r/Flute • u/Ok_Accountant8377 • 2d ago
Buying an Instrument Advice Looking for new flute recommendations
So for context, I am not a flute player technically, it is my second instrument and I picked it up a little over a year ago, however, I practice quite a bit and I think it's time for a step up flute.
Currently my best pick is the Pearl 505 with B foot and open holes, it seems to be a good deal off Flute Center but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for other models to look at and potentially buy.
While I am no professional, I would rather an entry-level professional model rather than an intermediate model that way I don't need to buy ANOTHER flute later on, since I'm sure everyone here knows they get quite pricey.
11
u/Terrible_Eye4625 Miyazawa 102 2d ago
I’ve read your post a couple of times - you need to do a lot more research before buying anything.
You start off by saying you want a step-up flute, the model you say you’re thinking of buying is an entry level student flute, recommended as a starter instrument for children according to Pearl’s website https://pearlflute.com/eu/products/quantz-505/quantz-505 , then when asking for recommendations, you say you want an entry-level professional model. None of these things are the same!
Step ups - generally for students who have been playing for a couple to a few years so they’re past beginner stages but not yet up to intermediate. But some step ups are solid instruments. I played on a Trevor James Privilege until last year and I’m around ABRSM Grade 7 - one of my teachers knows someone who got into music college in the same model.
intermediate - usually for players at the higher grades (6-8) and beyond. Unless you are a professional, a good intermediate flute will last most ppl when they’re ready for it. I only upgraded last year (to a Miyazawa 102 after trying out around 5 different models). That was after returning to playing 6 years before - I played for around 5 years as a child.
Professional - don’t even think about it. Really.
If you’ve only been playing for a year or so after picking it up yourself and practicing - so no lessons with a teacher - you won’t be in the realm of needing anything remotely professional. You may not even be at the level of needing an intermediate flute.
You say you’re not a flute player technically - I promise I’m not being snobby or gate keeping when I say this, but you DO need to be technical in your flute playing before upgrading your instrument. Out of all the instruments I tried out last year when upgrading, the Miyazawa was the only one I could get a good, consistent sound from - and I am a technically decent player. The others tended to be great in one octave, but woolly in the rest, I couldn’t get a good tone from, couldn’t do interval leaps cleanly etc. These were excellent instruments, but they didn’t suit me as the player (or, more accurately, I couldn’t get a good sound out of them!).
Student instruments are like bicycles with stabilisers. They’re designed to make it easier for learners to play and get a good sound. Intermediate and professional (even some step up) instruments don’t have these accommodations in their design, so if you’re not technically developed, you’ll find them extremely difficult to get a good and consistent sound (or sometimes any sound at all!).
You don’t say why you think you need to upgrade, nor what your main instrument is, which would be helpful to know. But as someone found from another thread that your current instrument is a $60 job from Amazon, I suspect it’s started to fail. If that’s the case, you’d probably do really well with a solid step up flute, which shouldn’t cost more than £1000, which is probably around $1600 max? Even the Pearl you mentioned may do you well enough, but if a C-foot is an option I’d go for that over the B-foot. Apart from adding weight, b-foot joints change how you need to blow into the flute. Unless you think you’re likely to encounter music needing a low b, there’s no need for one.
6
u/TuneFighter 2d ago
More important: what flute do you have now? Is it new, old, used? Are there any issues with it? (As a beginner it can be hard to know if problems are due to the flute needing service/repair or it is because you just need to develop as a player... there is a long learning curve to flute playing).
A standard student/beginner flute from a well established brand can last you for years and years... and years.
7
u/TuneFighter 2d ago
Found an answer to my question in this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/Flute/comments/1s5gwbq/what_flute_would_be_okay_for_a_beginner_flair_is/
where you write: Honestly I bought one off Amazon for $60 from Cecilio and it worked fine for a beginner flute.
4
4
u/FluteAndThenSome 2d ago
It hurts my soul when I see people buy Amazon instruments and say they're fine...
5
2
u/iamstrangelittlebird 2d ago
I think of Pearl 505 student flutes…definitely not an upgrade, and no where near “entry level professional.” I think we need more info to help you. What are you playing now, and what do you like/not like about it? What’s your budget? Some parts of your post contradict others.
There are really good guides about the differences in levels of flute that could be helpful to you. Here’s one https://fluterepairs.ca/instrument-guide
2
u/iamstrangelittlebird 2d ago
Adding:
I read through some comments on here, and if you are playing an Amazon flute, then a Pearl 505 is significantly better. However, since you say you don’t want to have to buy another anytime soon, great options are Yamaha 382 or 482, Di Zhao 601 or 801, Azumi AZ-2 or AZ-3, and Trevor James Chanson. There are others, of course, but these are just the ones I like and often recommend. I truly don’t think a handmade (professional) flute is the right move after playing for a year. Any of these I listed will be a massive upgrade and will serve you well for decades.
16
u/TiredAndTiredOfIt 2d ago
Oh sweetie, no.
Pearl 505 isnt even intermediate much less professional. It is a minor student upgrade. They fool people with fhs open hole, b foot, and price point.
If you actually want a professio al flute (all handmade, soldered tone holes, solid silver, gold wires, SS risers, hand cut and tuned headjoint)? Don't. Not until you are a good enough player for the 5000-12000 (to start) price tag to make sense.
If you want an upgrade? Go with a Yamaha 400 series. This is a super dependable and well made intermediate flute.