Would you reconmend a Sonare flute?. I heard the Sonare 7000 was great for a advanced student model. What do you think? My other choice was the Powell Signature Series Flute. The Signature is 1000 dollars more than the Sonare. Is the extra 1000 dollars worth it? Please help!

The big question is, would you buy a different item of engineering such as a CAR, made in China?

If the answer is that you would be very careful about its mechanical quality, then the same applies to Chinese flutes, even with Powell names on them, and a head joint from USA.

There have been some rather negative rfeports about their mechanical quality. If one of hundreds of aspects of mechanical design or manufacture fails, then the flute fails to play well. You may well get a failure every couple of months - who knows.

"There is hardly anything in the world that a man can not make a little worse and sell a little cheaper. And people who consider price alone are this man`s lawful prey."
- John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

Find out more about the Signature and where IT is made.

I would recommend Sonare, all the way. It is a fantastic model, and it has a beautiful tone.

Have you tried adjusting the mechanism back to reliability, say after 2 or 3, or more years? If there are problems with substandard manufacture of the mechanism (in China or Taiwan), then that is when problems really start to show up.

Also, most Chinese and Taiwanese mechanism is made from very soft metal that easily bends out of adjustment.

If you can go to a music shop and ask if you try them, see which suits you, not what other people recommend

AND!!...... ask an UNBIASED (i.e. in no way linked to sales) technician who has had some experience in working on them.

I am a Powell retailer and stock the Sonares as well. We too, at first, were skeptical about the sonare line.

In fact, we did not take them on when they first came out. we were not thrilled with the original sample of the now 6000 model that we received 4+ years ago.

However, Powell has control over the flute construction in both China and Taiwan for the Sonares. They drastically improved the flute.

Todays model 5000 is a better built and better playing flute then the original 6000 from 4 years ago. Todays 6000 is better then the 5000.

Powell has done a superb job with the Sonare line. I hand the 5000 and 6000 to teachers and ask them where the flute is made after they have played it. Based on the quality of the flute, they all say USA. Imagine their surprise when I tell them China.

we have had absolutely zero problems with construction/build or readjustments down the line. We have been selling them (quite well) in our shop for well over a year. Zero problems.

My point, we have no questions about the quality of the flute now. They are absolutely fantastic.

Now to the original post, yes I do think that the Signature is worth the extra money. It is by far a more refined flute and is a better playing flute. The signature is also completely made in the USA by Powell andthe fact that it is a Sterling silver body head & keys setup with Straubingers at its price range is absolutely unbeatable.

I thank you for your comments, and experiences. It is good that improvements are being made.

Just a couple of things that seem rather odd in your post:

"I hand the 5000 and 6000 to teachers and ask them where the flute is made after they have played it. Based on the quality of the flute, they all say USA. Imagine their surprise when I tell them China."

USA most certainly does not have a monopoly on the manufacture of quality instruments. In fact the reputation has been rather tainted by makers of quite shoddy flutes.

On the other hand, the reputation of Japan has few blemishes. Other countries also make superb instruments. Your survey seems to serve only to demonstrate the ignorance of the people involved. So I would not trust any comments made by them.

"We have had absolutely zero problems with construction/build or readjustments down the line. We have been selling them (quite well) in our shop for well over a year. Zero problems."

One year is a VERY short time for problems in manufacture to emerge. I have worked on many flute models which have become VERY disappointing after three or four years, in spite of being impressive when new. Examples are premature sloppiness in the mechanism, non-level tone holes which show up as pads become firmer with use, and ghastly cosmetic issues such as pitted plating.

A one year evaluation is hardly valid.

BTW, marketing aside, improvements have been touted for Jupiter flutes for many years now, but I have yet to encounter one where I can say to the repair customer that it was a good buy. Hope seems quite a long way from reality still with Chinese and Taiwanese instruments, although given a few more years, my guess is that they will monopolise the manufacture of top instruments.

In the mean time, I suggest buyers still retain a healthy degree of caution. If you want valid comments on the real quality of instruments, consult an astute technician who works regularly on the models concerned, and plenty other makes and models beside, and who has no interest in marketing of any particular makes/models. A rather rare animal!

Sorry to dredge this topic up, but I found it on a Google search.

I have the luxury of having an instructor, that is not associated with a music store, and the ability to confer with one of the nations highest regarded flute technicians, to get an honest opinion on flutes.

While my instructor hasn`t done anything with the Sonare`s. The technician recommended the Sonare as well as DiMedici. Either of which I have to travel out of town to test.

Is Muramatsu EX out of your price range?

http://www.muramatsu-america.com/instr.htm

Frankly yes...As for right now my flute playing is for my own enjoyment, and I don`t forsee any need for a professional level flute. I`m planning on test playing a Sonare 6000 next weekend, but I may hold off purchasing any flutes till after the Flute Roadshow comes to town at the end of January.

I wish I could afford a Powell Signature, like what His Lairdship Ian plays, but while I`m a DINK adult, I still have to be realistic in what I can afford.

Fair enough.

I would also have a good look at what model of Yamaha you could afford. At least the mechanism (if it is above a student level flute) will be made in Japan, known for high quality and precision, rather than Taiwan or China, which do nto have anywhere near that reputation. Remember, you are buying precision machinery. Would you buy a Chinese car?

Would you by an GM or Ford now?

Who, me?

The last largely non-Japanese vehicle I chose to own was an Escort.

But in a sense motor vehicles are a poor analogy, because for them, in developed countries, there are legal safety requirements affecting mechanical quality and reliability in general. Not so with musical instruments.

Some countries make mainly quite low standard goods. A few - not many now that USA has joined the rat-race to be associated with produce a good share of junk - have a reputation for almost exclusively very high quality products.

Yes you...I believe that automobiles are a good analogy. That`s why I asked if you would buy a GM or Ford now.

Most Hondas for American distribution are manufactured in Ohio, not only to meet U.S. regulations, but to also the Honda standard, enforced by Japanese supervision.

As far as I can tell, only the body and foot are made overseas,on new equipment,to the Powell standard. With the Signature headjoint still built and hand-cut in the states.

At this point I`m still looking, but without playing another flute since I`ve gained more competancy, is why I`m going to test play instruments in my price range. But currently based on price and features, and the recomendation of a technician (not salesperson), the Sonare has my first consideration.

If you want, we can debate our various socio-economic theorys, but China and Taiwan`s manufacuturing capabilities has rapidly evolved.