Forum:

Be careful about the prices quoted you on the purchase of your new or used flute.

Many "so-called" reputable stores get a "bigger" commission from selling one brand or another.

Don't be beguiled by this. As I've said in previous posts: no instrument is more personal than the flute.

As an example, I have a friend who just bought a Muramatsu. He had to get a second mortagage on his house to buy it. He's very pleased with it --- but, when I tested it, I found that it's no better (for my tastes) than the Yamaha/Haynes that I just bought.

It's a very personal choice, and please don't believe that "price" counts. It doesn't. I could pit a $15,000 Nagahara against a $5,000 used Powell --- and might well find that it is the Powell which best suits my style of playing, the sonority, response and tone I'm looking for.

So be wary of sales reps. Again, pick just that flute that suits your style of playing, is most comfortable for you --- and evokes the "sound" that you're looking for. Price is relative --- and really has no place in looking for the "perfect" flute, for you.

Happy fluting ..... Jim Millen

I agree with almost everything you said, but all instruments are very personal, especially at the highest level of quality. I think that it is true that flutes are very personal instruments, but maybe others are just as personal to the musicians that play them.

Beware new prices for anything you buy, ever. You can usually get something that is better quality, and broken in, for less than half the money.

First,
With all due respect, dwelling on buying instruments for musicians can become a compulsion. Stepping-up and browsing brands can become obsessive with flutists where the real goal should be in performing and preparing for performance.

....but if a person is in the market for a new flute....
Sales reps. usually have only one primary goal and that is to sell. If you are trading in a flute to lower the cost, you will probably not get your best price. They need to make a profit to keep open and the convenience of trading in a flute is offset by your selling price.

I equate the buying of a flute to the automobile retail industry. If you don't know the particulars, you may probably get taken on the price a bit. Fortunately for most flute purchases, the amount is generally lower than with a new automobile.

Retailers may tell you that they are selling at "cost" or "wholesale price" but I believe that they can get deals from the suppliers if they buy in bulk. One also has to be careful, I have heard from a few sources that some companies release "second quality" instruments that are often sold for lower prices. I have no proof of that. It may be a tactic used by a higher priced store to sell you the same instrument for closer to retail. I think that a great repair tech like Micron might know better but then again, a locale where an individual tech. works may have the majority of instruments being sold by a limited number of sources.

It is best to shop around but it is also best to try before you buy. IF you are stepping up to a flute with keys that are open hole, then you may even want another trusted flutist who knows how to play to help you. That way you can sit back and listen to you prespective flute as it's being played. You can compare flutes by simply listening and then hopefully make a better informed decision.

Thank you Phil, Micron and Bilbo for your valuable feedback regarding my post on "flute prices".

I pay attention to every word that you say.

Regards, Jim