I have become a fan of Yamaha. I own a silver, intermediate model YFL674 and recently I replaced the original silver EC cut HJ by a silver Nagahara DA cut. It was a great change. But such a combination is around 4,500 US (new), could be too much for your budget and at that price level you could also have many other choices.

I have now a back flute, Yamaha YFL 211, and it is very, very good, very easy to play too. And cheap, as Tibbiecow pointed out. It is still a student flute, but you could upgrade it now or later for reasonable money with a new, more pro HJ.

This change may add some playing difficulty compared to the original CY cut HJ that comes with the YFL211, but will give you much improving potential. And it merits the effort, no doubt. After a few month of adjustment and practise, I am now beginning to sound close to my teacher's tone, this for the first time. We can now play duets without that sort of humiliation due to tone issues I felt before.

I must say that I had a Gemeinhardt (albeit an old model, the M3) when I started and it served me faithfully for some three years. But later it started having problems, requiring repairs and later I noticed that it was holding me back considerably, no matter what repairs were made. I now regard it to be valuable item only as a wall ornament.

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now a back flute: a back-up flute

I love Gemeinhardts! My notes are very much in tune and the flutes they make produce a beautiful tone....just as good as any other flute. It really depends on how you like the flute, though.

What top brands of flutes have you compared Gemeinhardts to and what level of playing are you at? If Gemeinhardts were just as good as any brand of flute, than why do professionals in top symphonies not play on them and why do they play brands such as Powell or Brannen over them? It all depends on what level and brands of flutes you are comparing these to. They are fine for beginner/students, but after that is another story.

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"I have the 4SS with the b foot and gold lip plate and it plays like a dream."

The 4SS is Gemeinhardts piccolo model, not flute model and they do not make a piccolo with a B foot. I think you may have gotten confused there :) Also, it is not the gold on the lip plate that will make it sound like a dream as that does absolutely nothing for the sound of it.

Why do I feel like I am always repeating myself on this forum? I wonder why I bother many times. I very much wish that the uneducated would stop trying to educate!

Why thank you Micron

I've tried out Pearl, Yamaha, and Jupiter flutes and still find that I like Gemeinhardts better. Our high school symphonic band flute players all have gemeinhardt flutes, and my private instructor has one, too. It doesn't really matter, though...just try to find flutes that you can try out so you know Sorry, my mistake...I have the KGM with gold lip plate. Pearl also has a nice tone - if you are considering that brand.

Floboe, so you have only ever compared a Gemeinhardt to student/intermediate brand flutes. You certainly can not compare a Gemeinhardt to a professional handmade flute and say it is just as good as any flute. It is not in the same class and is an unfair statment to make. In this case, the origianal poster is looking for a step up flute like something like a Muramatsu. If you don't have much experience on the topic where a person is need good solid advice, I suggest you not comment. This applies to others as well. I hate to be snarky, but this is the way that poor information gets spread around the internet all the time. I for one get very tired of the misinformation that some of the young ones post over and over again on boards like this.

Kate and Micron, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and does not have to think in the way you do. Plus, we're veering off track.

I suggest that you go to a music shop and try everything in your price range, plus a few flutes within $200-$300 of your budget. You can then choose which you like, and if it's a more expensive one, you'll know if you want to save for it. Also, take someone with you, to listen and help decide which you like best, and which sounds best.
Good Luck!

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Also, it seems the original poster cannot afford a professional flute, so there's absolutely no point to comparing any flute to a top, professional handmade flute, is there!

Kate and Micron, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and does not have to think in the way you do. Plus, we're veering off track.

Of course they are, I never said it wasn't. You didn't get the point. I am not saying that anyone is wrong just because they don't share the same opinion as me. So, you think Gemeinhardts are the best and better than any handmade flute. So be it. Ignorance is bliss...

Thank you, Pyface!

I find it very ingnorant that you voted my post down because you can not own up to possibly thinking that you may be wrong, inexpereienced or that your Gemeinhardt isn't the best. Pathetic. But hey, kids will be kids, right?

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"Also, it seems the original poster cannot afford a professional flute, so there's absolutely no point to comparing any flute to a top, professional handmade flute, is there!"

I brought it up because Floboe stated that he/she thought that Gemeinhardt played just as good as any other brand of flute. Well, there are other brands of flutes that just happen to be professional brands that are worlds apart from a Gemeinhardt. I was simply making a point. Gemeinhardt players get so defensive!

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PS. If it makes you feel any better I had the misfortune of having to play a Gemeinhardt 3SHB while in school. So I do feel your pain :)

Indeed. (Did anybody mention hand made?)

Yes somebody did....

You certainly can not compare a Gemeinhardt to a professional handmade flute and say it is just as good as any flute.

I think TC that you need to decide which instrument you're going to take more seriously. There's no point, for example, to spend money on an upgrade for both instruments...where you could spend it for one and get more bang for your buck. And if you decide flute really you just need to go out, give people your price range and try flutes. And bring your teacher along to help if he or she can come.

Umm, let's not get in an argument over what flutes to get(:
So, my mom decided that since our highschool is kinda stupid, i may have to quit
either the flute or violin depending on which I get into. For example, if
I get into Symphonic Band, I can't also be in Symphonic Orchestra, But if I get into the "lower" band, and I also make the Chamber or Symphonic Orchestra, I think I should be ok. Soo, I am going to probably wait till next year, (although I really would like a new one now) to get a new flute(: If I decide which flute I'm planning to get, I'll post it up, and I'd like all of your guys' opinions(: