Our housekeeper`s daughter is 11 and is wanting to buy a flute. She`s really into it.
They`re from El Salvador and don`t have access to the internet or eBay, etc.
She`s shopped around and said she found a good one for $800. That`s a lot of money to them.
My wife and I decided we`re going to buy the flute, but we want to get a good deal and buy a decent one for her, but not necessarily the Porsche of flutes, so I don`t need the very top end. She`s just learning.
What`s a good flute for someone her age? Do any of your kids play it in band? Is ebay a good source for something like this?

Any help is appreciated.

I don`t know brands to search for. I`d prefer to buy new also, but am open to all. Anything $800 or less is in play.

For example, is this a good one?

http://www.wwbw.com/Woodwind-Student-Flute-i74348.music?t=4

nooooo!!!!!not a good one!Get a Gemeinhardt from let us say Music 132.com.That is a crappy brand there you are looking at.I have a profesional Gemeinhardt and I am 14.It is great!

oh yes,and if she is not used to open holed,get an open holed that comes with plugs.And if not Gemeinhardt,maybe a pearl,a Haynes,or a Muramatsu,if they are not too high,I am not sure.Look into gemeinhardt for sure.Maybe if you could find a solid silver one,that would be nice.

Thanks for steering me clear of that one.

The what is the best Pearl flute for around $600?

The other brand you mentioned, Gemeinhardt, is very expensive. Do they make a good one for around $600?

Hi~
I have a daughter that is just entering her 4th year of playing the flute.

I checked out the link that you provided and I would recommend staying away from that flute.

For a student flute I would recommend staying with Yamaha, Gemienhardt or Armstrong. All 3 have a pretty good reputation when comparing student flutes.

I would check out Fluteworld.com and JL Smith and if they don`t carry a brand you are looking at I wouldn`t consider the flute.

Also be sure to stay away from department store flutes and I would not recommend Ebay unless the person is local to you and you can have the girl or someone else that you trust try the flute 1st.

My personal recommendation when looking at your price range would be to find a nice used Yamaha. There are also some good used Gemienhardts and Armstrongs out there too.
Check with your local schools. Sometimes students step up to a new instrument like my daughter did and will be selling there old flute when school starts and you could get a great deal.

Also check out UsedFlutes.com you could possibly find something there too.

Good Luck,

Kim

You are looking for a good STUDENT flute. That cuts out Muramatsu, Haynes, etc mentioned above, who are makers of expensive flutes only.

In my meagre experience of playing several thousand flutes as a repair technician and versatile, accomplished player, most American student flutes (Armstrong, Artley, Gemeinhardt, Emerson, etc) have a tone that becomes disappointingly `fuzzy` sounding as one attempts to play with volume, i.e. when blowing to get more volume, the only thing that gets louder is the fuzziness. There are definitely individual exceptions, but unless you are able to do thorough testing, you are not in a position to locate them. They are most UNLIKELY to be sold on Ebay, and any large shop will have the good ones already chosen by discerning buyers. By comparison, Yamahas are extremely consistent, play very well indeed, and also usually made to a higher mechanical standard. You cannot go far wrong with with a not-too-old-model, second hand Yamaha with pads in good condition. Then, at most, all it needs is a reasonably inexpensive complete adjustment by a GOOD technician.

ANY shopping through Ebay is very high risk. Believe almost nothing yhou read, especially by shops operating through Ebay.

"There is hardly anything in the world that a man can not make a little worse and sell a little cheaper. And people who consider price alone are this man`s lawful prey."
- John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

http://www.wwbw.com/Pearl-Flutes-Model-501-Series-i68482.music

http://www.wwbw.com/Gemeinhardt-2NP-Flute-i10306.music

http://www.wwbw.com/Jupiter-Model-511S-i34029.music

Yamaha:
http://www.global.yamaha.com/products/music/wind.html
(Head for `Global` for the full range - at the Japanese web site.)

http://www.wwbw.com/Pearl-Flutes-Model-525RB-i112939.music

http://www.wwbw.com/Pearl-Flutes-Model-665RB-i53721.music

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?itemid=29878

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=29878&TempID=4&Method=2&CategoryID=0&BrandID=0&PriceRangeID=0&PageNum=0&DepartmentID=0&DepartmentKeeper=&pagesize=10&SortMethod=0&Word1=Flutes&Contains=%22%2Aflute%2A%22&Search_Type=SEARCH&GroupCode=nonetodaythanks

http://www.giardinelli.com/srs7/sid=040806192425067233188110479348/g=woodwind/s=flute/search/detail/base_pid/460234/

The flute in your example is your basic student flute. If this girl has been playing for awhile, then you`d be better off getting her a different one. I doubt that one is much different than the one she has now.

For $800 or less, your best bet would be a flute with a solid silver headjoint and a silver-plated body, along with open-holed keys. One flute that would be nice is:

http://www.wwbw.com/Gemeinhardt-2SH-i21618.music

If you could tell us the brand and model of the flute she`s playing on now, that would help, so we know what the next step up would be

You just want a student flute of a reputable brand that is guaranteed to be in full playing order. Lots of choices then: Yamaha, Gemeinhardt, Armstrong, Buffet, Trevor James, Pearl ....

Liz

as an avid musician I can say definitely stick to reputable brands. For students Yamaha is the best I have had several Yamaha`s. My first experience outside of a Yamaha was with a flute by the brand name of Pathfinder made in China it was HORRIBLE
Anyway I needed it repaired and the repair person refused to even touch it because it was "not worth 10 cents" So I bought an Armstrong after sampling about 14 flutes in my price range in fact I went above my price range by $50 to purchase the armstrong, But it was well worth it
Anyway I can tell you the following about flutes shopping.
1. You can buy plugs for open-holes separately, I know because I did
2. Sample Sample Sample
3. have a definite price range before going to a store
4. Stick w/ reputable brand names
5. Shop around for the best deals
I bought my Armstrong at Rayburn music in Boston I got a great deal on it they have a web site and the people there really care about their customers, so they can give you hints as to what else to look for I know the Houston to Boston would be a long haul to try a flute anyway here is the site www.rayburnmusic.com
Good Luck w/ buying the flute

Pearl is waaaay more expensive than Gemeinhardt.

What do you mean? Which model?

There are heaps of models of Pearl made in Japan.

There are also heaps of models of Pearl, cheaper (and almost certainly quite a lot nastier) made in Taiwan.

Yamaha and Pearl are both very good flutes. Pearl is definately cheaper than yamaha but you really do get your money`s worth.
Try Fluteworld.com

I`d say try the PF-501RBE