Hi,
I am looking to buy a new flute at some point. I am planning to save up to buy a really nice wooden one - thinking that would involve spending around £1000 or so, but in the mean time I have seen a number of flutes listed on ebay very cheaply, and was wondering if anyone had experience of any of these.
My old wooden flute is a Des Seery one which I have never really got on with, but since it developed a crack in the headjoint I have been even less confident in its capabilities! I had it repaired but the crack opened up again. I managed to play it for a while with the crack taped over, but as I said - I'm not really confident in it! (Now it might be more to do with my inadequacies as a player - but I would like to have an instrument that I know is at least capable of making a decent sound. Then when it doesn't I know it's the player that needs to improve!) BTW I also play the silver flute.
Anyway, as far as ebay goes I am reluctant to buy any instrument without having played it, but if anyone could offer a recommendation on something reasonable to keep me going that would be very helpful. I would much prefer wood, but I'd be happy to take advice on a good-sounding plastic one.
Why not send the cracked head piece back to the maker & get a replacement one first. Perhaps visit him & explain your ideas. Perhaps you might end up with as good as you pay a good few £100 for. Too many people think that except it is a really expensive instrument, it couldn't be good. So charge plenty & it will be really good. A status symbol or ???
Those cheap flutes on eBay are made in Pakistan, have little to no quality control, and some don't even play a note (mine sounded like a car door was ajar on the highway). The best cheap flute goes for $300 USD and is Casey Burn's folk flute. Ralph Sweet's basic flutes are around the same price, and they're good, too, for a basic instrument.
There's nothing wrong with Des Seery's flutes UNLESS you were unlucky and got a rare bad one. I owned a Seery for several years, played several others, and they've all been consistent with regards to quality and sound. Did you have a problem covering the holes? Getting a full sound? Being pratten based, the holes are large and it takes a goodly amount of air to properly fill the flute. Has a good player played yours and told you what they thought?
If it's the filling or hole size, you might want to look in the long run for more of a Rudall based or Firth, Pond & Hall based flute - both can have smaller tone holes and smaller bore which takes less air to fill.
I am not sure if I would risk ebay to find the flute I really wanted. There are lots of flutemakers around who you could contact and they will help you decide what to do. I have a flute made by Chris Wilkes from near Hereford and I have been really pleased with it. However, Chris has a long waiting list for new flutes but i would not put you off if you spotted a Wilkes flute on ebay
If you are looking for a new flute, then I would recommend Brian Byrne in Vermont (his name might be spelled Bryan). He is a little pricey, ($1600 USD) but he makes great flutes and I don't believe he has much of a waiting list currently. When you recieve the flute, he gives you one month to try it. If you don't like it, he will make you another one! Try him out!
I got my flute from Brent Santin and I love it, it's got great tone and it was only about $300 Canadian. I think all his contact info/flutes are on the page.
Good luck with your search for a flute :P
Dan
Flutes on Ebay
Flutes on Ebay
Hi,
I am looking to buy a new flute at some point. I am planning to save up to buy a really nice wooden one - thinking that would involve spending around £1000 or so, but in the mean time I have seen a number of flutes listed on ebay very cheaply, and was wondering if anyone had experience of any of these.
My old wooden flute is a Des Seery one which I have never really got on with, but since it developed a crack in the headjoint I have been even less confident in its capabilities! I had it repaired but the crack opened up again. I managed to play it for a while with the crack taped over, but as I said - I'm not really confident in it! (Now it might be more to do with my inadequacies as a player - but I would like to have an instrument that I know is at least capable of making a decent sound. Then when it doesn't I know it's the player that needs to improve!) BTW I also play the silver flute.
Anyway, as far as ebay goes I am reluctant to buy any instrument without having played it, but if anyone could offer a recommendation on something reasonable to keep me going that would be very helpful. I would much prefer wood, but I'd be happy to take advice on a good-sounding plastic one.
Thanks,
Diana
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by diana
Re: Flutes on Ebay
Why not send the cracked head piece back to the maker & get a replacement one first. Perhaps visit him & explain your ideas. Perhaps you might end up with as good as you pay a good few £100 for. Too many people think that except it is a really expensive instrument, it couldn't be good. So charge plenty & it will be really good. A status symbol or ???
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by lenamore Man
Re: Flutes on Ebay
Those cheap flutes on eBay are made in Pakistan, have little to no quality control, and some don't even play a note (mine sounded like a car door was ajar on the highway). The best cheap flute goes for $300 USD and is Casey Burn's folk flute. Ralph Sweet's basic flutes are around the same price, and they're good, too, for a basic instrument.
There's nothing wrong with Des Seery's flutes UNLESS you were unlucky and got a rare bad one. I owned a Seery for several years, played several others, and they've all been consistent with regards to quality and sound. Did you have a problem covering the holes? Getting a full sound? Being pratten based, the holes are large and it takes a goodly amount of air to properly fill the flute. Has a good player played yours and told you what they thought?
If it's the filling or hole size, you might want to look in the long run for more of a Rudall based or Firth, Pond & Hall based flute - both can have smaller tone holes and smaller bore which takes less air to fill.
Eric
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by Jayhawk
Re: Flutes on Ebay
I'll second what lenamore said. Plus, Desi may well tinker with the flute for you if there are issues with the particular instrument.
Eric
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by Jayhawk
Re: Flutes on Ebay
Those cheap flutes you see on ebay are really good for decorating your front door at Christmas.
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Flutes on Ebay
I am not sure if I would risk ebay to find the flute I really wanted. There are lots of flutemakers around who you could contact and they will help you decide what to do. I have a flute made by Chris Wilkes from near Hereford and I have been really pleased with it. However, Chris has a long waiting list for new flutes but i would not put you off if you spotted a Wilkes flute on ebay
# Posted on April 22nd 2007 by Llanman
Re: Flutes on Ebay
If you are looking for a new flute, then I would recommend Brian Byrne in Vermont (his name might be spelled Bryan). He is a little pricey, ($1600 USD) but he makes great flutes and I don't believe he has much of a waiting list currently. When you recieve the flute, he gives you one month to try it. If you don't like it, he will make you another one! Try him out!
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by dancer1337
Re: Flutes on Ebay
That's Vermont USA
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by dancer1337
Re: Flutes on Ebay
http://www3.sympatico.ca/clarke-santin/flutes/main.html
I got my flute from Brent Santin and I love it, it's got great tone and it was only about $300 Canadian. I think all his contact info/flutes are on the page.
Good luck with your search for a flute :P
Dan
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by dannym
Re: Flutes on Ebay
Oh yeah, the page I mentioned was the link I put just above my little message. You probably knew that but I thought I should tell you anyways.
# Posted on April 23rd 2007 by dannym