I have a yamaha on Ebay right now, reserve is very low. Come take a look.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7310352835

Prefiero las marcas que se dedican exculsivamente a hacer flautas. Aunque YAMAHA (como algunas otras marcas)tiene productos de aceptable calidad, considero que son expertos en nada. Mucho y de todo ellos Fabrican. Motocicletas, electrodomésticos y toda clase de instrumentos. No encuentro idoneidad, exclusividad o perfección. Tampoco romanticismo. En los áltos rangos de la interpretación se necesitan instrumentos perfectos. Me gustan las "casas" dedicadas exclusivamente a un istrumento o (máximo) a una familia de instrumentos. Ejemplos : Muramatsu, Powell, Cooper, Haynes, Sankyo.

Juan.

okay..that was definitely in spanish and i caught about 2/3 of what you were probably trying to say. but i`ll have to agree that Haynes are really nice (powells are too but expensive!) Ms. Baxtresser plays a Haynes i think.

i`ve had a geminhardt(sp) and now a pearl andn they both played great with out any problems. i`d go try them out because the sounds depend on the player.

No my dear Fuzon, I do not think the repair tech is trying to get us to return again and again. First, his reputation is of the highest caliber, second, we have a service contract with him so I think it is the exact opposite - he is sick of seeing us as I am sure we have exceeded what the contract cost and would love to spend his time repairing things where he would actually earn his hourly wage. Third - he has just opened his own store and I would think building a clientel is very important, especially if WalMart follows through and puts in a line of their own student instruments which would cause him big competition as it would be impossible to offer a competitive price to theirs, although I am sure the quality will be inferier but most people aren`t as anal about that as we flutie-tooties are!!!!! But thanks for your idea.

strangely, i`ve always hated gemeindharts... i don`t know why. they just aren`t very likable. yamahas are very sturdy. i`m using a muramatsu and i love it. strong sound, good tone... i hear miyazawas are awesome too. best of luck!

Has anyone ever had a yamaha 225 SII?

yes

So how was it? Was it very high maintenance?

If it is properly adjusted in the first year, which may involve leveling of non-level tone holes, then it is very low maintenance.

get a yamaha! i brought a yamaha flute from eBay about a year ago, and it is still great. and it was used before i got it!

I have yet to find a geimindhart that doesnt break down within a month or two after I buy it...that brand cannot stand up to much...never march or perform with a geimindhart-they are too unpredictable. Unless you predict that it will break at the most inopprotune moment.....
Armstrongs are your best bet...

hi!I have a sankyo flute!I`m sure that nothing could be better!

My opinion is that nothing could be better than a Powell. It just goes to show you how everyone has such different taste.

"I have yet to find a geimindhart that doesnt break down within a month or two after I buy it...that brand cannot stand up to much...never march or perform with a geimindhart-they are too unpredictable. Unless you predict that it will break at the most inopprotune moment.....
Armstrongs are your best bet..."

See this is driving me crazy i keep telling people my 3shb i got in jan 1996 I`ve had no problems with it last 9 years. Could probably be adjusted slightly but that`s after many years. Anyway if they break in less than a month then how come several other student`s in my highschool and all grade levels did not need there`s fixed? No one was way off tune and it sounded good and it was not the entire flute section maybe 5 of us had similar gemeinhardts and now in concert band out of 15 flutes (yikes) one a gemeinhart over 25 years old and then 4 that are 3hb or 3shb. And they sound fine so WHAT is the deal! My problem was i felt i could not project well with it and the sound was better on the yamaha which is why i got a new yamaha but for $500 bucks my gemeinhart worked great for highschool and my community band.

No me question is there a difference between gemeinharts from 1996 and today? I know from KC the 25 year plus gemeinharts i think had a better scale or something like that? So is there a diference in 1996? Not to brag but i think i take good care of my flutes not that people throw their flute around. I may not got to the repair person once a year but i really didn`t need too. I might with my yamaha because it cost a bit and i want it in top shape. Maybe they are just not great professionally for advanced players. I think they are great if you can`t afford one but if you can find a yamaha cheaper than it may sound better. But can anyone answer me is there a difference in all the gemeinharts if so when exactly did they go bad are they getting worse what`s the deal i keep hearing all differnent stories but the majority garbage and people I am physically around are not relying that!