I recently visited a local music store and tried a Yamaha flute and an Armstrong flute. My family and I agreed that the Yamaha sounded so much better. The tone was crisper while the Armstrong's tone was more airy. WHat are your opinions on these to brnds?

The models are
Armstrong 303B
Yamaha 361H

Thanks, but I am a student and only want a reliable intermediate flute, especially open holed. I know many people think you should just get a student flute and a professional head joint but I think that a intermediate flute would be a better choice for me. And yes I've decided the Yamaha is the flute for me.

I'd like some more opinions, as long as they don't have to do with buying a head joint. Now the Yamaha is $795 new. Is that a good price?

An intermediate flute is simply a STUDENT flute with holes. Please tell us why you need holes and what you will be using them for so we may better understand your needs. I agree, unless you are a prodigy, in the sixth grade a professional headjoint would be a waste. Please do not buy into what band directors or music store sales people tell you about having to have the holes.

Hi, I actually own the Armstrong 303B. It may depend on the player,but I'm able to get a very clear crisp tone out of my flute. It's beautifully made, and I love it. What I have found is that it has a great range. I can go from the lowest note (b) to the highest (c). I love the low notes on my flute, they come out very rich and clear. And I can get the high notes without to much difficulty. The high notes are also very clear. This is just from my experience, but I hope it helps. It's actually a professional flute, not intermediate. (as it says on Music123)

I have played on a yamaha once... but I can't say anything really about it seeing that it was broken!!

Thanks. The Armstrong did sound nice but when I tried the Yamaha it just sounded so much better. Your Armstrong might be the perfect flute for you but I think the Yamaha is better for me

It's actually a professional flute, not intermediate. (as it says on Music123)

No, it is NOT a professional flute. Again, it is a student flute with holes. It is great that you like your flute though, that is all that really matters. But, do please take some time and do some research on flute brands and such before buying into what music123 says. They only want to sell you an instrument.

If you play and love an instrument, I always find it odd that people don't want to know more about them. I love to research flutes because I want to know the facts. But I suppose that is just me. I have to admit when I was a kid, I thought my Gemeinhardt 3SHB was the bomb. That was before computers were very popular and I did not have one to do my research. Once I got my first computer, I was on it all the time researching them. It would save a lot of people embarrassment if they would get to know their facts on their instrument. Just a thought

So would you say that the Yamaha 316H is a good model if you were to get an open hole flute?