Hey, I could use some advice. I'm looking at some different flutes now. They are all around $1,500 used, thanks to some generous people.

Muramatsu- EX III with silver head joint and silver-plated body, open holes, french keys, B-foot, hand-made.

Pearl Elegante 795- Solid sterling silver, open hole, french keys, b-foot, drawn tone holes, pinless mechanism, white gold springs.

Jupiter Medici 1311- Solid sterling silver throughout, b-foot joint, french-pointed keys, 14K riser, open-hole, engraved headjoint and keys.

The Jupiter and Pearl both seem to be nicer than the Muramatsu, but I keep hearing great thinks about even the lowest model Muramatsu (the basic EX) being better because of it being hand-made. Some advice would be appreciated.

Hi, I´m pretty "suspicious" because of my long term relation with Muramatsu flutes. I just love them!
But, recently I had reinforced this because I just put my hands on my brand new Muramatsu EX II (I think they didn't reached model III, as you mentioned before). Note: I bought directly from Muramatsu America.
This is just a jewel! Even for a silver plated body and mechanism, you would not get nothing better for the money.
But, as it's just me, it's also necessary to add that used instruments may have many problems that you only would be able to detect by test playing them. Yet, you might have to spend more money with a complete revision by a good technician.

cheers

I love my Muramatsu EX III. It is a 2004 model. I bought it used. I think that 1500.00 for a used Muramatsu is a steal. I don't know much about the other used models.

I believe that a new Muramatsu EX III is about $3500.00.

A word of warning. I don't like the stock headjoint that came on my flute. But since they are handmade, you might get one that you like. I bought a Drelinger to put on my flute.

I am not sure if the headjoints on the other two flutes are handcut. I think that they are not but I am not positive.

See if you can try all of them for a few days and then pick the one you like.

Good luck

Yes Muramatsu makes the EX III. I have called Muramatsu and had them verify my serial number. They gave me the details about my flute.

Maybe they only have the III models in the US. I don't know for sure.

Before I questioned Mrs.Valerie from Muramatsu America about mine, I just had a check on mine and you're right. It's an EX III, serial 62xxx. I think yours is probably at this serial range. The problem is that it's written so small, and at the back of the tennon, that I had some difficulty reading it... :-)

How old is that Pearl Elegante? If it has White Gold Springs it probably is one of the Japan handmades..

Joe B

Well, she says the Pearl has white gold springs, drawn tone holes, and a Forza headjoint. The serial number is 118xx. I'm not sure if you can tell from that, but that's what she said.

Well it sounds like you guys suggest the EX more than the others. Why is that a better flute?

If it has the Forza on it, it is most likely from Taiwan, made by the Japanese managers there. Elegante is one of our most popular models.

JB

"Well it sounds like you guys suggest the EX more than the others. Why is that a better flute?"

As I said previously, it's based on my own experience with this brand. Although not the cheapest, the most durable and reliable among many I've seen.

I really gain nothing from Muramatsu for saying this, I just really like them.

I recently posted (don't remember exactly where) about this new brand "DiZhao" (sorry if I misspelled) because of a recent contact I had with a friend who is representing them. I experimented a model he offered, and this was really good, for a student class instrument.
I remember I made compliments here about this.
Another friend, though, who attended the NFA in N.Y. this year told me all the contrary. She experimented some models at the convention and told me she really didn't like them. She even asked Mr. Zhao about what could have been wrong with those flutes, and he told her that he didn't have enough time to make the proper tech revision on those. Well, for a new brand, it's quite risky to bring to a convention items not really in condition of being experimented. So, I have to say that my earlier compliments (once again) were based on my own (and limited in this case) experience.

I am just recommending the Muramatsu from experience. I have one. I love it.

I have a friend who has a Powell conservatory. She thinks her flute is great. I have another friend with a Sankyo.

Just pick the flute you like. Everyone is different.

"I have a friend who has a Powell conservatory. She thinks her flute is great. I have another friend with a Sankyo."

As an example to this, I needed to add that although I like very much both my Muramatsus, I have another as my principal flute. This is a Sankyo, which I believe is the best instrument I have.