I’m looking for a good beginner flute, something on the lower price range, keyless, and at least a little presentable (don’t want any neon colored plastics, etc) prefer it be tunable.
not sure where to look, flutes are so much more expensive than whistles and (newby) I’m not sure why.. I mean, isn’t the overall construction pretty much the same, ones just bigger and has a hole instead of a fipple/mouthpiece? 
Lance, you may not be aware, but a good whistle can run several hundred dollars. A flute, especially a wooden one, requires a level of workmanship that a whistle does not for more reasons than I care to elaborate on. I suggest you do some research if you are really interested.
There is no such thing as a “beginners” flute. A flute is either good or it isn’t. You can cut some corners to reduce cost, so there is a dollar range within which to look, but don’t kid yourself that you can start with crap and then move up later. You need a good instrument from day one. If you decide not to stick with it, you can always sell it on this site later. If you get a decent instrument, you won’t lose much, if anything.
With what people are willing to invest in cars, bikes, cell phones, and other items costing a pretty penny, I don’t get people being unwilling to invest in a good instrument. If money is really that tight, get help or save for a while. I’m not trying to second-guess your finances, but so many post here asking the same question you are, and my experience is that most people waste more money in a year than they are willing to invest in their flutes. I never hear of guitarists trying to find a guitar for cheap. Is there something about flute that leads one to believe that they should be inexpensive?
My apologies if this comes across as a rant, but I truly think you’ll be a happier and better player if you make getting a good instrument a priority. Let’s see what the other folks say.
The bamboo Olwells seem to get favorable recommendation.
Cubitt has hit the nail on the head.
when I started playing whistle, I thought more expensive the whistle the better I will sound ( wrong ) flutes are a different beast, yes you can get some cheap ones and they’ll probably do the job, and you can get some real cheap ones, that obviously wont do the job, after trying a flute for the first time, which was an M&E old style, I was blown away by the sound, I dont like to make comaparisons but it was so much more complex than my low D whistle and the amount of control you have is worth all the extra time you need to put into it, so a cheap flute what ever that would be, would be a false economy.
you did’nt say what your budget was$£$£ ???
sponge 
When they were widely available, yes. But they’re not really being made any more, and costs for used ones have soared. At any rate, I’d recommend a conical bored flute:
Two good lower cost flutes are the Casey Burns Folk Flute and the all-wood Copley. While both lack a tuning slide, the tenons are long enough to afford some tuneability.
www.irishflutestore.com has both.
A “good” whistle isn’t several hundred dollars. Some of the absolute BEST whistles are several hundred dollars. Hell, you can get a really nice whistle SET for 2 hundred, and a great one for about 4.
I don’t know the technical differences between the whistle and flute aside from the head that would make it so much more expensive (still talking keyless here.) I really don’t know.. I’m not saying flutes and whistles should cost the same, I’m saying I don’t understand what it is about a flute head thats that much more complicated/expensive than a whistle head. Obviously the bodies aren’t much different considering the large variety of whistle/flute combos where you just change the head.
I understand getting a quality instrument, but I also don’t want to blow a large sum of money on my “learner” instrument. If they’re comparably expensive then I suppose I’m looking for what an acceptable price range is. This is also for my friend mostly, not me I’ve got enough on my hands with the whistle, guitar, and soon octave mandolin as well 
I dunno what my budget is yet I’ll set it once I know what the normal price range is on decent flutes.
let me give a little bit of background on why I posted. I’m interested in flute so I’ll play whatever I buy but it’s mostly for my friend. He’s got this old beat up student class silver flute (fully keyed, etc) that he’s always puffing into and it sounds horrible, the flutes in poor condition and it just doesn’t play.
We’re building up our little irish band and right now he plays a bit of mando and sings but everyone in the group is working on multiple new instruments other than the ones we already play. I know he’d love to play an irish traditional keyless flute (he’s stated it a lot) but can’t really afford to buy new instruments right now, so this was a gift idea. I can’t exactly afford some 1000 dollar instrument right now either so if that’s the range I’m looking at we’ll just have to get him something shiney for christmas so he’s distracted from his pain of not owning a flute O_O
Frankly, your’s is something of a difficult request, in that you are asking for a good beginner’s flute, as something on the lower price range, yet, as something at least a little presentable. So, without going to a flute in, say, neon orange, there are reputable manufacturers right here, on this board, who could supply you with a low cost, beginner’s flute. However, I am left to guess as to just what you could mean by “presentable”, which leaves a lot of room for interpretation.
If cost is a real factor, then Doug Tipple could set you up nicely with a very practical beginner’s flute, made of PVC, and at a price which simply cannot be beat. I suggest one of his D flutes, with the lip plate, and with the Fajardo-Tipple wedge. Great performance at an attractive price!
If cost is less of a factor, then Casey Burns makes a flute known as The Folk Flute, in D, and made of mopane wood. This flute makes a great beginner’s flute.
Good hunting!
I’m perplexed by this thread.
Ok, from a whistle player who’s been playing flute a few months now…
First, you aren’t even sure you are going to enjoy it. Don’t spend a huge amount on your first flute. Go see Doug Tipple and get one of his Tipple Flutes for under 100 bucks. It’s more flute than you will need for the next year (and will always be a good backup).
If you would rather spend a bit more, the Folk Flute by Casey Burns and the new Copely entry level are a good choice. As stated, though they lack a tuning slide, they have enough give to make that a non-issue.
There’s always the Seery Delrin…you can usually find a used one of those around on the lists. 99% of my flute playing is on one of these. And of course the M&E.
I’m curious about Sponge’s response. He seems to dislike the M&E old style. Sure, it’s not his new R&R, but I don’t see anything wrong with it. It’s got a very nice sound (though I admit it’s a heavy beast). I recently picked up a 6-key and have nothing except good things to say about it (though admittedly I like my Seery just a little bit more…I think due to the weight).
Hey scheky
after trying a flute for the first time, which was an M&E old style, I was blown away by the sound
not sure if you read my post right but ( blown away ) is a compliment
I prefered the older style to the new R&R, both great flutes though.
sponge 
I own both the Doug Tipple PVC flute and the Casey Burns Folk Flute. I paid $50 (used) and $300 (new) respectively.
The Folk Flute is gorgeous. The photos on the site don’t do it justice. They oohed and aaahed at a local music shop and thought the flute cost twice as much. I think it sounds nice although I’m not capable of making it have the best sound it could. But the lack of tuning slide is a hindrance. It’s naturally right in tune so you can only make it flatter by pulling the tenon out.
The Tipple flute is a great conversation starter. Everybody wants to know if that really is PVC plumbing pipe. I decorated my Tipple flute with decorative tape where a “real” flute would have silver rings. It looks really nice.
The Tipple sounds really good. I think I’m capable of getting a better sound from it that the Folk Flute, but there are days when I think it’s definitely the other way around.
Best thing with the Tipple flute is it’s easily tunable. It’s naturally a little sharp so there’s plenty of room to pull out the tenon. It’s a great flute. The holes are a little big for my female hands, though.
Another great thing about the Tipple is that it’s plastic so you can wash it in out with water and stuff it in your bag to take wherever you go. You don’t have to worry about it.
I would recommend either one, but I think I would recommend the Tipple just a little more. You can outgrow the Folk Flute but you’ll still have to take care of it (oiling it mainly and keeping it moist). If you outgrow the Tipple you can just store it with your camping gear or something and forget about it.
I have one of these (see “keyless cherry”) flutes.
http://www.sweetheartflute.com/irishflutes.html
I like it. It fits the bill, sounds good, looks good. $295.00 + $35.00 case is what I have.
There are sound clips on the website at the link above.
I will probably be selling it soon as I have another flute on order and don’t need two flutes. I bought it as a “beginner” flute and it has worked quite well in that capacity.
Feel free to PM me if you want some additional information.
…john
It strikes me that in the price range between an $80.00 flute and a $5000.00 flute there many shades of “good”.
I certainly don’t see only “good” or “not good”.
…john
Yes you do. What kind of crazy talk is that?
I had a chance to toot on that Sweet flute.
Besides looking a little like a table leg it was really light and rather easy to play.
I heard some not so fabulous things about them in the past and I didn’t think it was a bad as it was made out to be.
That being said.
If you are really short on cash a Tipple will be quite playable up to a point.
You will however, get a workout on reaching and covering holes.
Depending on what camp you fall into… not a bad thing.
Like you, when I decided to try the flute, I didn’t want to spend too much on it until I was sure I would take to it. I had tried a Boehm flute some years ago and I did not take to that, so I bought a Tony Dixon two piece polymer flute in D and it proved fine as a starter instrument.
In fact I nearly did give up. I did not have major problems getting a sound but I found playing sideways rather than in front difficult and finger stretch was a problem initially - even though I am used to playing a tenor recorder which is similar in size and stretch.
However someone gave me a wooden flute and for some reason I took to that and was “away”. I will keep the Dixon as it is a useful second flute. It has its own distinctive sound which is quite different from my wooden flute and I play it fairly regularly.
Geoff
Like you, when I decided to try the flute, I didn’t want to spend too much on it until I was sure I would take to it. I had tried a Boehm flute some years ago and I did not take to that, so I bought a Tony Dixon two piece polymer flute in D and it proved fine as a starter instrument.
In fact I nearly did give up. I did not have major problems getting a sound but I found playing sideways rather than in front difficult and finger stretch was a problem initially - even though I am used to playing a tenor recorder which is similar in size and stretch.
However someone gave me a wooden flute and for some reason I took to that and was “away”. I will keep the Dixon as it is a useful second flute. It has its own distinctive sound which is quite different from my wooden flute and I play it fairly regularly.
Geoff
There are many flutes for under $600, a few under $400, and 2 or three under $200 that are quite excellent. There is also a lot of garbage. I’d recommend you not buy anything without running it past the gang here.
Certainly don’t buy anything on eBay without doing so. Much of what sells there makes wonderful table lamps.
We’d be happy to help you avoid the potholes some of us have hit on the journey to flute enlightenment.
As to the cost disparity question…
keyless flutes are, in fact, easier to make than wooden low-D whistles (fipple whittling is a pain in the tookus). The disparity in prices is due to the fact that whistlers just won’t shell out $1k for a low whistle so the makers sell them for $4-500. Even at $1k most flute makers are not being fairly compensated for their skill and time.
Supply and demand…what the market will bear and all that…
Doc
Go with a copley all delrin for 350!
Doc sells them at the irish flute store.
If it doesn’t work out you could probably get most of your money back.
Excellent flute!!
(the only reason he didn’t mention it is because he is trying to give you general ideas and let you make up your own mind …go with the Copely!!!)
I have a Sweetheart keyless, Irish flute. In fact, that Sweetheart flute is one of my regular, daily drivers. For the money, it offers a lot of performance potential. Mine is not for sale!
However, just because the Sweetheart does have such potential, it calls for a bit more ability on the part of the player, to manage, and for that reason I hesitate to recommend it as a beginner’s flute.
YMMV
I have two wood flutes that I spend more time warming up, oiling, breaking it down ,swabbing it out, then storing it away in a humidifyed container…nuf said. I play them less because of the maintinence. Wood may be lighter and “woodier” sounding but I think delrin is more practical for the average person.