I’m a flutist going on 11 years now, still with my old Artley elementary school flute I’ve had since day one. Only now, it’s kinda beat up. I’ve had a total rework done on it about a year ago, but that didn’t last very long, so I’m looking into buying new. I’m wondering, what is a nice quality flute to buy these days? I was never quite thrilled with my Artley, and while I’d like to invest in a Straubinger, from what I’ve seen online, they’re about 3 grand. Also, from what I’ve gathered online, I’ve found mostly three names: Yamaha, Jupiter, and Bach. Are any of these of quality better than old Artley (I’m assuming that they don’t even make 'em anymore, 'cause no one sells new ones anymore)? Or is there a better reccommendation?
Hello, Maelstrom,
this is mostly a wooden flute forum, but i asked the question about what’s people “dream flute” in the FLUTE email list a couple of years ago, and some of the answers i got were:
- Burkhart-Phelan, the model made with 99.8% silver - http://www.flutemaker.com
- Powell - the wooden model
- Brannen
- Altus 1607RBOE
Or course, a golden Hayes is always a good hit with Jean-Pierre Rampal fans, and a Muramatsu platinum with Jim Galway fans. 
I’m quite happy with a flute that costs a lot less than those. Sometimes price isn’t everything.
For a “nice quality flute”, most of the Japanese fit the bill: Yamaha, Miyazawa, Muramatsu… I’m very happy with my Miyazawa, but it’s a very old model, so the new ones probably don’t compare.
HTH…
I don’t think you could get anywhere close to a new Straubinger flute for 3K. Think double that.
A lot depends on your budget. A low end Miyazawa can be a very nice flute. Yamaha has something for just about every price range, some of them are a good to very good value.
A dream flute like those Glauber lists is a lot of thousands of dollars.
I have a 600 series Yamaha that works well for me. (Approaching 5 years of flute playing). A flute of this type seems popular with jazz musicians who really play sax, but occasionally need to pick up a flute for a couple of bars.
The prestige Japanese brands are Miyazawa, Altus, Muramatsu and Sankyo. These companies make only flutes, and some of them are wonderful. They all have low end models around US$2,000 (more or less, haven’t shopped in a while) that are very nice.
If that’s too much for your budget. I hear good things about Yamaha, Pearl and Trevor James. Some people like the recent Emmerson flutes.
www.fluteworld.com has a reasonably representative selection. (no experience buying flutes from them though!)
I have five Boehm flutes: three silver ones, one wooden one and a silverplated student flute. All of the flutes have good voices and playability. Yes, you can spend thousands upon thousands on a top flute (and I have), and you will love it hugely, but I just want to say that the entry-level Blessing (B-101) silverplated flute, for a few hundred dollars, is a little treasure.
That said, if you don’t mind the Yamaha name (I don’t like it because they make motorcycles and some very unmusical things, and the name just doesn’t have any romance for me), they make some very playable and reliable flutes for a good price. Miyazawas can be nice, too. A lot of people like Muramatsu flutes, but I don’t. I find them unfocused.
If you want an American-made flute, stick with the top level handmade ones, because the Elkhart, IN (factory-made) flutes just aren’t worth it.
Good luck. You can get some great deals on eBay.
I’d stay away from Armstrongs, specifically. I think their mechanism is clunky. If you’re happy with the intonation and mechanical feel of your Artley (but it seems you aren’t), you could think, alternatively, about getting a handmade headjoint for it. This is a lot cheaper than getting a new flute, and the result can be excellent.
Jupiter makes a decent (student) flute. Their better line, Altus are also good. Miyazawas are very nice, but more expensive.
If you can get a Straubinger for $3000, buy it!
I would stay away from: Bundy, Armstrong, Gemeinhart, Emerson and any new student flute made in U.S.A., unfortunately! I don’t like Murumatsu either.Yamahas are okay. Beware the $200 flutes on ebay–they will fall apart. Also, stay away from the junk sold at Wal-Mart. You are better off buying a good used flute from your local instrument dealer or “want-advertiser”.
Good luck!
Elizabeth
Here’s a good resource for buying and selling used flutes in the US:
Here’s the classifieds, if you can’t find them in that messy site:
http://flutenet.com/sept04lst.htm
Most flutes listed there right now are more than $3K, but there is a Hammig grenadilla flute (wood) listed for $2.5K and another one for $3K.
If you email her, she’ll send you the printed newsletter for free, so you don’t have to remember to check the Internet.
The last time I auditioned new flutes, I went to Flute World in Detroit and Woodwind Brasswind in Indiana. I took a friend, another flute player. Both times we were blown away by Altus models in the $2000 range. They really wanted to be played. I’ve played an 800 series Yamaha since 1987, and it’s a beautiful flute as well. Those would be my recommendations. Have fun auditioning flutes!
Cara
I don’t know if it’s still the case, but the first
Yamaha motorcycles had a tuning fork insignia.
They were very neurotic machines, not knowing
whether they were motorcycles or pianos.
At the beginning of the year, I got a new boehm flute. I tried muramatsu (which I found very focused b.t.w.)and yamaha and settled on the yamaha 784, due to the fact I could get a very cheap price here. They were both very good. I also have an old sankyo which is still really good (closed hole though, which is a problem for me). I hear bad reports about the Elkhart IN. flutes, but I use an Emerson model 8 on stage for “electric” gigs and touring, and it has been very reliable (and very controllable, responsive, in tune etc.) for the last 20 years of hard playing, so I don’t understand why peolpe don’t like them. (maybe the lower models are not as good?)