Even though you think you're most interested in the things they've quoted you, play as many instruments as you can. There's no telling what might appeal to you, and it sounds like they've got a decent selection of flutes to choose from. At the very least, you'll have more experience with more brands. Let us know what you think of the flutes you try out, and good luck finding something you like!

Yep, I'm ready to try lots of flutes!! I've got all my music and tuner ready to go! Right now my biggest fear is that I'll choose one and then a couple months from now will be like "oh why did I pick this one again??!!" Will I just know when I've found 'the perfect flute'???

Will I just know when I've found 'the perfect flute'???

That can be a bit tricky at times. I made the mistake a few years ago thinking that I found THE flute for me and a couple months down the line I just couldn't get used to it and knew that I picked the wrong one. I should have tried all the flutes back to back but wasn't able at the time and rushed my decision. I think that I was more influenced by others at the time also. I have learned since then from my mistakes. When you find the one, you won't be able to put it down and it should stand out from the others. Best of luck with them and do let us know what you decide on.

Kara, what was your mistake when you picked the wrong flute?? Just so that hopefully I don't make the same one.

I listend to others more than I should have and picked a flute more on popularity at that time because I was more clueless back then when it came to professional models. It was a very nice flute and may have fit and suited James Galway just fine, but not me.

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Sorry, I din't mean to scare you at all. :)

My personal opinion is that if you've found THE flute, you'll know almost immediately. When I was last flute shopping, I stumbled across my "it" flute, and I've been playing it quite happily for 2 1/2 years now. However, flutes in the price range you're looking at do still have some limitations and are meant to be replaced (eventually) by a professional flute, so you may not find that one flute that you'll play forever. If you don't find a flute that absolutely jumps out at you as the single best instrument you've ever gotten your hands on, choose the one that you like best....it may not be perfect, but it should last you until you have the money/time/need for that dream flute.

well... I decided on a muramatsu EX, but the used one was sold so I spent a little more and bought a new one. I also tried the pearl 765RB, a sankyo, sonare 700, yamaha 681, and gemeinhardt 33ssb. In the end it came down to the muramatsu or the sonare and I liked the muramatsu's tone better!

Sounds like you got to try a pretty good selection of brands. What did you think of the each of the flutes you tried? I hope that flute serves you well for many years (or at least until you want to replace it)!

ok now i have to try to remember what I thought of each

sankyo (not sure which model they said)- This was my top 3rd flute. I really really liked the headjoint design on this flute, and it was quick and responsive but the low register was really hard to get to come out. I also liked the keywork on this one, it was comfortable to play.

yamaha 684- ok but I did not care for the keywork at all and the sound was too bright for me.

pearl 765- This one was eliminated pretty early because to get it to be remotely in tune I had to pull the headjoint out at least halfway.

muramatsu- My tone was the best on this flute and it was the easiest to go from a low note to a high one. Over all it was just my best fit.

sonare 7 series- This was my second favorite of the bunch but my tone was not quite as good on it which made me not choose it.

gemeinhardt 33SSB- I decided to try this one just to chick it out incase maybe I liked it but I tried one piece that I was testing with and it was fuzzy sounding so it was eliminated pretty quickly.



I know that I'm forgetting one or two flutes but to be honest the whole thing was kind of overwhelming trying to pick one flute as they were all great instruments.

If you have any questions about them I can try to answer.

Did you happen to try out a Powell Signaure flute? That would have most likely been my choice although I do prefer the Muramatsus mechanism a tad better. With the flutes you mentioned it sounds like you made a very good decision. Muramatsu flutes are made much better IMO then a Sonare, Pearl or Gemeinhardt. Congrats!

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Oops.. I meant a Powell SIGNATURE flute. Sorry.

adjusting the cork on the pearl would have eliminated the problem of having to pull the headjoint out so much.
it is common for brand new flutes to not quite be adjusted properly.

but congrats on the new flute!

adjusting the cork on the pearl would have eliminated the problem of having to pull the headjoint out so much.

That's not necessarily true. You can only move the cork so much before it starts affecting pitch AND tone. Since the rest of the flutes Lutz tried didn't have similar problems (or any problems that Lutz mentioned, for that matter), it's probably safe to assume that the store she bought from did a pretty good job with setting up flutes. However, it is quite common for new flutes to need some setup, as you noted, so to Lutz, you may want to have it looked over by a tech just to be sure nothing is amiss.

I didn't actually get to take the flute home with me yesterday, it should be shipped thursday. I still have paperwork to do because this flute is being paid for by my education trust. So I'd have to have it shipped back down to have it relooked over, so I think I'll just hope that it is in good shape for now

Kara, I didn't get to try a powell signature as I was overwhelmed sitting there with the 8 flutes I was!! Another one probably wasn't the best idea

I have one question that is kind of irrelevent but, my mom was wondering if muramatsus are supposed to come with a case cover becuase on the muramatsu website it says they do but the store said that they didn't so I bought a $50 case cover from them. Did I get ripped off or is the website wrong??

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Also, the sales guy seemd to think it was rather odd that I was making the jump from an Armstrong 104 to the EX with out another flute between should I have had one between them??

When I bought my Muramatsu it came with a case cover, but I bought mine directly through Muramatsu America. I would have to know how much you paid for it without the case cover to tell you if you got taken or not and also who you went through.

Also, the sales guy seemd to think it was rather odd that I was making the jump from an Armstrong 104 to the EX with out another flute between should I have had one between them??

Was the saleman a flutist? You just saved yourself from an unesassary step it all. Those so called "intermediate" flutes are really not anything better then a student flute with holes. They are a waste of money and time for the serious flutist.

Quite right, you two. There's no reason to expect that you'd buy another flute between the Mura and the Armstrong. Either the guy didn't know what he was on about, or he was trying to get another sale. As for the case cover, the Mura website says that all flutes sold by Muramatsu America comes with a case cover, but does not specifically state that all the flutes that they sell through dealers do. As Kara suggested, price may be an indicator of whether you should have gotten one, but with prices varying as much as they do from dealer to dealer, even that may not be particularly accurate. If it seems like a large reputable store, odds are that the flute you bought didn't come to them with a case cover, though almost any Mura you buy at a trade show or convention (whether from Muramatsu America or a dealer) will have a case cover with them.