I own a Custom Gemeinhardt 3SB Flute, with an inline g, solid silver, b-foot, gold plated mouth piece. I've had it since 7th grade and now am in 10th grade. It's been a really good flute. I have never been out of tune when out teacher checks, hardly ever has any problems a few pads have been replaced and it's easy to play. I was first chair in 8th grade and since my high school is small and I am the only 10th grade flute player, I will be first chair for my Junior and Senior year. I don't know much about flutes and the best type, etc. I got it for a really good price, ($400) at a local second hand store... I never thought much about my flute until we had a essay for band about our type of instrument. I'm now wondering in my flute is a good one, a general price range for a flute like mine, if it's a good flute because I'm planning to do something in college with music/play in the band, and any other info you want or can give me... I already wrote my essay it's jsut for my personal info...
~Aliceandra~

So what would you like to know exactly? You want to know that your flute is good or not? If you really like it and sound on really good then just keep it. Or go to the local store and try a bunch of flute like: altus, miyazawa, muramatsu, maybe yamaha.

<Added>

maybe you can try offset-G as well.. so comfortable :PPP

If it is a good flute for you then it is a good one. Do I like them? No. I used to play on one back in HS. If you planned on majoring in music then I would change it but if it works for you, then it is fine. Is there better flutes out there? Yes.

wow thats awesome that as my first open hole flute it got me through a lot in high school lol i do agree if you are going to major in music or even minor you will need a better flute.I have been playing on the same flute for year till i sold mine Try every flute you can get your hands on and ask people to listen to you and get there advice.Your Geminhardt is a good flute for high school though everyone in my section had one including me. I have own three geminhardt i think it been awhile

I own the exact same flute (minus the gold lip plate and with the offset G) and I personally love it. I bought mine for a little over $800 brand new from Ebay. There are better flutes out there, but your Gemeinhardt will definitely get you through high school. If you are comfortable with that flute, then stick with it. When you're ready to upgrade, take some of the suggestions that have already been made. Play different types of flutes, do some research, find what's in your price range, etc.

Gemeinhardt suffers from an all too typical problem in that their designs are decades old. Now, they aren't bad, or weren't twenty or thirty years ago, but everyone else has moved on.

They're harder to play and less flexible. the mechanisms also are kind of kludgy. Now, it is a serviceable flute, and will work just fine. but if you are going into anything in college that uses it, you'll quickly run into a wall with it. Also, the flutes last about 6-10 years before they are in serious need of major repairs. My old original Gemeinhardt, which I keep for sentimental reasons (worth almost nothing and also was my first instrument) I can play for exactly ten minutes without having to readjust the screws. It's way beyond worn out.

My fifteen year old Yamaha still works by comparison, though it has had a few parts worked on.

The real questions is what's your potential budget for a flute? Used doesn't seem to be a problem, thankfully, which is good - let someone else eat the depreciation. Also, what kind of playing do you plan to do? After all, solo work is different than orchestral playing.

Thanks eveyone yes money is a issue right now but I got the flute I have now because my old one basically died... the repairs would cost more than the flute that I have now. Your replies are very helpful and I basically understand that my flute won't work well for college...
~Aliceandra