Thanks Jerema.

I was looking through the websites today and (please correct me if I`m wrong) found that the US hardly imports or stocks YFL 471s. Would you know why that is?

Because of that, I started exploring the option of a YFL 674 and found that it may be worthwhile buying to avoid the need for another upgrade later. Anyone own or have any comments about the 674?

mich

Do check out the following sites for price comparisons of various flutes, but also call when you have your mind made up as they will offer significantly lower pricing over the phone from certain brands.

http://www.fluteworld.com
http://www.wwandbw.com
http://www.flute4u.com

You are looking in the price range of professional flutes and at around the same cost of the Yamaha 600 series you are looking at do try out Miyazawa`s PA201 and Altus` 807 flutes.

The biggest issues with Yamaha flutes is that it`s mechanism and tone even on professional models is supposedly inferior to the lower end models of professional flute makers from comments from professional flutists on those other flute forums I mentioned. However there is brand worship about and I only bring it up so that you know of those other brands so that you can test them as well and not find out about them after the fact.

The Yamaha 600 certainly is the better flute "feature-wise" if comments on "professional" flute makers really are hogwash.

However if looking at features alone if Yamaha quality is hogwash as well you may want to check out the high-end flutes of intermediate makers as well. For example the YFL-600 does not have full keywork. Jupiter, Emerson, Pearl, and Deford do offer the C# trill key and various rollers that facilitate better playing.

http://www.miyazawa.com/articles/options3.htm

You really do want to try before you buy and get the best flute for yourself.

The Yamaha is the Gemeinhardt of the professional flute world. You may find that it is only regarded for it`s student models and many advise to steer clear of the lure of solid silver for it`s basic student model until one can afford a real professional flute brand...

Pearl is actually better regarded as a professional brand for instance.

So check out other flute groups and see what actual professionals have to say in the matter if you really are going to buy on opinions.

Best of Luck.

I certainly agree with Piko. If you are going to get a professional flute, you are basically wasting your money getting a Yamaha with all the bells and whistles on it when the mechanism is almost identical to their student line. Put a EC headjoint on it, and boom you have the same sound too. If you buy a spruced up Yamaha and want to play seriously, then you will most likely spend more money to get a good professional headjoint on it because IMHO, the EC headjoint has no body or depth to it.

There are a some very knowledgeable people with good experience on here, so don`t just listen to one persons view on things. I play professionally as I know that Patrick, another poster on here does also. So we are not all inexperienced in this group as it may have been implied in another post.

Piko has some very good points, please don`t disregard what he has to say just because someone else may disagree with him. Not everyone is going to agree on everything, but that does not make a person wrong.

It is great to hear other peoples opinions on things, but in the end it is what flute YOU like since YOU will be playing it, not us. Hope that helps clarify anything.

Thanks. Those sites were helpful.

I will be visiting some music shops during the next few days to try out the different models and brands of flutes and only get what I`m most comfortable playing with.

My flute teacher recommends Yamaha and she says she doesn`t like the tone of the Pearl. Therefore I may tend to steer away from the Pearl as she may end up `half-heartedly` teaching me

~mich

My flute teacher recommends Yamaha and she says she doesn`t like the tone of the Pearl. Therefore I may tend to steer away from the Pearl as she may end up `half-heartedly` teaching me

...

Mich,

Just because your flute teacher doesn`t prefer the sound of a particular instrument does not mean she is the end all, be all authority on it. A private flute teacher is there to teach you to play the flute, and if you have any doubts about her willingness to teach you based off of the flute you own, I find that very sad. I have been teaching a girl for a year and a half on the biggest piece of junk flute I have ever seen Emerson make. I still push for her to do better every week, and encourage her to excel on flute. She recently upgraded to a new flute, and the changes are awesome.

Your teacher should be happy you are looking at upgrading at all.