Hi all. I`m looking for some information on buying a first boehm style flute. I currently play traditional irish music on an open holed conical bore flute. After doing a bit of research, I believe I`d like an open-holed, intermediate level instrument. Yes, I did read the recent discussion on this issue. Thanks Meme et al! It just so happens that I am already comfortable with this style, and enjoy glissando, 1/4 tones, etc.

I was honing in on a reasonably priced Yamaha 381/361/385/481 etc style, as they are often available on Ebay, and seem to be a solid, reliable choice. But can someone please comment on a couple instruments that are available currently?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10183&item=3757744195&rd=1

I don`t know anything about this maker, although it looks like a pretty flute. And, there is a yamaha 481 available

but the seller mentions a couple "minor dents that won`t affect sound". Hmmmm. I asked for more information about the dents, as it seems like an otherwise great instrument. Are the smallest of dents likely to cause acoustical problems, and are they easily fixed (ie: for a resonable cost)?

Lastly, am I correct in assuming that there is a good reason I am having trouble finding information on a few random makers like "DC Pro" and Spencer (another flute I tried at a pawn shop). Obviously, I`m in the market for used value.

Thanks much!

I know that Dominic`s music is the name of the store they are a good one in fact. I wasn`t able to find a brand on the flute, which is a bit sketchy to me. However if it lists for over $1,000 then it is probably a decent flute.

The link led me to "DC Pro". (The post before this seems to be writing about something else.)

The maker is almost certainly Chinese. I have worked on over 125 brands, and know reputable brands pretty well. "DC-Pro" is not one of them.

It is almost certain to be a VERY low quality instrument. New brand names are made up by marketers of rubbish probably every month.

You definitely cannot go by LOOKS! It is acoustic and mechanical design, and standard of manufacture that matter. a flute MUST be an item of precision engineering, or it has extremely poor reliability.

It is quite likely that technicians would refuse to work on it when it needs work, which is very likely immediately.

"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)

Very, very true. Except in the case of flutes it is often a `
little worse` but a `lot worse`. If it were a vehicle then it probably would not be allowed on the road.

In 10 or 20 years China may be making to a higher standard, but not yet.

You would probably be throwing your money away. Get a Yamaha.

Even quite large dents do not normally have any noticeable effect on the way a flute plays. Any capable, well-equipped technician can usually get out a dent in a minute or less. It is no big deal.

"Lastly, am I correct in assuming that there is a good reason I am having trouble finding information on a few random makers like "DC Pro" and Spencer (another flute I tried at a pawn shop)."

Very good reason. The obscure brands are almost all very poorly made. Immediately after purchase, the value may well be nil!

Continuing the "reason"..
The brand name was probably invented only months ago. Once it gets known to be really bad, the distributor will change the branding on the same flute and conn a whole lot more suckers!

You need only order about 10 instruments from a Chinese supplier to get your own brand name put on them.

The brand name is therefore pretty meaningless.

By contrast, if you do a google search on [yamaha flute] you get about 78000 hits.

thanks a lot, I greatly value your input and dedication to supporting the people on this web site! Especially throwovers from the trad boards (Chiff and Fipple and Gaeliccrossings) like me. :-)

Now I`m seeing the brand. With a price like that I was expect Geimindhardt, Armstrong, or another real brand name.
DC-Pro sounds like a model instead of a brand.

I live in Britain and i would recommend a miyazawa or a powell sonare - they take you right up to professional standard for excellent value. Hope that helps, i dont know if you get those brands in the USA.