What kind of flute should I buy?

Question

I just want to have experience on this instrument...

So I'm looking for the cheapest thing available that isn't a piece of c**p.

Any ideas?

Answer 1

It depends if you want to learn the concert flute (the big shiny silver ones) or the Irish flute.

If you want to learn the Irish flute, go to your local music store and buy a tinwhistle. It's the exact same fingering, you'll be playing songs your first day (I managed "Twinkle, Twinkle, little Star" in about 20 minutes and I am the least musical person I've ever met), for a total cost of about $9.50 after taxes.

And the tinwhistle is not a BS instrument, either - one of my favorite musicians carries a pair of them (one in D, which is the most common key in Irish music, and one in C for everything else) when he plays at the Renaissance Fair.

If you want to learn the concert flute, I honestly don't know. If it were me I'd start with Ebay.

Answer 2

look on eBay i got a awesome gemeinhardt flute for $70 and it works perfectly just a few scratches but perfect sound

Answer 3

I'm very happy with my Armstrong 800B

Answer 4

If you're looking for experience on the flute, go to a good music store and rent one to see if you like it.. Many stores have rent to purchase options which include your rental fee going toward a new instrument.  EBay is OK only if you KNOW what you are looking for.  Armstrong is a good, durable instrument as well as Yamaha. Stay away from Bundy and other lower grade instruments. As I mentioned before, go to a local music shop and take a friend who plays well to test the different flutes. Don't buy a flute for $100 bucks or you will simply get frustrated and not want to play it.  I had a student buy a flute out of a Sears catalog once and even I couldn't get a note out of it.  Used flutes are also your option but be sure they offer a three day test period. Many of my students have had good luck on eBay (I even bought a lovely Powell at a fraction of the cost for a new one).  Email me if you have any questions. I'll be glad to assist you

Answer 5

Hello there.

Well, if you are looking for the cheapest thing available,  but don't want a piece of c**p....  look for a nice used flute.   There are brand new flutes on eBay right now... selling for $89 or $99.  These are cheap, no name brand, pieces of c**p imported into the US...  

Nowadays,  a new name brand flute will cost $600.00, so you can see the difference in that quality is proportional to the price a flute costs.   That is why I was mentioning buying a used flute. Name brands with long time reputations are Gemeinhardt, Emerson, Armstrong and Yamaha.  Any of these will give you a good quality instrument that is easy to repair and have lots of parts available.

Look on eBay / Craigslist . org / Pawnshops / Newspaper classifieds / for the best and cheapest prices... even as cheap as $125.00.

Hope that helps.  I know you will be able to find a flute for what you can afford... guaranteed.  Just keep looking.

Answer 6

Never ever buy an instrument off of auction sites such as eBay, because you never know what kind of c**p you will get from there!!! I'd go for brand new Yamaha instead, it's durable enough and not too pricey for you. You can then upgrade your flute into a better model if you decide to become a serious musician.

Answer 7

Ebay, I bought a brand-new open holed flute two years ago for 100 dollars, this flute would have cost 1000 dollars or more if i bought it from the store.