Just wondered if anyone had come across one of these?

They seem a little too good to be true for the price and I would be interested to hear opinions on the quality! Not thinking of buying by the way!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Open-Hole-B-Foot-Flu...A1%7C240%3A1318

Have never seen or heard of these and would recommend staying clear of them. I think that they are probably an imitation model, which is likely to mean poorer quality and an increased likelihood of mechanical problems, poor balance, lack of flexibility, poor tuning etc. They say it is modelled on the Yamaha 574 but the Yamaha 574 has a hand-cut head-joint and pointed key arms, which the one you've seen doesn't have (which makes me suspicious that they don't really know what they are talking about). The fact that they are cheaper than a basic student instrument from a reputable manufacturer (e.g. TJ, Yamaha, Jupiter, Pearl) rings alarm bells to me, and it doesn't say where they are made.

More silver does not automaically mean a better flute. For example, Altus and Miyazawa do models with a silver lip-plate and riser and which are generally considered to be better instruments than the TJ and Pearl models with silver tubes.

I would not recommend buying an upgrade/silver-headed flute without trying it first (I know you said you weren't thinking of buying, but there may be someone who reads this thread and is). The way the headjoint has been made, how the embouchure hole has been cut and the balance of an instrument can make an enormous difference to how it plays. This is very individual and a flute which suits one person really well can be awful for another.

the only google hit for "SFL-350S" is that eBay listing. i'd say this is most likely a no-name Chinese flute imported and stamped with whatever brand the seller is calling it today. it may well be modelled on a Yamaha, but that doesn't mean it actually came out anything like it ;-)

if someone could really make a flute comparable to a £1,500 Yamaha for £300, why isn't everyone selling (and playing) them? check out the seller's other listings - he has "pro quality" flutes for £100, not to mention "24k gold-plated" piccolos.