Hi all,
My daughter has registered for 6th grade beginner band and will be playing a flute. The instructor highly recommended the 281 model. I was in shock when I saw the price of a new one so am looking for a used one in good to great shape. If anyone has one and is willing to sell... kindly let me know.
Thanks!
Zeke

I would have to kindly disagree with your instructor on that particular model. I would NOT start your daughter off on an open hole or and in line G flute. You should be looking for a 221 or 225 which are closed hole and offset. I sell them for around $325, but at the momment I am all out of them. I can let you know if I get any more it and be on the look out for one if you would like.

http://fluteragiouscreations.blogspot.com/

I also think that Jupiter is a great flute and I happen to know that Suzie (another poster on this site) is getting a very nice one in that would be great for your daughter.

The Yamaha 200 series flutes are great for beginners. They are playable, durable and repairable. Unfortunately the band director gave a recommendation for an open-holed flute. You can plug the holes without a problem, but a closed-hole flute is good for those little hands and possibly short fingers that might have a lot of trouble learning on an open-holed flute. Also a poor choice is an inline G key, which the Yam 281 has. Those little hands need the more ergonimic and reach-able offset G key. The offset G is also more mechanically strong than an inline one.

If there is a good flute repair tech in town anywhere close, you might ask him/her to receive a flute for you. My repair tech will receive an eBay or other internet-purchased flute (or trombone, or saxophone, etc) for me and determine what repairs it does or doesn't need, and send back a flute that would be too expensive to repair. If you buy a flute, get one with a 7-day return privelege and make sure it passes muster with the repair tech.

An Ebay (Yamaha!) flute is an option, but you will have to expect $250 to $300 in costs to overhaul it. Most flutes sold on eBay in what the seller describes as 'good condition' or 'playable' will have issues that need $$ to resolve. Don't even GO there, with the 'brand new, instructor approved' Chinese imports, they'll cost too much in the long run when you replace the un-repairable Chinese flute with a nice used Yamaha.

Update: I do have another Yamaha 225 coming in. PM me if you are interested.

this is sorta of topic but....i was wondering if anyone has heard of dean yang flutes.i tried one i ,i liked it but i havent tried a yamaha yet. i want a new flute and right now am using a school flute .[jupiter] I have been playing for almost two years now and i enjoy flute a lot. i am tring to get a flute with the budget of 400-500$ .Any help would be greatly kind

You may try to use the search button or start a new topic. You will get more responses that way.

Last year I started 6th grade band with a Gemeinhardt that had a j1 head joint and that has to last me through high school according to my parents. my sister is starting 5th grade band in the fall and she has a Jupiter flute, i am not sure of the model. it is not anything fancy but even though it is second hand, it has an amazing tone quality

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ps coldmusicgurl, you could get a 2nd hand jupiter for about that or a little more

I found one locally used for $230. Now, is there a place to send it to get it tuned up and ready for the next 3 years?
Thanks!
Zeke

I would send to the Flute Specialists out of Clawson, MI. This guy is a PHENOMENAL repairman. Sometimes you have to be firm on what exactly you want. But you can guarantee that this work is top-notch. I take my flute no place else and refer all friends and colleagues to them.

http://www.flutespecialists.com

thanks emy47, I'll keep that in mind