Hello everybody,

I need to buy a new flute before I begin my college music studies this fall. I've been shopping around online, and I've gotten somewhat familiar with different models. I've decided, with my professor's help, that I need to buy an open-holed, solid silver flute (or one with silver keys, at least) with a B foot, offset G, C# trill mechanism, and E facilitator. The Powell Signature and Muramatsu AD are my front-runners right now, but I don't necessarily have my heart set on a particular model. Anyway, my budget is pretty tight---$4000 USD is pretty steep for me. $5000 is my absolute limit. My question for the knowledgeable members of this forum is, do you have a flute of the quality I've described that you would be willing to sell for less than $4000? Maybe you have several flutes and you don't play some of them anymore....I would gladly take one of them off your hands. I do have a Gemeinhardt 2SP closed-hole student flute that I would be willing to offer as a partial exchange, if you or someone you know could use it.

If any of you can help me, please let me know. Thanks!

I think like this no body will be able to sell you. You must try online. If you want any specific quality in the product you want to buy, then contact the admin of an online shopping site related to your product. they will surely help you in this matter

Author:
Working with a wedding planner and event management company

Sorry, gee I just don't have an extra handmade flute to sell. Not for $4000 even if I was willing to sell my handmade flute. Good luck with that one especially if you want a flute with solid silver key work also. You never know though. Have a look on usedfutes.com or eBay. You would be very lucky to find a Muramatus or Powell with those specs for under $5000. I sold my Powell Conservatory with all the specs you listed WITHOUT a headjoint for $5,300 last year. Just keep your eyes open. You may want to try the Galway flute chat forum as there are more professionals on that site that might have a flute that you are looking for. There aren't too many adults on this forum as far as I am aware of.

There are several Muramatsu AD flutes listed on eBay. None are auctions, but are "buy it now" pricing or "best offer" sales. All of them are priced below $4000.

Search eBay for "Muramatsu AD Flutes" if the link doesn't work:
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=muramatsu+AD+flute&_sacat=0&_odkw=muramatsu+flute&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313

Of course, there is some risk when buying on eBay. For expensive items like this, you might see if the seller will accept the money being held by a third party escrow until you receive the item. That way, both the buyer and the seller are somewhat protected from fraud. Maybe you will find that one of them is close enough that you could make the deal in person and better yet, try it before you buy it.

None of them have the C# trill or the E facilitator that the original poster is looking for. You can find them for around $4000, but again, it is much harder to find in that price range if you want the C# trill key. If you buy off eBay, just make sure they have a return policy. If not, there is Paypal protection, but it can be a pain to go through to get your money back sometimes if the seller is difficult.

Oops. I was reading quickly and skipped over the C# trill and E facilitator on the wish list.

For less than $100, most good flute shops can add the E facilitator to any flute, but the C# trill would add $500-750 to the cost of a used flute in that price range.

If yoou might try other brands, if not handmade, a new Yamaha YFL674 like mine could be OK for about half your budget.

What about a muramatsu EXIII?
no C# trill key though

Thanks everybody for your feedback! I kind of figured that the model of Powell/Muramatsu/Miyazawa/etc. that I want would go for way more than I really have on hand to pay, but I also figured that it was worth a shot. I may decide that I'd rather go into debt a little and get a flute that I know my professor would be pleased with (and that I would probably like, once the pocketbook pain subsided!). jose_luis and krosskuntryrunner, I don't think those flutes have all the features that I need/want....but thanks for your suggestions! musicman, I'll look for some sort of escrow service if I decide to buy off eBay or usedflutes.com or some site like that....thanks for the tip! DaveandKate, I may try the Galway forum....do they often have people selling flutes on there like the ones I suggested?

By the way....has anyone ever had any dealings with Woodwind & Brasswind (wwbw.com)? I just looked on there this afternoon....they are selling a Sankyo 401 with offset G/C# trill/B foot/RT-1 headjoint for $5099. I think I would have to get an E facilitator separately....but still, this price looks great---as long as the flute is of high quality! Is this a flute comparable to the Powell Signature or Muramatsu AD?
http://www.wwbw.com/Sankyo-401--Artist--Series-Handmade-Model-Professional-Flute-473156-i1483137.wwbw

why do you need a flute with all the bells and whistles? why need a b foot?

Patrick....my flute professor told me that I probably should get a flute with a B foot, a C# trill, open holes, and solid silver keys. He especially emphasized the keys, I guess so that I would get a high quality flute (since most flutes that have solid silver keys aren't at the bottom of the heap). He advised me regarding the inline vs. offset G and split E vs. E facilitator decisions, but told me that those were basically personal preferences. I want to have something for the E just in case I need it; and the facilitator is cheaper, less mechanically complicated (and, from what I hear, less potentially problematic), and removable if I decide that I don't need it.

There is nothing wrong with a flute with silver plated keys. In fact the Muramatsu EX, is mechanically the same and built the same as their top of the line all solid silver DS model. In a blind test I actually preferred the silver plated EX over the DS. It was lighter on the hands too. I personally decided to go with a handmade flute with silver plated keys because the key work felt lighter to me. I would not recommend a Powell Signature. The rest of the Powell line is good, but I thought the mechanism was horrible on the few that I tried. I also do not like the headjoint that comes on them. You would be much further ahead by going with a Conservatory if you want a Powell IMHO.
If it is YOU paying for the flute then do not get caught up in metal and extra gadgets. Now, if it is your professor who is going to insist on these things then have him/her pay for it. A Muramatsu EX, Miyazawa 202, for example which I plated models would get your though college just fine and be a lot nicer on you wallet.

Now, if it is your professor who is going to insist on these things then have him/her pay for it.

I sympathize, but unfortunately, the reality is that some flute professors are prestigious enough that they carry enough weight to insist upon certain standards as a prerequisite to studying with them (i.e. having a flute that meets with their approval). You either meet those standards or you study elsewhere.

A similar situation occurs with some universities requiring that you buy a certain computer from the college as a prerequisite for admission. Perhaps it's not fair, but it is a reality.

I like your thinking, DaveandKate! lol But musicman may have a point, too....so I sent my professor an email. I guess we'll have to see what he says.

By the way, this is a link to my flute professor's website. Maybe this can clear up some of the teacher prestige/credibility issues.
http://www.conornelson.com/

Insisting on having solid silver keys is just ludicrous! I don't care if it is James Galway himself. Not everyone has the money coming out of their ears! Now you can see why I refused to go to college for flute. I hate the politics of it. Is going in debt to buy a flute worth a persons sanity? Some may say yes, but I strongly disagree.

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Please don't take offense by my point of view :) And don't get me wrong. While I may have not chosen to major in flute I really do applaud those who do or have. I understand that it is very hard work.