Well, I've been playing for 5 years and am looking to get more serious with my playing. Along with this, I think comes the possibility of a new flute. so, i have around $2,000 to get a reliable flute of good quality that will last me at least six years until the end of college. now, i think my options are going to be as follows: Muramatsu EX III CO, Altus 907 CO, Miyazawa 102 BEO, Sonaré Flute - 6000 C E, or Yamaha Flute - YFL 514.

any ideas as to which one would be best for my needs?

If you do a quick search in the search box, then you will find a LOT of topics and many, many threads on this. This question is almost asked at least once a week.

oh sry. i'm new. i just though it'd be different because i only have these few options. thanks anyway though!

Kate, (not Kara/Kate, but the original poster!)
Why are these flutes your only options?
There are a lot of ways to find a flute to buy; there are flute re-sellers who buy some really, really nice older flutes that you can get for a great price. A rebuilt or hardly used 'pro' quality flute can sometimes be bought for within your budget.
Reputation flute sellers (online or otherwise) will let you try out a flute for a week or so, if you leave them a valid credit card, so you can try two or three flutes at a time.

Sorry about any confussion with the whole name thing. I originaly didn't want to post my real name for my user ID, but everyone knows my real name, so I guess it wouldn't matter now.

Kate, (nice name by the way!) I agree with Tibbie. There are other brands on the market that you may even like better. What about a Powell Signture? They are MUCH better then the Sonares and actually made by Powell, not in china. Though Sonare has changed and are now being made in Germany. Those might be better.

I would try the Muramatsu EX. Excelent instrument for the price!

Zevang

Yes, I really liked the Muramatsu that I had though I have never tried the EX yet. That is on my list to get next as a spare. A gal can never had too many flutes!

i remember trying a sonare and not liking it at all in any way...but that's just me.

I bought an Altus 807 an I am very happy with it. I selected it out of a group of 5 807 and 907.

I tried a Muramatsu EX but found it had too much of a "built into" sound for my taste.

Good luck with your purchase.

hmmm.
i will definitely take this into consideration. thank you!

i think you should try them and see what you like. and check out used ones too.

I had a Muramatsu EX, and while it got a pretty tone, it was stuffy and difficult to play expressively. Also, I purchased it brand new and had to have it repaired twice within the first year because the keys kept seizing. I sold it shortly after.

i have a muramatsu ds and it is one of the best flutes ive played in a long time, especially for the money. it even outplayed my brannen i thought. but with a handmade flute, youre bound to get a flop here and there i guess

buying a new flute is a matter of taste when you looking for something more advance, so it's best to try alot of differant ones then buy the one you like best, but if you do a google search for "buy flute" it will come up with alot of differant ones, if you are looking for reliablity, yamaha are ment to be good (my friend went up to grade 8 with a beginners yamaha)