Hi again,

Following all your advice, I took my flute to a local specialist...what he said made me think it would be a good idea to create a new post...
I bought an Arbiter flute from Ebay, 'Lovely flute, great condition' for 37.50 pounds, as a standby before upgrading my student flute. The flute though, didn't play half the notes in the second register, so I had it checked it out here in France. The guy was horrified - said as a specialist he found it an insult that someone sold that and called it a flute; he said that he'd call it a vase! Arbiter are 'Made in Asia', although they have 'London' engraved, have a low metal content, bad quality pads, etc.etc. etc. Can't even give it to my kids to learn on - impossible for anyone to play, let alone a beginner.
Ebay is not all bad, and I'm not criticising the guy who sold it - I would like to think that he sold it in ignorance -and you CAN get some really good bargains...but you have to be REALLY careful; next time I'll make sure I buy from someone who really knows what they're talking about...

and speaking of which, does anyone have a secondhand Pearl or Yamaha to sell???

Best wishes to all!

hi roseanglaise,

i have sent you a personal message, so please check your inbox in your message folder.

thanks, angie

When I first started playing flute I had an Arbiter, basic student model. I didn't think they made them any more! It was many years ago now, but I think I had it for at least 3 or 4 years and it was fine for a young beginner until I upgraded (my flute teacher even chose it for me at the time). Maybe they've gone downhill since then!! Ah the memories

Sorry that you got taken.
This quality of flute is why I always recommend sticking to reputable name brands of quality and testing a flute before you buy.
Boy, there are even more brands of junk toy flutes out than ever before but there are also many places on the net where you can go before you buy and find out about what is good quality before you do make the plunge with your $$.

I have three Yamahas for sale, you can check one out here...
http://fluteragious.blogspot.com/

thanks..... i was thinking of getting a new flute soon.... the company that i sent my old flute to get it fixed "lost it" and sent me the one i have now (not as good as my first one which was from the marien crop band) and the one i have now is just a begginer modle.... so thanks for the post

Well, my little tale has a happy end at least...
I told the chap who sold it to me what the specialist said; he was most apologetic, says he isn't a flute player, as I suspected, just a collector of instruments and had no idea as to the quality of the instrument, and has offered me a FULL refund. Always best to give the benefit of the doubt! And I'll have another 70 euros to put towards a beautiful new Yamaha...
:-)

Best wishes to all!