I am still looking for a possible backup flute. My teacher has also joined the search, to save her expensive Muramatsu in risky trips.

I have been offered a YFL 271 new in All flutes (for my teacher, who needs open holes, inline G, they propose the YFL 281). But the 271 is a little over my budget.

Does the YFL271 resemble the YFL221 or the YFL211 I could find more easily in the used market?

They also suggest the Trevor James Performers PF (Privilege) RE flute, which is cheaper. But I have no idea of this instrument, I believe it is a Taiwan made flute.

Any experience with any of these, to share? Thanks

For the Yamaha, the first number is the 'series', or class, of the flute- 200-series being all silverplate, 300 series with a silver headjoint, etc up to the 800 series which is handmade, silver keys and mechanism (not plated) and soldered tone holes.

The second number indicates another aspect of the body, usually closed/open holes, inline/offsetG and splitE/no splitE.

The third number is the 'body', or engineering/design/scale of the flute. The latest body type is a 4 (like your 674), replacing the 1 body, the earlier model has a 5. Older models don't have a third number.

Then, an H tacked on the end means there is a B footjoint.

I have a modified Yamaha 285 to sell, by the way- open holes, inline G. Someone added a B footjoint and a solid silver, handmade CF headjoint, and put it all in a nice leather-covered french case. Pretty nice flute, I like the headjoint fairly well. I bought it thinking I'd keep the B-footjoint for my Yamaha 881 for the very infrequent times that I need it, but it doesn't fit. I was going to sell the headjoint and keep the footjoint, but now I think I'll have to simply sell the whole thing.

Thanks. I have PMd you.