I started a new thread here so that the SO CLOSE, BUT SO FAR thread wouldn’t get too long.
I found a Sweetheart 4 key flute with the price a little above my budget. I think it looks nice, and is a fairly decent price. Should I consider this flute, as a possibility other than the polymer M&E? Does anybody own this flute, or has experience with Sweetheart flutes?
Thanks
Collin 
I have one. I bought it off a board member. I think mine is a remarkably good flute. It’s got good volume (about the same as my Seery), it’s great looking, and it’s well in tune.
Feel free to ask more questions.
Eric
The Sweethart is probably a great flute, and there is probably no reason not to get it, besides the fact that it’s wood. When you get the real pro flute, an Olwell, Hammy, McGee or whatever, you’ll have two wooden flutes, and the Sweethart will not have the same place as it perhaps should. There would not be too many reasons to pick it up and play it. If you had a polymer on the other hand, you would probably have a more useable secondary flute. Plus, I can’t imagine any flute in the same price range as being “better” than the M&E. You’ll still enjoy playing the M&E even when you have got the pro flute, and you’ll probably even find little things that you prefer with the M&E over the other flute. This could be the case with the Sweethart as well, but then, it’s not polymer 
I just recieved my M&E, and I love it. It is my first flute that I haven’t made myself. I was only debating between an M&E and a Seery for exactly the reasons Henke outlined. I haven’t ever played a Seery, so I’m not 100% positive I made the right choice, but there are lots of people on this board who will argue either way. The main point is that you should probably go with polymer for now, and then get a wooden one later. Unless you want to start a website like Michael](http://www.granitehillsdesign.com/michael/flute/flute_comparison.html%22%3EMichael) Eskin or James](http://www.flutesite.com/%22%3EJames) Peeples and write reviews for the rest of us who can’t afford to own five or six different flutes…
I wouldn’t knock the Sweetheart, but a Delrin or Polymer flute can indeed be a good choice and one you can keep for all the reasons mentioned.
I never felt wood was particularly difficult to take care of, and didn’t especially want a Delrin flute.
Then I talked myself into a Ward Delrin.
True it’s in Eb
But I am surprised myself at how often I pick it up, simply b/c it is readily available. Even after I swab my wooden flute and put it away, sometimes I grab the Ward for that “one last tune” before turning out the lites.
I will likely take it with me on trips.
Plus, it is visually just gorgeous, and did I mention it is loud and has a great tone as well.
Delrin flutes have a definate niche.
M
Now that I think about it, the smartest choice for me would to get a polymer flute, simply because of my location. Here in south-east Texas, it is always pretty humid. Always. Plus, I like the look of the M&E, and I would be able to choose the keys, if I wanted any.
I now have a question about M&E flutes. Are the keys only able to be put on the flute right when you buy it?..or can you send it to him whenever you feel the need to add more keys?
Thanks
Collin
Keys can be added later.
My 6-key M&E started out life as a keyless.
–James
It’s the same with my 5-key R&R so yes you can have Michael put them on later. If I were you, I’d ask Michael if he could put on his own handmade keys instead of the Pakistani keys. James and I both have the handmade sterling keys and they seem to be a lot better. He did it for me for the listed price of standard keys, which is just great.
Is there a long wait for him to put keys on?
Not really. In normal circumstances you’re looking at maybe a month. Michael keeps his waitlist down to just a few weeks by having polymer flutes readily available in stock. Modifications like split embouchure and rings only takes a few hours of work, so normally he can get right to work when he recieves an order on keys or something like that.