Hello, first of all i’d like to apologize for my bad english. I’m a spanish boy and beginner in flute and whistle world. 1 month ago I bought a susato D low whistle and now I want to buy a wooden flute (like the picture or similar) but is hard to find this kind of instrument in spain, so I ask you for on-line stores in Europe to buy it.
Thank you 
There are several ways of buying a flute on-line but given the price and the differences in quality between available flutes you may want to consider buying a flute you have actually tried. There is a Spanish firm, Hevia Parrado Y Aragon, making uilleann pipes and other instruments, they do flutes too I think. They have a website www.arhpa.com and they may be an option for you.
I agree, but the main problem is that I can’t try high/medium quality wooden flutes because there are not in shops. I have taken a view that website, they have 1 flute but too expensive for me, i’d like something about 300€.
Thanks.
Hola Arka,
Your English is fine.
You might want to look at the flute forum too.
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=92d8434485790ba29caf956970841007
There is much good information there.
Cheers,
Patrick
oops, I think this topic should be at that forum, sorry.. i’ll look there.
If your looking only in Europe, two of the closest in price I can think of (but in polymer, not wood - although they are made just like a wooden flute) are www.seerywoodwind.com and www.irishflutes.net. I own a Seery and love it, I’ve played an M&E and it was quite good too (but I prefer pratten style flutes).
Wooden options would include www.tonydixonmusic.co.uk and www.ebay.com (search for wood* flute). Tony makes a nice small hole wooden flute as well as a nice 3 piece polymer flute (don’t mess with his one and two piece polymer flutes - they’re not conical).
In the US, Ralph Sweet at www.sweatheartflute.com and Casey Burns http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com/ff.php both have flutes in your pricerange - and cheap enough the cost of shipping and taxes would still likely fall below your 300 euro price.
All of the above are keyless - if you want keys for the price you want, I’d suggest ebay for an antique. AVOID AT ALL COSTS flutes from the middle east and india that are sold on eBay - they’re rubbish 99% of the time.
Eric
Lots of Gaita makers also make wooden Flutes. If you are in Galicia or Asturia check out some of them.
Jayhawk, wow, what a complete information, thanks.
Unseen122, unfortunately i’m not near those cities..
by the way.. is the sound so different between polymer and wood? (i have never listened a polymer flute)
A question more.. what do you think about these:
Ireland style flute. Ebony wood. Case included. Made in Pakistan. 240 €
Ireland style flute. Ebony wood. 5 nickel keys. Case included. Made in Pakistan. 295 €
Are they better option than the polymer Seery?
No! See Jayhawk’s comment about Indian flutes. They look OK, but are not really very good.
If you’re truly new to whistling, you might do well to stick with the whistle for a while before tackling flute. With flute you have the whole new set of learning problems associated with embouchure. These will be a lot easier to tackle if you’ve already become pretty comfortable with fingering, learning some tunes, ornamentation etc which you can learn on the whistle. Just a thought…
Oh, I was wrong in the translate of “rubbish”, now I know the meaning 
If you’re truly new to whistling, you might do well to stick with the whistle for a while before tackling flute. With flute you have the whole new set of learning problems associated with embouchure. These will be a lot easier to tackle if you’ve already become pretty comfortable with fingering, learning some tunes, ornamentation etc which you can learn on the whistle. Just a thought…
maybe you are right in those advices, but I know it will take time to me to learn that problemes… all in all I WANT a flute 
Thnx
Definitely stay away from flutes like those. Vary rarely, someone will report one that plays decently, but the one I bought never made any sound that you could call musical.
As for the sound of polymer, we debate this sometimes. Some folks say they can tell a difference, I and others say the difference really isn’t noticeable. Tom Doorly of Danu played a delrin Seery on the first three Danu albums - and he sounded great.
As for Paul’s advice on waiting - that’s another one that we debate sometimes…if you really love the sound of the flute and that’s really what you want, I’d say go ahead and get one. Whistles are great, but I’m mainly a flute player myself and the sound of a wooden flute is what I always wanted.
Eric
I have heard a polomer and a wooden flute played at the same time, and they sounded very
similar to me. Some people with more experience may disagree.
I don’t think it would be a bad idea for a beginner to start with a polymer flute, because they
are cheaper than wood, are very durable and seem to have a good sound, and you can always
sell them later to raise money for a wooden flute when you are ready.
Hello Arka,
You have received much good advice here, but sometimes it is hard to decide what to do, isn’t it?
I have played wooden flutes and poly flutes, and find only a little difference in tone, and for a beginner, that little difference will not be noticed. You can always get a wooden flute later, when you know what you like in tone, and you will always have the polymer flute to play when and where you like.
I have 2 poly flutes; a Seery, and an M&E. For a beginner I would suggest the M&E, which is a little easier to play and get a good tone. I like both very much, even compared to wooden flutes.
There are two advantages about poly flutes, and that is the price, and the little care they require. You can leave them out, ready to play, and not fear that they will crack for lack of humidity. And, you can take them anywhere with you, and not worry.
So, I would recommend the M&E Rudall & Rose polymer flute:
http://irishflutes.net/mef/S_Contents.htm
as the first choice, unless you wanted to spend much less money, and then I would suggest a Doug Tipple pvc speckled bore flute in D:
http://home.earthlink.net/~life2all/dougswebspace/
Doug’s flutes are cylindrical bore, not conical, and so they will have a longer spread for the holes, like a Low D whistle, but are amazing sounding and playing flutes for VERY little money.
If you have any questions, you may email me, and I will try to help. Good luck with your choice!
Thank you all guys!! I think I’ll buy a M&E flute soon, I have no doubt now because of you
The biggest advantage of polymer flows from those listed above: If you don’t need to take the thing apart, you play it more. More playing time = more fun, quicker advancement, etc. I think most people - even those with high-end instruments - could benefit from owning a Delrin flute.
I have the M.E.R.R. and I like it very much. One minor issue - the balance is a bit top-heavy compared to a wooden flute, so it feels heavier. But all in all an excellent first flute. (Or second or third, for that matter)
I think there is a slight difference in polymer and wood sound, but there is a slight difference in wood vs. wood sound as well, depending on what kind of wood it is. There is a biger sound difference beteween African Blackwood and Boxwood to my ears than what it is between African Blackwood and Polymer. The differences are so small that I think it would be silly to choose a particular material because you think it might sound better, espessially for a newbee. One factor to consider that does matter when choosing a material is ease of care, in this area the polymer comes out on top of any kind of wood.
M&E R&R is a great flute, I have one (my primary flute) and it is on par with all the other flutes I’ve ever tried from different makers.