2nd hand flute Options

[clariflutegal]

I am wanting to upgrade my current flute (I've had it 9 years and it was 2nd hand before I bought it). I just wanted to know whether anyone's had good/bad experience of buying 2nd hand ones from websites like ebay? They seem to go for a lot less than you can buy them new but obviously I don't want to pay hundreds of pounds for a shabby flute!

[all ears]

I expect other people will be along with sensible advice, but I wouldn't buy a flute off ebay...just impossible to judge the state of the keywork from a photo.

How are the keys on your current flute, and what kind of flute is it? If it was a very cheap model, the keys would be hard to repair. However if it is a goodish flute, you might be better off sending the body in to have the keys adjusted or repaired, and buying a better new or second-hand headjoint from a good dealer.

[barry-clari]

eBay is very good, I find, for getting hold of lots of dirt cheap Yamaha 211 flutes/Buffet B12 clarinets and similar for beginners' use, there really are some remarkable bargains to be had there.

For upgrading much beyond this, I can't really recommend eBay though, I'm afraid. Sorry (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[andante_in_c]

My rule of thumb: allow for the cost of a service after you receive the instrument when setting your maximum bid amount. And, unless buying from an accredited dealer, don't buy flutes which look too shiny. I heard a story in one of the London flute shops of a chap who had paid 200GBP for a used Yamaha flute (a fair price) only to find that it was so clogged up with silver polish that it needed a full overhaul to get it playing (another 200GBP). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[Lemontree]

Difficult to advise. But I just had to buy a new flute very very fast since my old one kind of held me back progressing. I needed urgently an open holed flute with B foot to replace my old but I still had not saved the amount of money I needed and wanted to have the freedom of choice.

My first decision was that the flute should be a replacement of the old (I had a sterling silver head, body and foot Yamaha YFL 511). Thus, I wanted at least a Yamaha of the 600er series. I had some aspects I really wanted like a very good intonation. I was, however, prepared to pay for a complete service/overhaul after purchase.

I got really really lucky. I purchased a Yamaha Allegro YFL 674H of a music student who had bought the instrument looking for the special tonal aspect. And I emailed with her about the intonation which she assured me was exactly what I wanted.

When I got the instrument, I was somewhat overjoyed and somewhat disappointed. However, the joy weighted much much more. And the reasons why I was dissappointed at first soon will resolve / or resolved shortly after. Those were, that when purchasing I did not realize the flute had inline G, and I have very very small hands. This proved to be absolutely perfect. I might have decided against such a flute but in fact that saved me! I have a nerv running very curiously exactly where my old flute was placed on my left hand, and I was in pain whenever I played because of it (often played with Compeed blister plasters because of it to reduce the pressure there). The inline G shifted that position slightly. No nerv in the way, no pain anymore!!! Perfect!!!

The other thing was that the headjoint was sitting much to tight in the tenon of the body. That was really disappointing, because I couldn't play the instrument with a headjoint that tight. I did it once for testing but I was much too afraid to have it stuck permanently in there. The shortterm solution is to play with my old headjoint, which works and fits perfectly. The longterm solution is to get it fixed at one of my local flutemakers. And I have one of the best there are, so I can live with it for the time being. At least, as long as I still have not sold my old flute.

What you should be aware is that you very likely need to have a service/overhaul immediatly or at least shortly after purchase. If you get lucky, you might not need one for some time but you cannot rely on that. And you should make sure you know what you want of your instrument and if the item description doesn't tell you all you want, ask a lot of questions, because this way you will have a reassurance and a means to return the item if it strays from the email answers and the description. That should include a question whether there is ANYTHING WRONG with the flute.

In my case, I got a flute with an astounding, terrific, absolutely adorable sound. I need only slightly to intonate myself. The flute is double as loud and really can go from forte to pianissimo, and I need half the breath I needed before. I also have already three keys open and the B is usually audible, and I find my C already again. The balance of the mechanism is perfect and when the new head is repaired, the sound will be even more brilliant and the mouthpiece offers slightly more intonation possibilities then the one I had before.

So, in general, it was a perfect buy, and I am quite satisfied.

In the UK there are I believe two sellers londonflutes and another, that regulary have instruments in Ebay of the better sort, and they are, as I understand it completely overhauled, which makes them slightly more expensive than the usual items at offer, but probably in relation to service and overhaul the better choice. And at least here, professional instruments are quite expensive for a full service (between EUR 450 and 540).

[nicki_flute]

My current flute body is third hand but I bought it through word of mouth.

I bought my piccolo from Ebay. I wouldn't usually recommend this, but it is a Yamaha 32, and I got it for ?160 and it works fine.

[clariflutegal]

I expect other people will be along with sensible advice, but I wouldn't buy a flute off ebay...just impossible to judge the state of the keywork from a photo.

How are the keys on your current flute, and what kind of flute is it? If it was a very cheap model, the keys would be hard to repair. However if it is a goodish flute, you might be better off sending the body in to have the keys adjusted or repaired, and buying a better new or second-hand headjoint from a good dealer.

My flute is a "B & H 400" and it has a lot of tarnishings (I think that's the word... It was like that when I bought it). As I said, I've already had it 9 years so don't know how old it was before that. It only cost me ?95 from a music shop at the time and it has served me well. I have just passed my Grade 4 flute so wanted something to help me progress to Grade 5 upwards (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Flossie]

Looking at the 2nd hand listings from reputable flute dealers (e.g. Just Flutes, All Flutes Plus, Top Wind) is better than trying to buy off Ebay. Places like Just Flutes and AFP know what they are doing, set the flutes up well, and are honest in their descriptions on listings. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Pretty much any of their beginners flutes are likely to be an improvement on your B&H. An decent upgrade/step-up instrument should be able to take you up to around grade 8 (or higher if the particular flute and you are a good match). Unlike Ebay, you can be fairly confident in what you are buying.

[clariflutegal]

Looking at the 2nd hand listings from reputable flute dealers (e.g. Just Flutes, All Flutes Plus, Top Wind) is better than trying to buy off Ebay. Places like Just Flutes and AFP know what they are doing, set the flutes up well, and are honest in their descriptions on listings. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Pretty much any of their beginners flutes are likely to be an improvement on your B&H. An decent upgrade/step-up instrument should be able to take you up to around grade 8 (or higher if the particular flute and you are a good match). Unlike Ebay, you can be fairly confident in what you are buying.

Thanks a lot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I will look into them sellers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I love the sound of my teacher's Yamaha 311, is this a good flute to get after passing Grade 4?

[Flossie]

Looking at the 2nd hand listings from reputable flute dealers (e.g. Just Flutes, All Flutes Plus, Top Wind) is better than trying to buy off Ebay. Places like Just Flutes and AFP know what they are doing, set the flutes up well, and are honest in their descriptions on listings. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Pretty much any of their beginners flutes are likely to be an improvement on your B&H. An decent upgrade/step-up instrument should be able to take you up to around grade 8 (or higher if the particular flute and you are a good match). Unlike Ebay, you can be fairly confident in what you are buying.

Thanks a lot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I will look into them sellers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I love the sound of my teacher's Yamaha 311, is this a good flute to get after passing Grade 4?

If it's a good match for you and the flute is free from mechanical problems then you should be able to get beyond grade 8 with it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Yamaha flutes don't suit everybody (I personally don't get on with them as well as I do some of the other brands) but that's down to the individual flute-player combination, and once you move beyond the beginners instruments the same applies with any brand or model (one of my flute-playing friends hated my flute when she tried it, although she likes the sound when I play it). Have you tried your teacher's flute as well as listening to it? If not, that would be worth doing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[clariflutegal]

Looking at the 2nd hand listings from reputable flute dealers (e.g. Just Flutes, All Flutes Plus, Top Wind) is better than trying to buy off Ebay. Places like Just Flutes and AFP know what they are doing, set the flutes up well, and are honest in their descriptions on listings. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Pretty much any of their beginners flutes are likely to be an improvement on your B&H. An decent upgrade/step-up instrument should be able to take you up to around grade 8 (or higher if the particular flute and you are a good match). Unlike Ebay, you can be fairly confident in what you are buying.

Thanks a lot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I will look into them sellers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I love the sound of my teacher's Yamaha 311, is this a good flute to get after passing Grade 4?

If it's a good match for you and the flute is free from mechanical problems then you should be able to get beyond grade 8 with it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Yamaha flutes don't suit everybody (I personally don't get on with them as well as I do some of the other brands) but that's down to the individual flute-player combination, and once you move beyond the beginners instruments the same applies with any brand or model (one of my flute-playing friends hated my flute when she tried it, although she likes the sound when I play it). Have you tried your teacher's flute as well as listening to it? If not, that would be worth doing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I've had a go on my teacher's old 211 and it seemed to play similar to mine but I was able to get the top notes out more comfortably than my flute (they seem impossible when slurring :s ) and it was also a bit heavier than mine but I guess this is to be expected!

It'd be nice to find somewhere to try some out but I really don't want the expense of buying new!

[Flossie]

It'd be nice to find somewhere to try some out but I really don't want the expense of buying new!

There's nothing to stop you going somewhere to try flutes out and then buying 2nd hand from somewhere else. This would help you to find out what you want. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It's not unusual for someone to try different shops and instruments before making a choice and a decent instrument shop will know this. Trying an instrument in a shop doesn't mean that you are obliged to buy from that particular shop.

[clariflutegal]

It'd be nice to find somewhere to try some out but I really don't want the expense of buying new!

There's nothing to stop you going somewhere to try flutes out and then buying 2nd hand from somewhere else. This would help you to find out what you want. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It's not unusual for someone to try different shops and instruments before making a choice and a decent instrument shop will know this. Trying an instrument in a shop doesn't mean that you are obliged to buy from that particular shop.

I'll have to research as to where I can go as in my town there is only one small music shop which might have one flute in, if I'm lucky! I'm thinking maybe Leeds...