Hi I've been playing the flute as part of my school band for about a year now and I don't know which flute to get. I was only renting the flute I was playing and I recently decided that I want to be serious at it and take lessons. I would also be playing it for band in highschool ,this September. My choices are the:
Sonare SF51BEF
Jupiter 711rbs
Jupiter diMedici 911rbs
Gemeinhardt 3s
Gemeinhardt 3sbo
I know, I know you think these flute are a little advanced or intermediate for me dont you? I kind off think so too but. IMHO If I get a flute that's advanced then i wouldn't have to go back to the process of getting another flute. So my mind is set about getting a "step up" or intermediate flute. I thankyou all for respecting that.
Anyway Im pretty new to the whole flute buying process and all the basis I can do in comparing these flutes are based on what I've found out online. Apparently Tom Lee (the music store I went to) didn't let me try the flutes because of hygienic purposes. Is this normal?

I would also appreciate it if you give me other flute models that would suit my liking. Im looking for a flute that has a b-footjoint. Silver sterling head or sterling silver head body and footjoint. and offset g. My budget is around $1300 cdn. about 1100 in us dollar. Thanks.

This is also my first ever post btw.

the first thing i would do is find a new music store if i cant try the flute first well thay dont want my money.
there is no way i would buy it without trying it first no excuse and i dont know anyone in this forum that would disagree with me

That's what i thought so too, that's why i couldn't make any decisions. Thankyou very much. Now Im sure thats it's OKAY to test a flute at a music store.

most definatly and most reputable shops will let you take the flute for a number of days to make sure its the right one for you
please dont consider buying one without testing that its the right flute for you and dont be pushed into makeing a decision take your time and insure its the one for you

I wouldn't go with gmeinhardt, but that is just my opinion. I haven't really tried out the other flutes up there though. However, I have heard that they are good brands at least.
Second, don't waste your money on an all silver flute, just get the head in solid silver of you want it. It makes even less of a difference with a solid silver body, and the difference is small at the most with a solid silver head.
Are you going into marching band? If so, try and get a beginner flute. I know you said not to say it, but with marching band, it is important. It is extraordinarily difficult to march with the open holes and offset G most intermediate flutes have.
Trust me. I used my intermediate flute for marching in high school, and it was torture. Now I just use my old beginner, and just switch out the head joints (the beginner headjoint cut is terrible for me).
Maybe you could purchase a beginning flute off eBay or something for a backup, and an intermediate model of you are set on using an intermediate flute from now on.

thaks for the info! No, im not part of marching band (i dont the think the school im going to has one). I'm gonna be part of the concert band. . .

As you have said you, you wouldnt go for gemeinhardts. why would that be? I rented a gemeinhardt 22sp and it seemed to play really well. My other band mates were playing on yamahas and jupiters ad i noticed that my gemmy's sound is better. but who am i to say all this. My trustee gemmy is the only flute i've played lol

personally i would get the sonare or the jupiter, as sonare seem really good and nice sounding(being made by powell) but i play a jupiter 611r (silver head, open holes, and c foot) and i really like it, i wouldn't get a b foot unless either it is none extra in the shop you can get it from and try it or you know the music you will be playing one needs it, but unless you are playing the violin part that is not likely. i would not limit your self to just them flutes (or discount the gemeinhardt just because someone doesn't like it) try all the ones you can that are within your budget and get the one you like the best.

I would not recommend Gemeinhardt because I, as a player, have found that the headjoint is poorly cut and the mechanism is clunky and goes out of adjustment easily.

Yamahas are much more solidly built and have a better headjoint and scale. I have not tried a current Jupiter (my first flute was a Jupiter but it's 11 years old) but they have supposedly made terrific advancements.

Don't buy an instrument from any place that won't let you test them. If you ever go to a flute fair, there are people testing all sorts of instruments left and right. If they have a bit of rubbing alcohol, there is no sanitation issue to be concerned about.

As for marching, I thought that you marched with a cheapie flute because it would get damaged or destroyed with all the abuse marching band inflicts upon instruments. This is one of the many reasons I loathe marching band...

yes...
precisely why I dislike geminhardts.
As for marching, true, you don't want to get your good flute banged up, but with all the shaking that occurs as you march, it is much harder to play than if you were sitting still. With all the movement, your hands can miss the holes, and your inline G can tend to be missed by your finger, or put strain on it.

Thanks for all the info. I ended up buying the Sonare SF51BGF. Sterling silver hancut powell head, silver plated body and foot. french keys. inline g. b footjoint. Do you think I made the right decision? Picking it over the Jupiter brand. I couldve bought the Jupiter brand but the music store that sells it didn't let me play test the instrument. Unlike the one that was selling the Sonare. They were soo comfortable with letting me try the flutes they had. I wish all music stores are like that. Anyway thanks for everyone who posted a reply. It really helped a noob in the flute world.

if it is the one you liked the best and it was comfortable to play then it was the right choice for you, but it is a shame you couldn't try the jupiters, i love mine to peices, but i am glad your happy with you new flute and i hope it brings you many years of happing playing.

wonderful choice!