tried Sankyo and it was horroristic and Powell too... Wich I really liked is Altus and Miyazawa (MZ7head joint). So I ended up with Miyazawa PA402. MZ7 headjoint cut. I am sooo happy!!! I've been waiting forever now... :P

If the MP3 file on your profile here is any indication, you are a VERY good flutist. I hope you enjoy your new upgrade flute!

Congratulations. I hope you love your new flute.

If the MP3 file on your profile here is any indication, you are a VERY good flutist. I hope you enjoy your new upgrade flute!

yes it is :D

rofl well i play on a 30k+AUD solid gold powell and if that makes me a yuppie i'm proud to be one i work hard for my money and enjoy the finer things in life i never did music in uni and dont play profesionaly just because i have the disposable income to be able to buy one dosent mean that i or anyone elce should have to cop a hard time from people that are only jelouse because thay dont and cant afford to own the same i dought there is anyone in this forum that wouldent buy the very best if thay were in the same position to do so, pull ya head in and get over it.

Well, that is good for you I am glad you like your flute. I wouldn't be so quick though to jump to conclusions about people being jealous or not able to afford one. You may be on the right track with that in mind, but I am sure it does not go for ALL people.

PS. I am jealous! Haha! If I liked the sound of gold, I would so want one!!! They are so pretty!

haha I've changed my mind I'm wanting a platinum one, the top model and tomorrow in the morning I'll be there at the local music store's door and I'm gonna be the first one who's just gonna buy an instrument. of course my parents can afford it :D lmfao

if I liked the sound of gold I also would want one!!!! I agree with that.