I would also suggest going for the nicer Yamaha if at all possible. Paying $650 for a flute that is marginally better than the one you are playing now just doesn't make that much sense to me, but then neither does taking an instrument that has been damaged by previous renters. Perhaps you can ask the store to substitute the beat up Yamaha with a new one of the same model (after all, you did pay for it, and you should be given an instrument in good condition). If you plan to play beyond HS in any kind of competitive way, the Yamaha is probably the best bet, though if you intend just to play for yourself, the Gemmie can definitely do the job. Once again, it comes down to what you really think is the best decision, though. Talk it over with your parents and see what their thoughts are (in things like this, having the opinions of non-musical folk can be quite useful).

I'm also quite bothered by your insistence that a teacher with a degree in performance is somehow more qualified than one with a degree in education to help her find a flute, Stephen. I myself am headed into an education degree, but could easily have entered a performance track. However, I chose education because I enjoy passing along the knowledge that I have obtained, and working with groups to make music, which I didn't feel would be as much of an option with a performance degree. Differing interests between performance and education degree holders are hardly indicative of ability level, nor of the the qualifications of any given person to help in this kind of circumstance. Anyway,

Hi,
getting a new flute can be really exciting. I think that your new flute should be one that can help you improve your ability. For this reason, I am going to suggest that you avoid the Gemeinhardt. Gemmies are notorious for their intonation being off. Now, keep in mind that one of my friends plays a Gemmie and plays it very, very well at the college level, but her instructor says that its intonation is holding her back from improvement.
I myself had a silver-head, plated-body Gemeinhardt. I really loved the sound I got from it, especially the booming rich lower notes. But when I began studying with a qualified instructor, the intonation became a big issue. To compare, I used a tuner (KORG CA-30 model- and you should spend the 18 bucks or so to own one) to compare the Gemmie to my beat-up Armstrong 104. The difference, in front of the tuner, astounded me. I replaced the Gemmie with a Yamaha. I now have a much easier time with intonation, because there aren't nearly so many notes to 'correct'. Now I can concentrate more on tone.
I would second the opinion of asking for a replaced Yamaha student flute in good condition.
One possibility regarding tone on your Yamaha may have to do with its headjoint. JoeB is an expert, and has described problems with a ding right on the embouchure hole (say, if your flute bangs the music stand right on the far side of the blow/embouchure hole.) A ding here can make a drastic, and bad, difference in the tone.
For your situation, I would find out from a good repair technician (not the one you are renting from, because they have a conflict of interest) whether your Yamaha can be 'put right' with an overhaul. If it can't, then your search for an appropriate flute begins! If your flute can be put in excellent playing condition (even if it does have scratches and such) I would keep the flute and have it overhauled.

Next, the sound of your flute can be drastically improved with a good headjoint. Any old 'solid silver' headjoint won't do, because the design of the headjoint is what makes it special. Most good headjoints are solid silver, becase silver is easy to work with. You can add gold to the mouthpiece (usually a waste of $$ unless you are allergic to silver, or REALLY love the look of gold.) Some pro headjoints have a gold or platinum riser, putting a metal with different vibrating properties right where it vibrates most. This can make a difference, but probably won't for someone at your level. Anyway, a good headjoint will have a hand cut embouchure hole, and a good design. A lot of the descriptions (dark, bright, low resistance, high resistance, free-blowing) won't mean much, so you will have to go by what sounds good when YOU blow it.
To keep things easy, the best advice would be to buy a Yamaha headjoint, since it is designed (intonation, tenon size) for a Yamaha flute. In fact, one of the simplest things for you to do is to try the headjoint from the nice Yamaha at the store in your own flute and see if it makes a difference, and if you like it.

There are other choices, and no, you can't put the Gemeinhardt headjoint into the Yamaha flute- their sizes are different enough that most repair techs don't know how to shrink the Gem. headjoint enough without ruining it.

For Yamaha, I would recommend the EC cut. A CY cut is probably machine-cut and exactly what you already have, only in silver. (And probably the CY is on the new Yamaha at the music store, too.) For other choices, I would recommend the popular Prima Sankyo NRS-1 or the relatively inexpensive Jupiter D2. Most of these can be found on eBay, and I would save my money until I had the $400 to $500 that it will take to buy one used. (The Jupiter D2 would be more like $250, since it's not really a 'pro' headjoint, and probably machine made, but it's a great design with a proven track record for the price.)
All in all, I think before you spend money on a flute, you need to find someone knowledgeable about helping you find what is right for you, who can help you in person, hear you play, and explain why (rather than simply having a prejudice) one choice would be better than another.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide.

Oh gosh, I didn't even think of getting the same model for new. *slaps self on forehead* I'll be sure to ask about that when we go to town tomorrow. One problem though.. I'm not sure what model it is, haha. Can you tell by the serial number somehow?

<Added>

I'll definately try to find someone who can help me choose a flute. & Come to think of it, I have a ding in the headjoint right below the embouchure hole (on the underside). Would that effect anything? I wouldn't think so, but then again, I am a beginner. :p I've kind of taken the Gemeinhardt out of my options list, from what I've found out about them, so I doubt i'll get it. I'll try to find someone to help out and ask about the headjoint. Thanks for ALL the help! :)

The model number should be engraved on the tenon receiver (the part of the body the headjoint slides into), or just above it. As for putting a Yamaha EC head on the student Yamaha, the tube sizes (assuming they haven't changed things) will be different, so you'll need to use some teflon tape for testing purposes, and perhaps have the headjoint expanded for long-term use, or just continue to use the teflon tape. As for the ding, a dent almost anywhere on a headjoint *can* change how it plays, but will not necessarily do so. The ding, or burr, on the air reed is the most likely to alter the way the head plays, but that ding could also be doing something...But then, in some cases I believe fixing a ding can do more to hurt the head than leaving it alone. Check with the repair tech to see what they think should be done (if anything) about it.

Hi group, I thought I would drop by for a visit since things have seemed to all simmer down now.

I have an EC head that I use on my backup Yamaha student flute and can tell you that it does fit as do all the headjoints by Yamaha. So putting a EC head on a student body would not be a problem. Some may be a tad too tight or a tad loose only because they all vary a bit, but that can be easily fixed.

If your Yamaha flute is in need of an overhaul, then it obviously is not going to play as well as it should, so it is unfair to compare it to a different brand that may be in well repair and well adjusted. Unless you plan on going for a serious music career, then a Yamaha student flute is fine.
IMHO, an upgrade will just be for open holes and a solid silver body or head which is not going to make a huge difference to a beginner to semi intermediate level player. The mechanism and quality it still the same unless you get into the hand made lines. I have heard of several people going all the way up to grad school on a Yamaha student flute. Just some food for thought....

Hiya Kara, and welcome back! Thanks for the info on the Yammies....I have an older 581 that has the EC head on it, and when I tried to put it on my student flute that head was quite a bit too small to stay put, or even form any kind of a seal. But I suppose they have changed things a bit since that 581 was made (it is about 15-20 years old, after all).

AHHHHH!!!:D..kara? i'm so glad ur back...yep. you are always welcomed!^_^..schoolgirl's not that good at advices..lol. i'm like the sideline cheerleader..haha. *HUG*

Kara! I'm also glad to see that you're back. Hope that your kitties are doing well.

So back to the content of the post I would also recommend the EC yamaha cut. I have a really old yamaha 581 (I've had it for almost 10 years and it was my ex-flute teacher's when she was in college) Anyways it has a CY cut which I think I is ok, but a lot of the time I find myself wanting something different. But I plan on getting a new flute probably within the next few years.

Thanks guys. I am glad to see you are both still here.

Hi Alieannie,
Sorry, I don't know that answer to that one. I was under the impression that all the Yamaha heads were hand cut still. Hmm.. That may be a question for JButky, he might know.