I RENTED A GEMEINDHARDT AND AN ARMSTRONG EACH FOR A YEAR . I DIDNT HAVE TO REPAIR THE ARMSTRONG AT ALL AND THE GEMEINDHART WENT TO THE SHOP ...ALOT

I`m trying to buy a flute to use in college and the last two years of H.S. Which do you think is the best brand for that? Any suggestions on the model???

I think that Armstrong flutes are wonderful but some other players think that they sound fuzzy. For me the Armstong flutes work for me I know some others that would say otherwise but who is in the 1st chair and louder then the bass section? Well all flute players are different and we all have are own opinions. Just try them all and pick the one you like.

I was there it`s true, scary. who`s ever heard of a fute being louder than a trombone? You have now.

I know Yamaha Allegro is suppose to be a good name in flutes...So are the rest of them...

armstrongs are nice, good cut for the headjoint... the newer ones are alot better, and they are cheap. dont get a gemeinhardt, they arent very good... thin sound, and very tinny... it also depends on the player, however ive yet to hear someone who impresses me on a gemeinhardt =/...

Thanks guys. You`ve been lots of help. I was leaning towards Armstrong, but my dad keeps telling me to get a Gemeinhardt. I think that the brand name is just a little over-exaggerated. I think I`ll get an Armstrong.
JT

I have Armstrong Heritage No H 234 which I have been using for well over 20 years. It has been a wonderful flute to me. However i have always thought i had to work very hard around E and F. Do the new models fair better?

I started beginner band (6th gr.) back in 1979 with a used french open-holed silver Gemeinhardt that we bought second hand from a local graduating senior. At first, the open keyholes were difficult to cover completely, but once I mastered the fingerings,I was able to produce a beautiful sound. I played that flute for 6 years. I found mastering the open-holed flute first to be beneficial, in that I could pick up any closed-holed flute and not have to adapt my fingerings. However the students who started out with closed-hole Armstrongs were not able to cross over to open-holed instrumants as easily. It was frustrating for them to have to make that little extra effort that wasn`t required on their own first Armstrongs. We all agreed my Gemeinhardt produced a richer, more pleasing sound. It held up wonderfully and never required any major work or extended trips to a repair shop. My band director was able to do all minor servicing in his office.
My silver flute has a lovely whitish luster, whereas nickel-plated instruments have a darker, more grayish/steely tone. I definitely favored mine over the Armstrongs and Bundy`s that everyone else played. But again, the closed holes and even slightly smaller open holes of the Armstrongs were quicker and easier to master.
In 1985 I sold that flute to a neighboring 6th grade beginner. It saw her through her entire 7-years of Jr. High and H.S. band. She played at least 2 years in college and I know for sure she now continues to play at our church on a regular basis. She`s had the keys repadded, but has no other complaints or problems to report.
Last week my oldest daughter started 6th grade band and will also play flute. I will let her try several brands and styles before we decide to buy one. Gemeinhardt has a nice,informative website that we visited together, but we are continuing to shop around until we`re positive she`s found the one that`s right for her. I`m encouraging open-holed french fingerings, but she`ll be the one to decide what she prefers. I`m curious to see what she`ll choose!!

Yea I have one it is a god choice . That is the top pick in my school . Even my band teacher has one . .

You should really go to a music store and try a lot of different brands rather then just try to decide between Gemeinhardt and Armstrong.

When I went shopping for my new flute, I walked into ABI thinking that the only flute I wanted was a Yamaha or a Gemeinhardt.

In my opinion, Gemeinhardt flutes are not of such good quality, it was a ho hum expierience with every model I tried out. The Yamaha pro model kicked ass but it was $2,700. Pricey

I tried out every model (Armstrong, Pearl, Gemeinhardt, and Yamaha) and we ended up not buying a flute at that store. I definetly would have bought the Yamaha but they are way too expensive.

I went to a different music store that carried other brands, (Sligers Music), and I tried out Selmer, Armstrong and Emerson models.

The Selmer model I tried was utter crap, (the headjoint was cut all wrong and the pads were so jacked up it couldn`t play a note) it was brand new too.

Anyways, I ended up buying the Emerson EF8, which is an excellent flute, and it was the closest in quality flute to the pro model Yamaha.

So the biggest name doesn`t make it the best. Go try all the flutes in a music store and pick out the one YOU think is the best.

-Leslie

I cruised on this site trying to get info on a student flute for my daughter who is just learning to play this year in Middle School. I have a Gemeinhardt 2HS which I am reluctantly letting her use until I find something for her.

After reading the posts, I do agree on a few things. You DO need to try a few different brands. When I bought my Gemeinhardt I wanted a Yahama and then switch to buying a Gemeinhardt. I played at our local community college and wanted to finally by the flute I wanted. I also agree that flutes can make the tone and the player can make the tone. I played all through Jr High with a VERY crappy rental and sat first chair for 2 yrs. In my 3rd year my mom finally bought me a used Crown HAHA! But still sat 1st chair. My mom couldn`t afford anything else, my friends all had better flutes then I, but I played it really well and could play the heck out of that Crown.

I am very pleased with my Gemeinhardt and my hidden wish was for a open holed flute, but couldn`t afford it back in college on my budget. BUT, I am now looking for a student flute for my daughter. I don`t want anything to low in quality, but don`t think my Daughter needs a Gemeinhardt 2HS just yet... any suggestions? I am looking at the Yahama Student ones.

I went back to where I was looking at flutes for my daughter, and Yahama wasn`t what I was looking at.

Keep in mind this a Beginner 11 yr old.. can anyone give me some info on a Jean Baptiste or a Selmer to start her off on?? I am so use to my Silver head joint with Silver plated body that I am wondering about the brass/silver plated lower end ones.

Any thoughts?

my daughter has a gemeinhardt flute and i had bought it for almost 700 dollars and was told it is an excellent flute. i had asked the store about the armstrong flute and was told it is a very good flute as well. so i asked a person in a marching band and she had told me the she has had hers for about 13 years without any problems. it is all in the way you care for your instrument. so if you can afford an armstrong flute I say get one and care for it well and it should last a long time

I really like the Armstrong flute. My first flute was an Armstrong 104. I`ve tried my friend`s Geminhart student model and to me it seems like the high notes do not come out as well. She has tried mine and has said that it is easier to play and sounds richer then hers. I recently bought an Armstrong 80B and it is wonderful! It is completely sterling silver and the tone is excelent. I`ve heard that the Armstrong student models are not the best to buy, but they are very durible and in my opinion very reliable. The Armstrong pro- models have a great reputation and I would highly recommend an Armstrong over a Geminhart. I have not tried many other brands, but still my favorite is Armstrong. I haven`t even had to get the flute repaired. It still just depends on the flute player. My suggestion is to go to a store and try out the flutes they have. Choose the one that fits you best.