Thanks PAtrick. It seems that site is more oriented to instruments at 3,000$+

jose_luis
I don't mind you asking for this and I wouldn't mind going up there (4 hour drive one way) if I had the time. It's agreat place to visit and browse. I wold enjoy the trip but my obligations are too many right now.

What I was saying though is that you need to be sure that the model is the right type flute for you. This part is important because different flutes sound different as you play them. Some flutes are louder, sweeter, darker or whatever. Some flutes are easier to play in tune and such. The Yamahas are different than Gemeinhardts in tuning and tone quality by considerable. This isn't terrible bit it is noticeable. So you need to make sure that yo know what you are expecting in this instrument if you decide to buy.
I can say that generally the Yamaha flutes are going to have a stronger tone quality than Gemeinhardts. They will play better in tune throughout the whole range but because they are tuned to 442 instead of the Gemeinhardt 440 (or lower) that the head joint on the Yamaha needs to be pulled out about 5 to 7 mm which seems a bit farther than a Gemeinhardt. I have an old Gemeinhardt 3S somewhere around the house and I wore the plating off the keys in 4 years of college practicing. It was always out of adjustment and difficult to play the lower notes. On reflecting, I never should have bought that thing.

The two Yamahas that I now own, don't have problems. Although my 581 has the some of the plating on the keys worn off, it still plays nicely down to low b and it's about 15 years old with no repairs or adjustments done in that time.


I have a 581H with the CY head joint that has a fairly strong sound but is fairly expressive in tone quality. I enjoy playing it. I bought it when I was looking for a flute to use for teaching that felt and played similar to my Haynes. I didn't want to use a $6,000 instrument to teach beginners. In some respects the 581 Yamaha does this nicely but it isn't a Haynes. I have used it in many performances. This should be similar to the 574 that you are interesed in but the head joint is different.
I also have the newer 684HHV model. This is a flute with a thicker tube and a EC head joint. This head joint is like what's on the 574H. It's different shape than the 581's head joint that I have.) This flute plays with a darker sound. I enjoy it when I don't want to be quite so loud. The thicker metal on the tube makes the flute play maybe darker but it makes the flute more stable in tuning if the temperature of the playing area is unusual. Theis 684 with the EC head plays a tad differently than the 581 CY head. It feels like the EC head joint embouchure plate is flatter on the back. -for what that's worth. It also doesen't play the high notes quite so easily. With the 581 Cy head, I can go up to all the notes above C4 to the high F#4. With the 684 EC flute it gets really difficult to play the high F4. The notes in a more normal range aren't difficult.

Now your choice, 574H has the offset G and the split E. It's a fine choice. Some players like the split E. Some don't because it affects the tone quality just a bit on the high E. It can add to the weight a very little bit and that isn't going to bother you. I don't use the offset G with my hands, I don't think that I need it and as I wrote, I have a Haynes with inline G. I need to switch easily. I don't want the split E for the same reason that i need to switch and using a split E makes one not need to reach in the same way with their embouchure and support when slurring up to the E3 from a C3 or a B3.

If this is the type of flute that you want, then I recommend just ordering one from fluteworld. I would fairly well trust their choice of instrument and I'd trust the set-up of the instrument (A complete going over by the repair tech to make sure all aspects of the flute are in order). Aother point of Fluteworld is that they aren't just selling a few flutes occasionally. If you deal with a local music store, you may get a flute to try that has been sitting around for some time. It has been tried out by many and is probably not playing so well. Fluteworld may have ten YFL 574H flutes in stock at any one given time. So, I would not assume that they got in a clunker and am awaiting the sucker to dump it on. You may very well get a flute that has only been play tested by the repair technician.

I genuinely hope that this note helps.
~Bilbo
N.E. Ohio

Bilbo, I posted this morning as I wanted to apologize for my misunderstanding and wrong question.

But the post has dissapered, so please accept my excuses here.

Your comments on the EC /YC cuts and your experience with Yamaha are very illustrative and most useful to me.

I still have a question for Bilbo and the List:

As I will request a bank credit to buy a Yamaha YFL (that's decided), if I buy at Flute World prices, I could afford a higher range instrument, up to the 674 with C foot (anyway I do not need a B foot). That is 2,389 $ or 1990 Euro)

I am obviously not a professional, but I am older than I feel like (and older as I wish I was), so probably I will never buy another instrument in the future.

Do you think there will be noticeable advantages in having a YFL 600 series instead of a 500 series?

Sorry to ask this difficult-to-answer questions, I hope I am not abusing of your time too much.

jose_luis
I believe that the basic difference btween the two flutes is in the body metal. With the same head joint (EC), it may not be very noticeable to have solid body tube.

There is a question on the Yamaha site as to whether or not the 574 has white gold springs or not. Fluteworld lists the 574 as having stainless steel springs. The feel of the gold springs is nicer in my opinion but some can argue this isue if the flute springs are setup well. So, this may be another reason for the difference between the two prices but I am not sure.

One point about these instruments, they maintain some fair resale value in the right market as long as they are in good condition. You can see that Fluteworld is selling a 674 on consignment at :
http://fluteworld.com/Merchant/inst_used.htm
About halfway down the page there is one for $2,195 USD. This is really only a small amount off the new price but we don't know how old this flute is.

~Bilbo
N.E. Ohio

Well, it's almost decided (YFL 674). I will post the results (if no further change of mind, sorry...)

"One thousand" thanks.

Good choice, I would have went for that one too.