I was practicing my etudes yesterday and i was SO close to throwing my flute into my fan...There Flutes are Soooo Airy its unbelievable I don't even know how i got stuck with this thing...yes its good for beginners and intermediate players but when it comes down to someone more advanced playing it (like me) all you hear is airrrrrr... I've been playing the flute for a long time and i know i don't have embouchure problems because I've played on other flutes and i didn't have this problem...there is nothing wrong with my flute because i got it checked...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh im so mad

One correction to make

The *body* is fine. The headjoints are nearly unchanged from 20 or 30 years ago, and as such are like comparing a VW Bug made in Mexico in 2000 to a 2000 Civic. One stood still in time while the others moved forward.

Try swapping in a Yamaha or similar headjoint - I bet it will solve your immediate problems for a lot less money than an entire new flute.

Thats soley based on opinion and how you play, I am first chair in my Highschool, played in the flute ensemble for many years, and I also play piccolo, and alto flute, and I play a gemeinhardt, and mines not airy, at all, and it sounds fantastic, you can't go blaming your flute, when so many of times, its the player, you said you played other flutes, Ok...its still does not mean its not you, all flutes are different, and have different features because you have played another type of flute and it sounds different for you doesnt mean that its automatically the flute..
Now, I have played on Yamaha, Pearl, Armstrong, and Emerson, and I do not have a problem with difference in sound, I mean the pearl and gemeinhardt for me sound the best but are closely the same.
Now some flute no matter what company can have their problems, but a perticular brands products arent all the same, and some can come with problems(except high-end to custom they should be of best quality)

Oh I forgot, I am not saying it is you thats that problem, I am just saying you really shouldn't judge a product on your experience.

The overwhelming opinion of this forum is that "Gemmies" are not the flute of choice.

It appears that Yamaha "outshines" Gemmies.

It could be that your instrument is in need of repair --- but I've never found IMO that a Gemmie is as good as other comparable flutes (price-wise).

I would suggest a Yamaha 200 and above series flute.

Their mechanism is great, sturdy and holds-up. The only thing "suspect" about Yamahas is their head-joint. This is easy to solve. Get a Yamaha, then "progress" to a better-cut head joint.

Also, remember that any Yamaha flutes made after 2008 are "made in China". Their standards of production are not the same as Yamahas made in Japan or the U.S.

This is info I got from a Yamaha rep.

If I were you, the "hand-made" Emersons are a better choice IMO than Gemmies, as well as Yamahas.

Best of luck to you.

Regards, Jim

How on earth am I "painting erroneous statements" when they come from a rep in Chicago who could have sold me ANY flute.

I had my choice of several.

I'm simply imparting to the forum what I've been told.

What is this? NAZI GERMANY? Am I not allowed to say what I've been told by people who are IN THE BUSINESS?

Get real, would you? And QUIT misleading members, as you've said that I do. YOU are the author of misleading info. Not I.

Jim

can we please not begin this again.

I apologize to Micron.

I was out of place in my response.

Micron's rebuttals are always welcome --- and he brings remarkable insight into the contruction of flutes.

No --- we won't have any more nasty replies.

Thanks for your feed-back.

Jim

Oh my! Things feel a bit passive aggressive to me.....

Okay people not on this fourm!!! Stop the bitching!
Being first chair has nothing to do with anything ...im first chair in my HS and have been ever since....but still they suck.

While emotions often drive opinions, blanket statements are not helpful in a largely anonymous forum such as this. Just realize that choosing a brand of flute is much like choosing a brand of shoes. What works for some may not work for others. Whether its Adidas having an airy sound or Gemeinhadts pinching your big toe ---or something like that---eveyone has to find the equipment that works for them.

JD

I did forget to mention something that I've always maintained:

The flute is a very "personal" instrument.

And the choice in just which to buy is, ultimately up to you.

This is best accomplished by trying various flutes, side-by-side. A "blind" test, as it has been put.

I'm sure that this only holds true if you are considering buying flutes of comparable value.

Obviously, you can't pit a $10,000 Powell against a 200 series Yamaha.

But as long as they're in the same price range, then I think a side-by-side test is appropriate.

Regards, Jim

Why couldn't you pit a 200 series Yamaha against a $10,000 Powell? I've done similar experiments before, and been surprised a few times.

flutist06:

I not only surprised --- but my hair is standing on end.

I will defer to your tests --- but am in awe.

I actually thought that the only "fair" comparison was between "comparable" flutes.

Well, once again, I messed up. But, am acutally inspired, because I considered getting a 200 series as a "back-up".

However, the only thing I said is (still) probably correct: try flutes, side-by-side.

Regards, Jim

um yes being first chair does have to do with it means your skilled at playing your instument, and that you know the skills to fix problems, with out constant guidance, I dont know why you are being so cocky, and defensive when all I did, was simplay state some things that could change how you feel and fix your flute problems, your acting like I am judging you and bashing your playing no? i just stated some things with flutes, they do not suck, I am not defending them because I play then especially since I play more than one type of flute, and m gemeihardt and I play perfectly.

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*and my gemeinhardt and I.........sorry