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Suggestions on buying a flute
by Summer
Got any suggestions on buying a flute? Hi, Summer. I sure do! Determine how much money you have to spend and then be realistic about what kind of flute this amount of money can buy. You may want a 14K gold Brannen-Cooper flute, but if you don't have a spare $35,000 lying around, well, sadly, it's just not going to happen. Next, decide where you're going to buy the flute. Your options include... a. Local music store b. On-line source, such as Woodwind-Brasswind c. Local used source, such family and acquaintances d. Local used source, such as newspaper ads and bulletin board ads e. On-line used source, such as eBay.com or a used flute web site There are disadvantages and advantages to each one... a. Local music store A local shop has their reputation to think of and they will be sure you are satisfied with your flute. Stores frequently have a repair department to take care of problems that develop with your instrument. On the downside, you might not get the lowest price. b. On-line source, such as Woodwind-Brasswind Woodwind-Brasswind has a great reputation. They sell top quality instruments and offer fantastic deals. You can test the instrument by making a down payment and having the flute shipped to you. On the downside, Woodwind-Brasswind is based in Indiana, which isn't local for most people. You can go to their showroom if you're in the area. c. Local used source, such family and acquaintances You'll probably get the lowest price by going this route, but the quality could be dubious. Maybe good, maybe terrible! Buyer beware and be sure to have the flute overhauled by a competent repair technician. d. Used source locally, such as newspaper ads and bulletin board ads You can get low prices for used instruments, but be careful about what you're buying. It's very important to take any flute to a repairman first to see what work needs to be done to it. e. On-line used source, such as eBay.com or a used flute web site Buyer beware! There should be an escrow service where you can put your money before it is sent to the seller. You should have the opportunity to try the flute out for a week or so first before the purchase is final. Now decide what features you want on your flute... 1) C or B footjoint 2) Solid silver throughout or silver headjoint only 3) Offset versus in-line G 4) Split E mechanism 5) Trill keys and many, many others Some options will raise the price of the flute. A flute that is all silver will cost more than one that has a silver headjoint and a silver-plated body. The B footjoint costs more than the C footjoint. Rank the options you want in order of how much you want them and make compromises on the items you can live without. A great way to become educated about the prices of flutes and the options you can choose from is to read the web sites of flute manufacturers and sellers... Brannen-Cooper Woodwind Brasswind Expect to pay about $1,000 for a new student flute, give or take a hundred or so. For a used instrument, expect to pay about half that.
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