New Flute Suggestions Options

[ffliwt]

I'm VERY excited to have found out that i'm almost half way towards having enough money for my new flute (and i've only been saving for 2 months (and my mum is paying half (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif))- so another 2 months...!) and my mum has suggested that in the easter holidays i go to john packers to go try out some flutes to see which i want ^___^ Having been desperate to do this since about 2 years ago, and the thought of it happening up to now seemed very distant, i'm pretty excited (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

As some of you may know i had been set on a Miyazawa PA-402, absolutely desperately wanting one - even though i'd never tried one! (Dunno what set me towards it... Miyazawa's seem extremely good flutes, my teacher has owned some in the past and says they're gorgeous instruments, liked the look of them and my favourite flute player is a Miyazawa artist (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif))

But anyway, i'm going to be keeping an open mind and trying out all sorts of different makes. I don't really know what i'll ask to try... i know of different makes - pearl, murumatsu, sankyo, etc.etc. but don't really know about them, or which model i would be going for.
I'm going to be spending about £3000 - but no more (can't afford). The description of the Miyazawa 402 is "Handmade flute with sterling silver headjoint, body and footjoint, silver plated nickel silver key mechanism. Open holes with French style pointed tonearms, drawn toneholes, pinless left-hand mechanism and Straubinger Pads (North American models only)."
So... i'm going to be looking for something like that?
I know i seem totally biased towards the Miyazawa, but i really am going to be going there with as much of an open mind as possible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Which makes/models would you suggest me also trying?


Edit: I've just been looking and have found the Pearl 'Elegante' which seems to cover everything i wanted from the Miyazawa and more, but for a few hundred pounds less.
"Sterling Silver Headjoint, Body and Footjoint with Silver Clad Keys, 10K Gold Lip, C# Trill Key, D# Roller, Drawn Tone Holes, Offset"

Is it really as good as the Miyazawa? I guess the only real way to find out is to try them out myself - but if anyone has any experience of either, that'd be great.

[sjc]

I'm VERY excited to have found out that i'm almost half way towards having enough money for my new flute (and i've only been saving for 2 months (and my mum is paying half (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif))- so another 2 months...!) and my mum has suggested that in the easter holidays i go to john packers to go try out some flutes to see which i want ^___^ Having been desperate to do this since about 2 years ago, and the thought of it happening up to now seemed very distant, i'm pretty excited (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

As some of you may know i had been set on a Miyazawa PA-402, absolutely desperately wanting one - even though i'd never tried one! (Dunno what set me towards it... Miyazawa's seem extremely good flutes, my teacher has owned some in the past and says they're gorgeous instruments, liked the look of them and my favourite flute player is a Miyazawa artist (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif))

But anyway, i'm going to be keeping an open mind and trying out all sorts of different makes. I don't really know what i'll ask to try... i know of different makes - pearl, murumatsu, sankyo, etc.etc. but don't really know about them, or which model i would be going for.
I'm going to be spending about �3000 - but no more (can't afford). The description of the Miyazawa 402 is "Handmade flute with sterling silver headjoint, body and footjoint, silver plated nickel silver key mechanism. Open holes with French style pointed tonearms, drawn toneholes, pinless left-hand mechanism and Straubinger Pads (North American models only)."
So... i'm going to be looking for something like that?
I know i seem totally biased towards the Miyazawa, but i really am going to be going there with as much of an open mind as possible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Which makes/models would you suggest me also trying?


Edit: I've just been looking and have found the Pearl 'Elegant' which seems to cover everything i wanted from the Miyazawa and more, but for a few hundred pounds less.
"Sterling Silver Headjoint, Body and Footjoint with Silver Clad Keys, 10K Gold Lip, C# Trill Key, D# Roller, Drawn Tone Holes, Offset"

Is it really as good as the Miyazawa? I guess the only real way to find out is to try them out myself - but if anyone has any experience of either, that'd be great.

Altus 1107 is the model of similar standard to myazawa solid 95.8 solid silver, plated keys etc. £2800+ mark. Yamaha 411 is silver right through. Pearls are good make I think. I think you need to ask to be given flutes and not look at makes cause I can see you are going to be biased no matter how hard you try (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[thefunkygibson]

I'd say definitely try an Altus - I think the 1007 and 1107 have a solid silver body, head and foot, and are both under £3000. I don't think either comes with a C# trill key though...

Have you tried justflutes for ideas? http://www.justflutes.com/pages/subcat775.htm#a915

That list has the Miyazawa 402, 303, Altus 1007, 1107, and others like Murumatsu, Pearl, Yamaha and Sankyo with model names and all.

Personally I'd recommend Altus, when I was trying flutes in the £1500ish price range, I tried a Miyazawa 202 and the Altus 907. I liked the sound of the Miyazawa at first because it was quite sweet, but my teacher convinced me that the Altus would have a greater range of tone in the long run, and so that's what I got. She is a little biased but I love my Altus so I'm not fussed!

Also if you think you're going to be biased, it might help to do a blindfolded test kind of thing, and also have your teacher listen to them all. I found my mum was fairly useful as well, she's a bit musical but not a flautist so she was fairly unbiased. You might be surprised at the sound of things you don't want to like - the Trevor James I tried had a rose gold lip-plate and sounded nice but had a massive bore that I'd never have made sound good in the long run, but it was fun to try anyway.

Happy flute testing! When I was trying flutes I had 5 out at once and that was nearly £7000 worth of flutes - makes you feel very special!!

Good luck!

[ffliwt]

Thanks for the help guys (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Several flautists have recommended Altus flutes to me before too, so i think that'll be worth taking a look at.

And i so agree that i'll have to ask to play them without seeing the make - you're right, i will be biased (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I'll just have to close my eyes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)