What is the difference between those two markings on the barrel of Yamaha flutes? Are they different version of the same flute (one being for the American market)?

For exemple, what would be the difference between those two 581 flutes that were recently sold on eBay:

(this one says Nippon Gakki, with flower engravings)
item number 290194191973 with photo here http://www.petspawnsandimports.com/eBay/Pictures/1227_Flute_3.jpg

(this says "Made in Japan" only)
http://cgi.ebay.com/YAMAHA-Sterling-Silver-581-Gold-Lip-Plate-Flute_W0QQitemZ260200912614QQihZ016QQcategoryZ85874QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Both have the same features and are marked as 581.

Dominique

One is Japan market and the other U.S. Basically the same model, though small features sometimes vary.

I have one of these(U.S. model), actually, and it's a great workhorse. College, gigs, jamming with friends - it's capable of it all for a very reasonable price. Both are comparable to the new 600 series, though with an older headjoint design.

Note - if you really want a newer headjoint, I've seen brand new old stock EC cut handmade ones going for $450-$500.(They run about $650 new)

One is Japan market and the other U.S. Basically the same model, though small features sometimes vary.

Thanks! But wich one is the US model? Nippon Gakki or the other.

They are both made in Japan, not the US but Suzie is correct, the ones make that say Nippon Gakki are the older ones. I usually tried to avoid them if they have the written on the body as Yamaha did not make anywhere near the quality as they do now for flutes.

Some of the Japanese models even today say similar things, so it's really important to get as modern a flute as possible.

Yamaha excels at being like Toyota. They take someone else's work and innovation and copy it and tweak it constantly. Their goal, for instance, in Pianos, is to equal Steinway on a mass produced level, and they are getting very close.

ie - it's not a craftsmanship/artist ideology so much as one of constantly copying and improving their product like a bunch of technicians and engineers. So newer is almost always better in their case.

I was thinking of the Toyota comparison myself, lots of the Toyotas in the US are made in Kentucky, or California, and I am sure they are still good..

Just a note to add how nice it is that our nice forum is just that, a nice forum...

Ahhh... yes. It is nice to have our friendly forum back again to normal. I hope the police caught up with that jerk!

Shh.. you'll jinx us...

Yeah, sorry about that Kara Your comment about Trumpets makes sense. Another way to describe it is to compare an Alto Clarinet to a Saxiphone.

Both play the same notes and use similar reeds and so on, but the clarinet has a darker and less pronounced treble range/sound to it.(less blare and punch to it compared to an alto sax)

A lot of orchestral players live/love playing 32nd and 64th notes all day long and need to do fancy solo work and such I guess - but for me, I've come full circle as I've gotten older and love the sound of old fashioned wood and ceramic flutes. where it's all about the sound and not about the speed. (though even a high resistance slower headjoint can go plenty fast if you work at it)

I am not sure about that one Suzie. I think they are just the older ones.