Jupiter flutes vary a lot depending on age. Some are great student instruments, and others are pieces of junk. Right now they're producing pretty good flutes. The Dimedicis are all pretty good intermediate flutes. Certainly they don't stand up to a Muramatsu EX, but they are good flutes for a good price. That rose gold plating may be an aftermarket add on, though. I've seen several flutes like yours for sale on eBay in the past.

Would a music store would actually rose gold plate a flute? I thought it may be original since the keys were also plated.

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UGH I hate making typos....ignore the extra "would" LOL

A couple of companies make and sell plating kits (Caswell comes to mind) that could do the job. There's really no way to tell if it's original or not, but my guess (without seeing the flute) is that it's aftermarket. Yamaha tends to put the really nice touches only on their top of the line custom instruments, and the 581 is at the bottom of their "pro" line.

I would also think that it is after market. I have done some rose gold plating, but you can not buy just rose gold plating at Caswell nor have I ran across it anywhere else. I have only seen yellow gold. You have to use other alloys with the gold to make it a rose gold in color.

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I am not to fond of even the newer Jupiter flutes myself. The only one I would ever recommend is the Dimedici line.

Well if Caswell's not the culprit, there are plenty of other ways to get something plated if you want to, right on up to custom platers. It just doesn't fit the usual Yamaha way of doing things to rose gold plate an introductory pro/high intermediate line instrument.

As far as the Jupiter flutes go: the older models have, I think 4 digit model numbers, and were made of a very soft metal that would not hold an adjustment. Jupiter had Altus redesign their flutes, and Altus did a really good job. So the newer models (3 digits) of 511, 611 and 711 are really pretty good instruments, although the main complaint is that the tone holes are not level and thus hard to pad. I don't know what the Di Medice upgrades are, the scale is the same.

Regarding plugs in the tone holes: it is nice to be able to play without plugs, but most of us do not have 'exactly average' hands and so our fingers have to stretch longer, say by bending the wrist in a funny way, to cover the hole consistently. Once you practice a LOT in this 'twisted' manner, you end up with tendonitis. No thanks- I'd rather plug a hole in my flute. I have narrow hands and long fingers, so my G key , though inline, is not plugged. But my two fingers on the right hand are 'too long' and thus the 2 lower holes for the right hand have plugs. Without a plug, I wore the plating off the key- and probably stressed the mechanism, too.

So..be advised: the quality of workmanship of the flute maker will determine the quality of the flute. A good handcut headjoint can make a student flute sound amazing. My flute teacher, principal in our symphony, took my STUDENT flute, with my PRO (wood) headjoint, to rehearsal with impressive results. She would happily have played all of her solos in a PERFORMANCE with it. (Her own flute was off for repairs.)I would sooooo much rather play a student Pearl with a pro headjoint than a 'step up' Armstrong, Gemeinhardt, Emerson, or even Yamaha 400 which is solid silver with a CY cut headjoint. Kara is 100% right; the headjoint is the heart of the flute.

If you do end up taking lessons, ASK the instructor, also, for her 2 cents.


Remember, you are trying out a 'step-up' flute. We're trying to tell you that you can get a LOT more out of your flute dollar by exploring beyond these boundaries and trying something else out- a secondhand pro (hand-carved) silver headjoint can be had for $500, and put into the plated body of a Step-up Jupiter. If you have already spent the $500 difference on a silver-tube rather than plated body, you will have to wait a while to make the upgrade. Really, there isn't a difference with the plated body.

Do be excited about your new flute! We are all happy for you, and enjoying this post. We just don't want to see you waste money on something that doesn't help your sound.

By the way, three ladies in our community band play on 40-year old Haynes silver flutes. They have closed holes, offset G, and a C-foot. And none of these gals wants to play anything else. I've played them, and they are truly outstanding instruments. Certainly they wouldn't trade for a step-up flute just to get open holes or a B-foot.

Unfortunately, many band directors who do NOT play flute, tell their students when it is time to get a step-up flute, that they must get one with open holes and a B-foot. The Band director is ignorant enough to tell them that these are the hallmarks of a better (than student-model) flute. Really, the silver headjoint is going to make the upgrade, and not even much of one if it is a poorly designed headjoint.

I am probably going to have to keep one hole plugged. I've spent the last two days with a very angry right wrist after all the torquing I did Tuesday night..

I have weak wrists to begin with - I broke both my arms right around the wrist when I was 9.. And then a few weeks later, after the casts were off, I turned 10.. Which is when I started the flute and learned to type.

This might be really silly, but I seriously do not want a used flute. My mother is trying to lay claim to my trusty old 2SP, which is currently in the shop having an air leak fixed, even though she *never plays.*

I really want something that is mine. I don't want something that was someone else's.. I can't verify that it was taken care of well. When I took my 2SP into the shop this morning, the same people who sold it to my parents 15 years ago were the ones who took it for the repair. Both of them remarked at how good the condition of my flute was. I've taken incredibly good care of that flute.

I'm just a broke grad student who can't afford a whole lot, but who has been thinking about doing this for ages now. I can't afford the down payment on my own. My parents are helping me with that for Christmas. They wouldn't, in a million years, agree to pay part of the cost of a headjoint for my existing flute.

I'm trying out a few more flutes in the morning at a different store than my "regular" one. Currently, they quoted me $200 *less* than my regular store on the 3SB when I talked to them on the phone today. They also offer 2 years of maintenence free and they have a 1 year gurantee.. Their gurantee is basically this: If you, at some point in the first year, decide you don't like the instrument you bought.. For *any* reason.. They'll take it back for full credit and let you apply that to a different instrument. As long as you haven't damaged the instrument, of course.

I think part of the consideration has to come in regarding what the purpose of the purchase is for. I'm not a professional. I never will be. Right now I don't even have the type of schedule that would allow me to play in a community band.

I guess what I'm not understanding is this.. Mmm, how to put this.. I guess.. Negative attitude toward the concept of a "step up" flute. If you're not really sure where you're going to go with an instrument, is there anything wrong with doing a "step up" to something made a little bit differently? I have nothing against my 2SP. I absolutely love it. I'm just ready to not play a low grade student instrument that my parents bought me when I was 10.

You can chalk it up to ignorance, because I really probably am totally clueless when it comes to what is or isn't good or kosher or whatever in the flute community.. Because on my end it seems really odd to spend $500 on a killer headjoint for a flute that didn't even cost $500 itself. (Well, we might have paid $500, I don't know. I know it costs more to pay in instalments than upfront.)

My mind finds it more reasonable to try a new instrument, and then if things continue to go well... Then look into putting a killer headjoint on that.

And the scientist in me says that yes, the headjoint material is going to determine quite a bit.. But the body material still influences the resonance of sound, as does the length of the tube the sound travels down. (I took far too many Physics courses in the persuit of my Chemistry degree..) So is there anything wrong with wanting to see how a low b foot changes my sound?

This is getting probably too academic. And it's also 2:15 am.. But I'm just trying to understand why I'm getting the feeling that it's wrong to want to get a new flute.. But it's okay to buy expensive headjoints for old student flutes or take a risk on used flutes that you can't figure out what has or has not been done with them before.

cmojess, I don't think that it is the wrong thing for you to want a new flute. I say, do what makes you happy! We all just like to get technical on here. You obviously deserve a new flute after playing on a student Gemeinhardt since you were 10! I like your way of thinking that you can get a new flute and later down the road invest in a new headjoint if need be. If you are just playing for fun, then it is more than okay to play on the head that comes on the flutes that you have mentioned looking into. I certainly didn't mean to discourage you at all, and I am sorry if I did. Please keep us posted on your flute hunt.

With a used pro flute, a good tech can tell you what kind of condition it's in mechanically, so there's really no risk there. As for the material, some people hear a difference, and some don't, so you'll have to decide whether material matters to you at all, but the B foot really doesn't make a difference vs. the C foot. It used to be that a B foot would offer slightly more resonance, and a slightly darker sound, but nowadays, any set of specs can yield the desired tone. It's mostly about the headjoint and the player. I understand your desire to have a new flute, and if that's what you want, go for it, but I can't say I necessarily would go the same route. If you can get more for the same money by buying a used flute, that's what I would do, but in the end, you're the one spending the money, so you must decide, regardless of what any of us think.

Well..

So I certainly never intended on purchasing a flute for a few more weeks.

Yeah, my dad totally squashed that this morning.

The guy at the music store we went to, um, an hour ago.. ::headdesk:: Pulls this flute out of the shipping box. After cutting the shipping box open.. He got it in yesterday. It was *freezing* in his store so the air was cold and the flute was cold. Heck, my hands were cold. hehe. Hands it to me..

Yeah..

Okay.

Not a single note off. At all. On a cold flute.

I have NEVER.. I mean.. NEVER picked up a flute in my entire life and played it cold without some notes sounding off.

So my dad pulled out his credit card while I was playing some more and just went ahead and put the down payment on it.

So now I'm sitting here in my research lab on campus.. With this flute that I've owned for less than an hour.. Sitting on my desk.

My dad's reasoning was this store will let me, in the next year, return this if I decide I don't like it. They said they're having trouble getting these in right now. Which, I do believe him because none of the stores around here had this model in. Not to mention... I seriously think the guy special ordered this on Monday and rushed it because the Gemeinhardt rep was around on Tuesday. (I've heard this from three separate stores..) And it's got exactly what I'd talked to the guy in the store about on Monday morning - the gold plate on the lip plate... And the offset g.. Not to mention, they said they were expecting a larger order, and this was the only one they got. And I sort of saw the 2 day express shipping label on the box.

So.. I have a Gemeinhardt 3OSB.. The O for the offset.

This may be a mistake.. It might not play the way we want it to after this initial excitement.. But I have an entire year in which I can return it and exhange it for something different.

My dad was just like there's no way we're passing this up, especially since this is the lowest quote we've gotten and they'll let you swap it if it really doesn't work. Plus, I did mention the whole headjoint thing to him and earned a *look* in response.

Since I'm now completely and totally broke.. Everyone on my Christmas list is going to get a hand-crocheted scarf again this year. And I live in San Diego. :P Well, plus.. I talked to my dad about my trusy old 2SP. When I get it back from having the air leak repaired I'm going to take it over to where I got my new flute today and have them give it a complete once over, polish it up really well, and give that to my mom for Christmas. I think she'll really appreciate the sentiment, especially if I wrap up a new duet book with it since I do kind of miss playing with my mom. (Even if I am light years better than she is, and she never did grasp the whole vibrato thing.)

So, feel free to tell me how I shouldn't have bought this today. I'll pass the message along to my dad with the stealth credit card. :P

Congratulations on your new flute!

I think the whole 'negative attitude' thing has more to do with how we, with more experience, would get the most flute for the dollars spent. We're not trying to tell you, don't buy a step-up flute. We're trying to tell you how, with the right resources, you can spend the same amount of money and get a really outstanding instrument.

A used flute is NOT like a used car, in that it is more like an open book, and we can SEE and HEAR how it has been cared for. A good technician can see bent springs, scratched bores, stiff mechanisms, missing screws...or a flute that is in really good shape and better made than some of the new ones, these days. We also know some of the best techs in the business (albeit by computer-relationship!) who can help us sort out the lemons in both new and used instruments. So, once again, we're trying to point out a way to get more flute for the dollar.

If you want a brand new flute, and one that isn't plated, OK. It is, after all, YOUR flute- get what you want!

You might, just for kicks, ask the music store guys what other cut headjoints are an option with your flute model. There should be three or four choices, available to exchange at no cost to you. Have them get those in, and try the different headjoints on your same flute, and you will begin to see what we are talking about with the different headjoints.

Make sure you have a wood, or plastic, cleaning rod so that you don't scratch the inside of your lovely new darling. (The music store ought to give you a new one for free, otherwise they cost $2 to$4.)

We all want to hear about how you are enjoying your new flute!

The rod is plastic.

Thing is, I need to build up that experience again myself. You all that have been replying to me have been consistant with your flute playing. I haven't. I lapsed for several years. It was, largely, the frustration from okay.. I know deep down I am better than this, but for some reason I can't get this to sound the way I just *know* it should..

It's not wholly inspiring.

The look on my dad's face this morning when I picked up my new flute and started playing told me all I need to know - he regrets not doing this 10 years ago.

I think his evolution as a guitarist has helped. He's gone from his guitar that he bought when he was about 20.. Nylon string.. To a steel string Ovation.. All the way up to a gorgeous Taylor.

And this progression of guitars? All within the last 10 years. He bought that Ovation after I started begging for a better flute.

So now we're moving back from intermittant playing of things I know well because I've played them for years.. Into the serious study of the instrument again.

I think it's not even just the flute itself I'm excited about right now.. But the prospect of picking this up again and actually going beyond where I've stagnated for so long despite longing to go farther.

That said.. Today is torture so far. :P I have to do my research and grade papers and basically be a good little grad student.. Even my research advisor (aka, PI in most academic circles) I think is enjoying this Jessica toture. :P I've worked for her for three and a half years. I started as an undergrad, so we have a great relationship. She also used to play the flute.. So she admired my new toy, then told me to go get excited about the electrode and cell I'm supposed to be designing. :P

So.. My new flute sits here.. Taunting me..

That site doesn't seem to work. Are you sure you typed the URL correctly?

So, I've had several hours to play today now.. People in my house just started heading to bed a few minutes ago so I finally had to put it away.

I really am very happy with it. I think in a few months, when I recover from the payments on this thing, I'll look into headjoints. You do have to understand - after 15 years on the 2SP this is just *amazing.*

My mom wants to try it tomorrow.. Um.. Heh. We'll see. :P

She and I are still negotiating on when I have to let her take it to wrap for Christmas. I'm not ready to relinquish it to her.

My fingers are really tired, though. Especially after all the playing I've done this past week period. But today especially. I bailed early from school since after my advisor left and I was playing.. I did realize that, yeah, the wing of the 4th floor I'm on in the Chem building really didn't need to hear me play. My right wrist is feeling overly tweaked, too. That'll go away in time, as it never felt quite like this before. It's just a lot of playing in a short time after so long away from this level of practicing.

My boyfriend decided tonight that he wanted to learn the flute. The boy has a minor in music, and knows a few other instruments. We haven't been dating long, just a few months. But I've known him for 10 years or so. We met in high school in marching band. His primary instrument is tuba. So he took my scrap metal back up flute - the Belmonte. He was having fun tonight. He's picking up the basics quickly since he's got a huge background already.

So, yeah.. I am happy so far, at least. :D And I've never had a flute respond so well as this one has been responding all day.

unless you have some sort of death wish, then NEVER I repeat NEVER do business with Jim laabs music! there are horrible reports about them everywhere! this is just one of them-
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff3877.htm

I was one of those people to get ripped off by them too. the man that runs the place was using very vulgar language to me and my husband on the phone. gemeinhardt flutes really are one of the better priced flutes. i would avoid getting a selmer even if the cost looks good to you. you get what you pay for.