I found a brand new Symphony flute for a REALLY decent price, but seeing that it is so cheap makes me wonder if it is a "cheap" brand. I cant find anything about them, and i was just wondering if anybody could help me. Thank You.

Sorry to tell you this, but they are a cheap brand and not good at all. I friend of mine had one and her repairman refused to fix it and called in Chinese junk. He could have been nicer about it, at least! Remember, you get what you pay for. I really wish people stop selling all of those junk toy flutes. It is really bad when they call them a professional model! They ought to be shot. Hee! Hee! JK

Well then what do you think are the top flute brands out there? I am told that Gemeinhardt and Armstrong are good brands. But I have had a Gemeinhardt for 5 years now, and it has NOT been holding up very well. The silver finish is chipping off on the mouthpiece and there is always something wrong with my keys. (I take very good care of my instruments, so i know it`s not from me.) Any thoughts?

I would have to say that the top brands out there today are Powell, Haynes, Muramatsu and Brannen.

I`ve never heard of any of those brands. lol. but thank you very much for helping me.

Hi Brianna,

It really depends on how much you`re willing to spend on a new flute. Can you describe what is wrong with your keys?

Now you`ve said you`ve had you Gemeinhardt for 5 years, but did you purchase it new? Gemeinhardt flutes are warrantied for defects beyond normal wear and tear of the instrument.

"Gemeinhardt Limited Warranty: This instrument is guaranteed to the original purchaser, as registered with our company, against defective material and workmanship, excluding normal wear or deterioration. Plated finish cannot be guaranteed against deterioration due to perspiration acids, corrosive atmosphere, et cetera. This warranty does not cover pads. Tel #219-295-5280"

Oh, don`t listen to Piko! Gemeinhardt flutes are junk. He is the only one that just can`t admit this.

Brianna, I think a Gemeinhardt is sufficiently well made that if it is serviced PROPERLY, you will have no trouble for at least 2 years. It seems that you need to find a better technician.

Regarding the problem with the silver plating.... SOME players have particularly acid perspiration which plays havoc with any silver plating. BTW, the list of names that somebody provided up there were brands to choose from if you want to spend megabucks on a professional flute, which really is quite irrelevant to this thread.

If you want to try a different student flute, probably better made and more reliable, and according to the majority of players, plays a lot better than a student Gemeinhardt, then try Yamaha. But ALL student flutes need the attention of a GOOD technician if they are to be put in a RELIABLE state.

See the DC-Pro thread. Same sort of thing applies to this one.

"~~~" was me in the warranty post, but what in the world did I say?

Pulls out Crysal ball:
~~~ "Ohm" ~~~
I see...
A Jupiter flute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About my keys... i`ve had many little things happen to them. My F key wasn`t working one time, so i took it in, and they did the usual cleaning and such, and they fixed it so it would play, but it hasn`t been the same since. dont know how to explain it, sorry. But the major problem right now is with the middle finger key on the left hand. When i push the first finger key down on my RIGHT hand, the middle finger key on my LEFT hand goes down, which is NOT supposed to happen. IT`s almost like there`s something that is screwed in too tight, but i can`t seem to figure it out. I had a couple people look at it (not technicians), and they just couldn`t figure it out. It would be really cool if somebody could help me on that. (not that i`m expecting anyone to be able to, considering you can`t actually SEE my instrument.) I`m just afraid that if i take it in, i`ll have to pay a bunch of money, and they probably wont even fix it right. ...Frustration anyone? lol

oh yea... and i purchased the flute brand new 5 years ago. it`s a student 2sp model. (time to upgrade i think)

people play in the symphony play on thos flutes that is why it is called a symophony flute.

HAHA! uhm... no that`s not why they`re called Symphony flutes. it`s just a brand... duh?
p.s. sorry if i sounded rude, but you have no idea what you`re talking about. someone in a symphony might just HAPPEN to own a symphony flute (HIGHLY doubtful), but that doesn`t mean a thing.

It sounds as if your `A` key pivot is binding on the shaft that is connected to the Bb key. This can happen from a gummy deposit left by an inappropriate lubricant as it dries out, or a bent pivot tube, or rust in the pivot.

It needs a GOOD technician. Keep Asking EXPERIENCED, WELL-ESTABLISHED teachers and players in your area who they can recommend for reliable repairs until a pattern emerges in the answers. Be aware that SOME players and teachers get `kickbacks` for sending you to their (useless) technician mate. This is why you must ask several people.

If your flute does not play great (and reliably) after coming back for a technician, then waste no more money and time with that technician. He/she doesn`t know what they are doing!

It is becoming increasingly clear that piccolo queen is subtly operating in this forum to be inflamatory. My guess is that we all know her under a different name....