For The Phatmass Phlute Players

[Wikitiki]

...Buy a violin instead.

[/violinist's opinion]

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1283663542' post='2168164']
I recommend a Stradivarius!

Oh wait.......
[/quote]


[quote name='Wikitiki' timestamp='1283714568' post='2168335']
...Buy a violin instead.

[/violinist's opinion]
[/quote]

[dominicansoul]

[quote name='Deus_te_Amat' timestamp='1283706341' post='2168288']
As a proud 6 year owner of a Gemeinhardt 3SP, I have to voice my objection to your criticism. The beginner Gemeinhardts do have their problems, but so do all beginning flutes. I learned on an old Bundy, and I hated playing until I upgraded to my Gemeinhardt. Instantaneous improvement. I would never describe the tone as "tinny"... unless dependent on the embrasure. I love the tone of my flute, and find errors in sound to be personal rather than intrinsic. Idk...

Much of what a flute is is what you make of it. Everyone has a different method and style of playing, and different brands appeal to different people. I agree with LC in the suggestion to go try out multiple flutes before purchasing. Its how I chose mine.

Mine is an open holed,, solid silver inline G (I have really big hands) with the B footjoint. Everything LC recommended you against, so you can ignore my two cents, but please, don't diss my Gemmy.
[/quote]
I"ve owned mine for 25 years...together we won several prizes, medals, music scholarships, contests, honors, kudos, congratulations,etc. etc. etc.

I like my Gemmy...she's my old faithful and I wouldn't trade her for the world!!!

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1283713194' post='2168329']
Mine's a Cleveland King.
[/quote]

How old is it? I've never heard of that brand!


[quote name='Wikitiki' timestamp='1283714568' post='2168335']
...Buy a violin instead.

[/violinist's opinion]
[/quote]

Lol, I plan to play the violin later down the line. I've always loved Mairead from Celtic Woman because of the way she plays that fiddle/violin. She's a amazing! She actually trained at an Ursuline Convent in Ireland in her childhood. She kicks butt! I was watching a video of her performance last night and I love this video:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIxUXjJL4mk[/media]

I was fortunate to be able to see Celtic Woman live before Orla left (she was my favorite singer... ) in 2008. My mom bought me tickets to their concert in March as a Christmas present because I had been begging her to go with me! It was a LONG wait, but that night was a blast!

[quote name='dominicansoul' timestamp='1283725624' post='2168488']
I"ve owned mine for 25 years...together we won several prizes, medals, music scholarships, contests, honors, kudos, congratulations,etc. etc. etc.

I like my Gemmy...she's my old faithful and I wouldn't trade her for the world!!!
[/quote]

That's probably why yours is so good. From what I read, Gemeinhardt has only recently become terrible after they changed hands several times. The quality is not what it used to be.

[OnlySunshine]

Well, my search is finally over! I went to a Music and Arts center with the intention of trying out a few flutes to see what worked for me. They really didn't have much of a selection, sadly. They only had a Bundy, Haynes, Gemeinhardt and Yamaha. I didn't know they had a Yamaha because it was in the back with the rental instruments. I could never afford the Haynes on my budget ($2,259!) but I wish I would have tried it just for the heck of it to see what it sounded like. I decided to try the Bundy just to see how it felt, but I knew it wouldn't be a good flute, and I was right. It was heavy and the notes played in the 2nd and 3rd octave were jarring or wouldn't come out at all. So I handed that one back to the guy and asked him if he had any used flutes or knew of any one who was selling theirs. He said that they had used flutes that they usually rent but they also sell. I asked him if he had an Armstrong or an Emerson to try, but they were waiting for the shipment of more flutes because they've had [b]109[/b] students come in the last week to rent instruments for band. The only flute he had left was a Yamaha. I asked him if it was a beginner's model and it turned out to be the Yamaha YFL-221! If I bought it outright, it would be $780 (for used, which is ridiculous), but I could rent it for 3 months for only $15 and then after that pay $20 each month. I asked if I could try it (and he let me use a practice room for both trials) and I took it back and started playing the same notes I did on the Bundy. Let me tell you, they came out the smoothest I've ever heard! I was able to get up into the 3rd octave which I could not on the Bundy or my old Gemeinhardt. The tone quality was amazing! It was rich and lovely. The instrument was in pretty good shape with scratches and needed to be cleaned, but it played very well. I decided after a few minutes that I wanted to rent it at least while I was looking for something else. My mom suggested that I rent it until Christmas and then she and my grandmother could help me buy it! If I wait until then, I will only have to pay the balance which is 30% less than $780 (around $530). So, I took it home and I have been playing for about an hour. My pinky hurts, but I LOVE my new flute! It is really what I wanted in the first place, but thought I wouldn't be able to get.

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='Deus_te_Amat' timestamp='1283706341' post='2168288']
As a proud 6 year owner of a Gemeinhardt 3SP, I have to voice my objection to your criticism. The beginner Gemeinhardts do have their problems, but so do all beginning flutes. I learned on an old Bundy, and I hated playing until I upgraded to my Gemeinhardt. Instantaneous improvement. I would never describe the tone as "tinny"... unless dependent on the embrasure. I love the tone of my flute, and find errors in sound to be personal rather than intrinsic. Idk...

Much of what a flute is is what you make of it. Everyone has a different method and style of playing, and different brands appeal to different people. I agree with LC in the suggestion to go try out multiple flutes before purchasing. Its how I chose mine.

Mine is an open holed,, solid silver inline G (I have really big hands) with the B footjoint. Everything LC recommended you against, so you can ignore my two cents, but please, don't diss my Gemmy.
[/quote]


I had my Gemeinhardt ([url="http://www.gemeinhardt.com/catalogpage.asp?mode=PRODUCT&productid=60"]model 33SSB[/url]) for about nine years before switching to my Powell. Granted, it was a major improvement from my beginner Selmer, but man... I had many tears and frustrations with that instrument. To say the least, our somewhat local flute repair technician knew me by name because of how often I had to bring my flute in, whether because of faulty padding, spring issues, or mechanism problems. My friend in college, however, had the same model flute and she [b]rarely[/b] had any problems and sounded quite good on it! (I always told her, "Emily, you have the found the DIAMOND in the rough!!!" I liked hers much more than my own! [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/blush.gif[/img]) However, like you said, Deus_te_Amat, I think for the most part, a lot has to do with how each individual plays it -- it's "what you make of it".

Personally, I know I just don't play well or sound good on Gemeinhardt flutes or headjoints. Of the Gemeinhardt headjoints, the [url="http://www.gemeinhardt.com/catalogpage.asp?mode=PRODUCT&productid=65"]S1[/url] worked the best for me, but it still wasn't quite right for what I needed. I switched from the J1 to the S1 headjoint in high school. Seemed to help.

Hope I wasn't too harsh on your (or dominicansoul's) Gemmy -- if I was, I apologize.

---


Edit: So... random question. Do you all name your flutes? If so, what have you named them?

Mine is named Jean-Pierre, after the Great Jean-Pierre Rampal. When I hear him play, I hear joy incarnate. That's the very joy I wish to communicate to others when I play. Joy in sorrow, joy in happiness... joy of fluting. (My favorite flutist, by the way, is Emmanuel Pahud. If I ever upgrade, maybe I'll name the newbie after him. )

Edited September 5, 2010 by laetitia crucis

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1283727090' post='2168502']
Well, my search is finally over! I went to a Music and Arts center with the intention of trying out a few flutes to see what worked for me. They really didn't have much of a selection, sadly. They only had a Bundy, Haynes, Gemeinhardt and Yamaha. I didn't know they had a Yamaha because it was in the back with the rental instruments. I could never afford the Haynes on my budget ($2,259!) but I wish I would have tried it just for the heck of it to see what it sounded like. I decided to try the Bundy just to see how it felt, but I knew it wouldn't be a good flute, and I was right. It was heavy and the notes played in the 2nd and 3rd octave were jarring or wouldn't come out at all. So I handed that one back to the guy and asked him if he had any used flutes or knew of any one who was selling theirs. He said that they had used flutes that they usually rent but they also sell. I asked him if he had an Armstrong or an Emerson to try, but they were waiting for the shipment of more flutes because they've had [b]109[/b] students come in the last week to rent instruments for band. The only flute he had left was a Yamaha. I asked him if it was a beginner's model and it turned out to be the Yamaha YFL-221! If I bought it outright, it would be $780 (for used, which is ridiculous), but I could rent it for 3 months for only $15 and then after that pay $20 each month. I asked if I could try it (and he let me use a practice room for both trials) and I took it back and started playing the same notes I did on the Bundy. Let me tell you, they came out the smoothest I've ever heard! I was able to get up into the 3rd octave which I could not on the Bundy or my old Gemeinhardt. The tone quality was amazing! It was rich and lovely. The instrument was in pretty good shape with scratches and needed to be cleaned, but it played very well. I decided after a few minutes that I wanted to rent it at least while I was looking for something else. My mom suggested that I rent it until Christmas and then she and my grandmother could help me buy it! If I wait until then, I will only have to pay the balance which is 30% less than $780 (around $530). So, I took it home and I have been playing for about an hour. My pinky hurts, but I LOVE my new flute! It is really what I wanted in the first place, but thought I wouldn't be able to get.
[/quote]







Congratulations on your fortunate find, MM!!!

May you have many hours of happy practicing!!

[Nihil Obstat]

There's no feeling better than getting a new instrument!

[Tridenteen]

JMJ
As an aside, don't be too wary of ebay.
My first flute was a beautiful beginner flute, factory fresh, never before used and still in the wrappings flute. The sound was awesome, and I still use it sometimes. My new one is from a store, silver plated, and has the holes in it. The sound quality is awesome....

[CatherineM]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1283726298' post='2168494']
How old is it? I've never heard of that brand!
[/quote]
That's a trombone. It's a early 60's model. Side affect of having nothing but brothers. All my hand-me-downs are for boys, although there are some really great female trombonists.

[Marie-Therese]

MM, congrats on finding the flute you wanted!!


[quote name='laetitia crucis' timestamp='1283728413' post='2168509']

Edit: So... random question. Do you all name your flutes? If so, what have you named them?

Mine is named Jean-Pierre, after the Great Jean-Pierre Rampal. When I hear him play, I hear joy incarnate. That's the very joy I wish to communicate to others when I play. Joy in sorrow, joy in happiness... joy of fluting. (My favorite flutist, by the way, is Emmanuel Pahud. If I ever upgrade, maybe I'll name the newbie after him. )
[/quote]

My daughter named hers Heather. I have no idea why, she just liked the name.

ETA: Nihil has a guitar named Charlotte. She's quite lovely.

Edited September 6, 2010 by Marie-Therese

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='laetitia crucis' timestamp='1283728413' post='2168509']
Edit: So... random question. Do you all name your flutes? If so, what have you named them?

Mine is named Jean-Pierre, after the Great Jean-Pierre Rampal. When I hear him play, I hear joy incarnate. That's the very joy I wish to communicate to others when I play. Joy in sorrow, joy in happiness... joy of fluting. (My favorite flutist, by the way, is Emmanuel Pahud. If I ever upgrade, maybe I'll name the newbie after him. )
[/quote]

I think I'm going to name mine [i]Emmanuel[/i], not only because of Emmanuel Pahud, but because that is another name for Christ! When I'm playing, I hope to please Christ with my music.

[quote name='laetitia crucis' timestamp='1283728589' post='2168515']




Congratulations on your fortunate find, MM!!!

May you have many hours of happy practicing!!
[/quote]

Why thank you!


[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1283728673' post='2168518']
There's no feeling better than getting a new instrument!
[/quote]

That's the truth! I felt like screaming because my mind was swimming with all the options!

Now I can do this

[quote name='Tridenteen' timestamp='1283729730' post='2168543']
JMJ
As an aside, don't be too wary of ebay.
My first flute was a beautiful beginner flute, factory fresh, never before used and still in the wrappings flute. The sound was awesome, and I still use it sometimes. My new one is from a store, silver plated, and has the holes in it. The sound quality is awesome....
[/quote]

That's how I bought my Gemeinhardt. It was a 2SP model, and I bought it brand new off eBay for $225. It was in the packaging and everything. That flute was so sad...

[Wikitiki]

My violin is simultaneously "El Tigre" and "The Red Death." Because he's just that awesome.

My old one that I learned on is named "Scratchy" for . . . obvious reasons.

This currently unplayable (read: in need of repairs that probably aren't worth paying for) Stradivarius knockoff that lives with Scratchy in my closet is usually called "The Catgut One" because she has two catgut strings. Which is awesome.

But, um, we're talking about flutes here. Of course.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='Wikitiki' timestamp='1283735287' post='2168610']
My violin is simultaneously "El Tigre" and "The Red Death." Because he's just that awesome.

My old one that I learned on is named "Scratchy" for . . . obvious reasons.

This currently unplayable (read: in need of repairs that probably aren't worth paying for) Stradivarius knockoff that lives with Scratchy in my closet is usually called "The Catgut One" because she has two catgut strings. Which is awesome.

But, um, we're talking about flutes here. Of course.
[/quote]

LOL! The things we musicians think of.

BTW--is that St. Cecilia in your avatar?

[Wikitiki]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1283743700' post='2168656']
BTW--is that St. Cecilia in your avatar?
[/quote]
Yep!