I am purchasing a flute for my 8 yo child. I have narrowed the search down to two instruments. A used Yamaha 221 (with curved & straight head) or a Gemeindardt SP with curved & straight head. The first instrument is used and in excellent condition and selling for $300.00 less than the Gemeinhardt. I want the best flute for her to start on so which would be the best choice?

Yamaha every time.

From the discription, it sounds like the Yamaha is used and the Gemeinhardt is probably new.

As stated before be careful of the fake Yamaha's they aren't any good.

I would always pick the Yamaha.

The Yamaha is being sold by a music store so I should be 'safe' that it's not a fake? It is used, the Gemeinhardt is new.

How do I tell if the Yamaha is real or fake?

300$ difference.. could it be you are paying too much?

I don't understand what you mean by that...?

The used Yamaha is $300 and the new Gemeinhardt is $600. I don't play the flute so I can't test them to see if one sounds better or plays better. I'm going on 'looks' alone. The used Yamaha looks to be in great condition.

i'd go yamaha in the long run it wil be better (as you can upgrade the hj)

Some of the memebers here can tell the difference between a real and fake.

One clue is that on a fake Yamaha the word Yamaha has a black border.

It does not have the words Established 1887? I think that is the year. I don't have a Yamaha nearby to check.

Go to the Yamaha website and look under flutes and see if it is one of the current models.

If you don't see it look under history. It has a listing of all the older flutes made.

If you are buying from a reputable store. It should be real. If not, they should let you return it. If they won't allow returns, I might not want to buy a flute from them.

A used flute is a great buy for a student. Especially if you are not sure if they are going to stick with it. Yamahas are great and retain more value than other brands of student flutes.

I've tried both (and yes the Yamaha was real) and I have to say that I much prefer a good Gemeindhart. Gemeindharts are sometimes more expensive than Yamahas, but the tone of a Gemeinhardt is much sweeter to me. Then again, it all depends on personal preference and what shape both of the instruments are in. The particular Gemeinhardt you are referring to is one I happen to own. It is a great instrument for a beginner/intermediate player, and can also be used for the beginning advanced player. It will last quite some time.

Oh no...what to do!

It's called "the agony of choice"

i.e we all go through this same feeling now and then. Some of us, almost permanently.

The best thing would be to try both, but if you do not play the instrument you cannot do it personally. Closest best is to have someone who plays flute give them a try. And the teacher you plan for your daughter would be a very good candidate.

Also, teacher's opinions may be important because sometimes a teacher can be a little biased pro or against a brand. Of course one is free to make one own's choice, or simply change the teacher, but in my opinion, it is preferable not to contradict teacher preferences from the very beginning. There will be time to do that in the future, if it becomes necessary. Your child may also have much to say when the moment arrives.

Some members have given their opinions in this Forum, concerning this potential problem with teachers and it has been subject of debate in the past.

What I am saying is just my personal position, as I consider the teacher to be one of the most important factors in the success of a learning process. Perhaps, even more important than the difference in the instrument, if we talk of a reasonable level of quality and for beginner levels.

I hope I am not confusing you still more.

Short of all that, you can take other's experiences into account, but they are all relative.

In my case I own an old Gemeinhardt (a vintage model M2). I think this older model has been replaced by the SP.

I used it for four years when I started learning the instrument and it served its purpose rather well. Then it began to have problems: pads leaking, screws that did not hold in place, adjustment problems and the like.

So I bought a Yamaha two years ago, of the intermediate series (YFL 600). There is a *big* difference between them although it is not fair to compare them, as the Gemeinhardt is 30 years old, with different mechanics and a more primitive headjoint.

The YFL is new, silver made and more sophisticated. Price difference is also*big* (in the order of 2,000$...)

In spite of that, if the instrument is mechanically OK (keys, pads not leaking, no dents, perfect blowing edge), I would go for the YFL 211. Many people are very happy with this model and you save 300$.

Good luck.

<Added>

Sorry, I mean that YFL 221.

At this level, having played both myself over the years(though it was a while ago - heh), they both are about as reliable. They both are relatively the same in terms of options.

1:The Gemeinhardt has a slightly better tone but requires more work to achieve it.

2:The Yamaha has a dead-simple to get tone but not quite the quality.

Since most beginning players won't get to the point where the Yamaha will hold them back for several *years*(maybe 1 more on the Gemeinhardt - maybe), the smart choice is to get the basic Yamaha. And $300 is a very good price from a shop. Double-win

Excellent. Both of your replies have made up my mind to save the $300 and go with the Yamaha.



<Added>

Thank you to everyone for your input. I appreciate it very much.

Good choice! Most people would (especially teachers and pros) would recommend Yamaha. Gemeinhardt's can be had for a more reasonable price when buying new verses Yamaha which is annoying, but craftsmanship speaks for itself on the Yamahas.