Hi everybody. I am looking for some recommendations, or not, on brands of flutes for my daughter (12 y.o.)who wishes to start learning the flute. Finace is an issue. Am I better off looking for a second hand Yamaha for example, or look at cheaper versions such as Cibaili as seen on Ebay (cringe)? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

You are FAR off better getting a used Yamaha than getting one of those non-brand ones off Ebay.

Also look for Pearl, Jupiter, Gemeinhardt..

theres a fairly recent thread regarding said topic. i believe its on the next page. i know bc i started it.

Thanks for the recommendation Ann

I do have a used Yamaha 225 coming in tomorrow. If interested, let me know and I can hold it for you. I only sell used flutes that are clean, like new or very close to new condition that don't need any work. There are lot on ebay right now where sellers claim they play, but I wouldn't put my mouth or hands anywhere on it! So I don't tend to recommend ebay.

I always recommend Yamaha and Jupiter for a good student flute. Like many other flute teachers and our regular advanced flutists on this group, I don't recommend Gemeinhardt. I don't have any experience with the Pearl line of close hole student flutes, so I can not comment on them. You can also get a robust used Armstrong for very cheap as a last resort. They are not my favorite as I feel they require a bit more work on the students behalf to play, but like I said, they are robust and cheaply priced a lot of times.

I agree with the other comments, stay away for no name or off brand flutes. Especially the ones on ebay.

http://fluteragiouscreations.blogspot.com/

Thanks for your input everyone. Sorry for the delay, and yes, I am interested in the flute thanks Kara but need to know price. Cheers.

I only have two Yamaha student flutes left at the moment. One is a 221S which is brand new with all original packaging for $450.00 and the other one is a used (but totally redone and looks new) Yamaha 225S. That one has added features like a gold plated lip, crown rings and comes with a gemstone crown. That one is $325.00. I don't have that one listed on my site yet as I just got it in two days ago and just finished re-burnishing it last night.

Excuse my ignorance Kara but what is the difference between the 221S and the 225S. Also, how often do you get them in to sell? Thanks.

The 225 was just replaced by the 221. Yamaha changed their numbering system a couple of years ago. It is hard to say when I get them in. I take a break from selling now and then and can go months without having anything and then the next month get in a couple. When I do get them in, I usually only have them for about a week before the are gone.

You would likely be better off buying a $40 Armstrong flute off eBay than one of the cheap new eBay flutes.

When it arrives you could then spend $250 or so giving the Armstrong flute a complete overhaul/repad, and then you would have a decent beginner flute, that could be used outdoors for marching band and such in High School.

The cheap new eBay flutes are famous for their inability to hold repairs. Most good flute technicians will NOT repair them, since the repair does not last and as such reflects poorly on their ability as a repairman, when in fact it is the cheap soft metal in the flute at fault.

The Yamaha and Jupiter flutes that Kara recommends are good to learn on, and have a good scale. I have a Pearl student flute as a backup to my expensive handmade Yamaha, I like it quite well. The nice thing about these flutes (besides the fact that they CAN be repaired, and they are well suited to beginning players) is that when the student advances, they can replace the stock headjoint with a handmade/pro headjoint. This gives a tremendous increase in the respinsiveness and sound quality at a lower price than the standard upgrade flutes, at a lower cost and with a better playing instrument.

Ok, I know my purchase wasnt a idea started flute, but Im a single Dad , dealing with a spinal nerve disability, and off work right now while I heal after enduring 4 spinal surgeries, so my funds are limited but Im trying to do the best I can. So here goes, My 5 year old wants to play the flute. I picked up a Bundy for her to start on for $80. Its in great shape, new pads, not a scratch or nick on it. I know its an older "band" flute, but its a flute and I think its better than the $150 dollar no name ebay has. My first trumpet was a Bundy, and I still have it.
Now my biggest problem is that being 5 years old, she has troubles holding it correctly. Its something to do with those little arms. *lol* anyway, I have heard of a curved headjoint that is used for this, but I can only find them with the flute at over $300, or stand alone curved headjoints starting around $2500. Custom made of course, and for that I would hope they were gold or platinum. And I still have to pay for lessons. Plus my 7 year old daughter is already in violin lessons, so it adds up quick.
Any advice and tips would be really appreciated. Constructive criticism is ok, but easy on the negative stuff. If I wanted that I would have just called my X. *lol*

Dan

I found this curved Yamaha headjoint online.

http://www.wwbw.com/Yamaha-YACYHJUCC-Curved--Head-Joint-i72743.music

I don't how large the receiving end of the headjoint tennon is on a bundy flute or if it will fit. You would have to order it and see if you can get a flute shop to fit it for you.

It sounds like you may have already tried ebay. The flutes with the curved headjoints do sell for a lot.

You can try asking Kara. She might know. She sells student flutes. I think that she is taking some personal time off right now and may not be around for a while.

Good luck.

Thanks. Im checking into that one. I used my digital calipers on the head joint of the Bundy flute and the collar where it slides into and its not exactly round. It ranges from 19.75mm to 20.02 mm. Im assuming thats close enough to 20mm, but I emailed the website you linked to and ask if they could get the dimensions or if they had something that would work on my daughters Bundy. This would be perfect if it would work. I'd dont know if I could swing the 130 for the curved joint and paying to have a flute shop to fit it. Id much rather it just fit. Then again, Id much rather I were a millionaire and could cure cancer.

Hi all. Have a couple of other questions re student flutes, in particular Yamaha flutes. What reputation do the Advantage FL1 and F100 AS11 have. Kara, do you still have that 225 for sale? Thanks.

Hi, yes I still have the 225. I have just been too busy and have not gotten around to putting it up on my web page yet.

As far as I have heard, the Yamaha advantage flutes are not made as well as the regular line and I believe they have been discontinued but, could be wrong.