Second hand flute Options

[Pixie*Porsche]

Yamahas are excellent instruments. I really highly recommend a 211 with your budget. If or when you upgrade the 211 is a great instrument with a lovely mechanism. The body is just as the 311 so you can just upgrade to a solid silver headjoint.

If you'd like to try a few different flutes, your local music shop may not be the place to go to, you may be lucky though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It's a pity you're so far away if you were closer, I would have said come over for a chat and a coffee and try a few instruments. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[randomsabreur]

If there are any (think they're quite new on the market so less likely to have second hand availability) Azumi flutes seem to be perceived as good value. They're owned by Altus (the 2000 series and up have Altus headjoints). Pearl and Trevor James also do decent student flutes (as mentioned above).

Whatever you get, if you get something with a good reliable mechanism, the next upgrade could well be no more than a headjoint.

[Pixie*Porsche]

If there are any (think they're quite new on the market so less likely to have second hand availability) Azumi flutes seem to be perceived as good value. They're owned by Altus (the 2000 series and up have Altus headjoints). Pearl and Trevor James also do decent student flutes (as mentioned above).

Whatever you get, if you get something with a good reliable mechanism, the next upgrade could well be no more than a headjoint.

Pearl do some lovely flutes in my opinion. I've no experience of Azumi, if they are anything like the lovely Altus 1007 I have at the moment then they are absolutely worth trying. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I think Altus make very fine and lovely flutes!

Trevor James is a good make but personally I don't get on with them, each to their own! Don't be put off by that though - everyone has "their" flute (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[kharris]

Thank you for all the replies to my question.

Although I'm leaning towards Yamaha, I'm open minded. If we could find decent second hand Pearl or other make, we would be happy.

I was looking at eBay yesterday, not to buy, just to get some idea.
There was a Yamaha 311 going quite cheap. I'm not too sure how much it went in the end, but there was several minutes left and the highest bid was about ?70. The 311 looked quite old and there was some bubbles outside. I wondered if that is significant or not.

Still we need to sell my daughter's cello first to get funding to buy her flute.

[kharris]

I heard that a flute has a long life. Is an old flute, which was used for a year or so many years ago and was serviced recently, good one to consider? According to the ad, it was serviced around Christmas time; tenons trued,pads reset,.action oiled,regulated and tested.

I'd be grateful if someone could give me some advice.

[Flossie]

I heard that a flute has a long life. Is an old flute, which was used for a year or so many years ago and was serviced recently, good one to consider? According to the ad, it was serviced around Christmas time; tenons trued,pads reset,.action oiled,regulated and tested.

I'd be grateful if someone could give me some advice.

Flutes deteriorate with age and with playing. In particular, the mechanism tends to wear out. If the mechanism is poor then a service will temporarily solve the problems - but only for a while. You need to find out more about the flute, and you need to get it checked by someone who understands flutes and knows what to look for. An 'old' flute that hasn't been played much can sometimes be better than a newer one that's been played 10 hours a day and had its mechanism trashed, but only if it was built well in the first place. I'd be a little bit wary about the fact that the flute has required work on the tenons as this can be a sign of a dodgy mechanism - but the only way of finding out is to have it checked by an expert (old flutes which have been properly overhauled by someone who really knows what they're doing can play very well). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[kharris]

I heard that a flute has a long life. Is an old flute, which was used for a year or so many years ago and was serviced recently, good one to consider? According to the ad, it was serviced around Christmas time; tenons trued,pads reset,.action oiled,regulated and tested.

I'd be grateful if someone could give me some advice.

Flutes deteriorate with age and with playing. In particular, the mechanism tends to wear out. If the mechanism is poor then a service will temporarily solve the problems - but only for a while. You need to find out more about the flute, and you need to get it checked by someone who understands flutes and knows what to look for. An 'old' flute that hasn't been played much can sometimes be better than a newer one that's been played 10 hours a day and had its mechanism trashed, but only if it was built well in the first place. I'd be a little bit wary about the fact that the flute has required work on the tenons as this can be a sign of a dodgy mechanism - but the only way of finding out is to have it checked by an expert (old flutes which have been properly overhauled by someone who really knows what they're doing can play very well). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I see. The old flute I was talking about is Yamaha YFL 21S. So sorry to be ignorant, but I don't even know what tenons are!! But as you say it can be a sign of a dodgy mechanism, I'll stay clear out of it then.
Thanks for your advice.

Oh, dose anybody know anything about Pearl pf501? Someone is selling it and it looks in good condition.

[delorfinde]

I started out on a Yamaha 211N which is the less good version (it's nickel plated). It was second hand at the time and it's in extremely bad condition now ... well, not extremely bad, but it's very worn. We're thinking of selling it - as soon as we've sorted out the dodgy keys! That flute got me through Grade 2 and Grade 3 but was a bit too dodgy on some notes to last (probably because it's ancient).

My second flute was a Pearl, although I can't remember the number (sorry!). It cost ?330 new. I then left it on a bus, but got another one from insurance of the same type. That one has got me through Grades 4, 5, 6 and now will maybe take me through Grade 7. However I'm thinking of buying a new flute which I would then use for my exam this summer.

I'm hoping to get an open holed flute that's good enough to last me beyond Grade 8 ... but I don't have a clue what I'm going for (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Hope this helps ... I reckon I left it a bit too late to contribute properly to this thread anyway.

[kharris]

I started out on a Yamaha 211N which is the less good version (it's nickel plated). It was second hand at the time and it's in extremely bad condition now ... well, not extremely bad, but it's very worn. We're thinking of selling it - as soon as we've sorted out the dodgy keys! That flute got me through Grade 2 and Grade 3 but was a bit too dodgy on some notes to last (probably because it's ancient).

My second flute was a Pearl, although I can't remember the number (sorry!). It cost ?330 new. I then left it on a bus, but got another one from insurance of the same type. That one has got me through Grades 4, 5, 6 and now will maybe take me through Grade 7. However I'm thinking of buying a new flute which I would then use for my exam this summer.

I'm hoping to get an open holed flute that's good enough to last me beyond Grade 8 ... but I don't have a clue what I'm going for (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Hope this helps ... I reckon I left it a bit too late to contribute properly to this thread anyway.

It's good to know what other people have been using and what sort of grades they've done with them, etc.
Gives me more idea.

I realised that there are closed hole and open hole. (Flute is a completely new teritory to me) I suppose you have to put your fingers on right position to play on a open holed flute, so it would not be suitable for my daughter who's been playing only for 5 months.

Thaks for posting anyway.

[notmusimum]

I've no idea where you live but Woodwind Exchange in Bradford have loads of new and second hand instruments.

My daughter started on a student Jupiter used it for Grades 1-4 having played for only just over a year. Grades 5 and 6 were taken on a Yamaha 311 closed hole. Last year we upgraded when it was clear she was not really getting on with the 311. We bought a Pearl PF-695 B foot with open holes. I was sceptical about open hole but they have never been an issue for daughter.

I would say that whichever Flute you buy now it may not be the one your daughters ideal Flute, as she has been playing only a short time.

[kharris]

I've no idea where you live but Woodwind Exchange in Bradford have loads of new and second hand instruments.

My daughter started on a student Jupiter used it for Grades 1-4 having played for only just over a year. Grades 5 and 6 were taken on a Yamaha 311 closed hole. Last year we upgraded when it was clear she was not really getting on with the 311. We bought a Pearl PF-695 B foot with open holes. I was sceptical about open hole but they have never been an issue for daughter.

I would say that whichever Flute you buy now it may not be the one your daughters ideal Flute, as she has been playing only a short time.

Sadly we live in Buckinghamshire, so it's rather far from Bradford. (We lived in Sheffied many years ago and my daughter was born there!)

I do realise that whichever flute we buy for her won't be her ideal flute. I just want to get something decent, so she could enjoy playing more. She does enjoy practising now, but it's kind of struggle sometimes because she's using her friend's old flute which isn't the easiest to play, according to her flute teacher. She's doing well though. Her teacher said she's reached Grade 5 level now.
I'm torn between Pearl and Yamaha 211 at the moment. Azumi looks nice as well, but there aren't many second hand around, so may be hard to find, and also it seems rather expensive!

Thanks for posting.

[andante_in_c]

It is worth remembering that a good flute holds its value better than a cheaper one, and that it is likely to stay in adjustment better, leading to lower maintenance costs. If you can scrape together a larger budget now it will almost certainly save you money in the long run.

[notmusimum]

It is worth remembering that a good flute holds its value better than a cheaper one, and that it is likely to stay in adjustment better, leading to lower maintenance costs. If you can scrape together a larger budget now it will almost certainly save you money in the long run.

Sound advice from andante-in-c. When we traded in the Yamaha we got nearly as much as we paid for it as our initial purchase was without VAT and instruments have increased in value quite a lot.

Daughter still doesn't have her dream FLute one of the top of the range Muramatsus (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Flossie]

I'm torn between Pearl and Yamaha 211 at the moment. Azumi looks nice as well, but there aren't many second hand around, so may be hard to find, and also it seems rather expensive!

Pearls and Yamahas are both decent flutes, but it also seems that both divide opinion. For some reason, with these two brands, there seems to be a tendancy (in my experience) for those who get on well with one to hate the other. This doesn't make either 'bad' - they are just rather different flutes. I personally get on well with Pearls (I played one for years before upgrading again a couple of years ago) and don't get on well with Yamahas. At the same time, I knew some Yamaha lovers who absolutely hated playing my Pearl. The only way for you to decide between the two is for your daughter to play them both and see whether she likes them.

I don't know your part of the country very well, but is Bedfordshire anywhere near Hitchin or Cambridge? I know people who have used John Myatt's in Hitchin and Wood Wind and Reed in Cambridge for flutes. Both shops would be happy for you to try lots of flutes (you can try withour buying...) and they both sell second hand ones as well. If not, you've already been given good suggestions for London shops. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[kharris]

Thank you for your advice, andante in c, notmusimum and flossie. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'll consider my options carefully and choose a flute for my daughter.
I'm really grateful for everybody who posted their replies.
At the moment I'm tempted by Pearl. I'll try to get a decent Yamaha or Pearl within my budget for now and later on when she gets to the level which requires a better flute, then think about upgrading to silver head joint and maybe open hole.