Until now, I have only played tin Whistle and classical flute. I intend now to buy an irish wood flute and was looking on eBay. What do you think of item like http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47102&item=7317814376&rd=1 ?
Is it good enough to learn before buying a better one but so expensive ? 
There are any number of threads around here regarding Pakistani flutes. The consensus is, āDonāt botherā. They are (almost) invariably out of tune and not worth the effort to fix.
Strongest recommendations for beginner flutes are the Tipple:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10183&item=7317847753&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
and the Casey Burns Folk Flute (more expensive, but real wood and very easy to play):
http://www.caseyburnsflutes.com/ff.php
Also, Olwell bamboo flutes are very highly regarded, but difficult to obtain.
Iām sure others will chime in.
Roger
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! Get a Tipple instead http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10183&item=7317847753&rd=1 what you were looking at getting is a bonafide (sp?) piece of crap. If you are looking for a cheaper starter Flute there is nothing better than a Tipple.
my opinion for what itās worth: Donāt waste your time on subpar instruments. If you already know your passion (flute) an inferior instrument will only frustrate you after a few months (or weeks) and youāll end up ordering/buying a more expensive one anyway.
I would try the ebay route only if you can afford to take the risk and may already have a quality instrument at home. Best choice for you would be either to buy a quality flute off of someone you know or order one from the top current makers which I personally consider to be Wilkes, Grinter, Olwell all of which of course come with waiting listsā¦
yes, get a tipple for good tone and easy blowing, otherwise there are Calmont flutes on ebay, who are well in tune and loud enough (mine is).
Best for a little more money, the Casey burns.
Sure i love my new Seery, but not the same price.
Check your pm
I tried a Pakastani Irish flute onceā¦boy, it sure LOOKED niceā¦
ā¦
ā¦couldnāt get a sound out of it, though! 
Luckily, I bougt it from an Ebayer that accepted returns! 
Happy Ending! 
What the rest said in order of price: Tipple(Chiff member), Casey Burns, JonC(Chiff member) M&E, Seery. Hard to go wrong with those.
Hi all ! many thanks for your replies !!
I had a look at the casey Burns flutes and they look great!
Is it so important to get keys on an Irish flute ? There is nothing to make alterations on a whistle, so most of tunes donāt need them ?
But perhaps itās another topic ā¦ :roll:
Keys are not all that important. Many fine players either donāt have keyed instruments, or donāt use the keys if they do.
In addition to the Casey Burns flutes, you might check flutes by M&E (Michael Cronnolly) and Desi Seery. Both make fine instruments of polymer which require almost no care or maintenance. Any of these instruments are a fine way to learn the flute.
āJames
I agree that all three of the above are excellent instruments (as is the Tipple).
Both the M&E and the Seery can have keys added later if desired. Casey Burns can also add keys later but not on his flok flute model.
Doc
For the majority of session tunes, you absolutely do not need keys.
For almost all solo playing, you donāt need keys.
If you plan to accompany vocalists who insist on singing in exactly a particular key,
playing with instruments in odd keys, or playing non-trad music (usually on this
kind of flute, thatād be baroque, but, anything with lots of accidentals) you donāt
need keys.
Generally speaking, if you donāt have keys you may have to transpose. I play
āShe moved through the fairā in A because thatās where it works, even though
the dots I had for it put it in D (but you need the seventh below the tonic, and
that wonāt happen without a low C# keyā¦)
(I canāt remember now why I couldnāt put it in G. I think it may actually be modal -
it sounds modal - if so, in D or G it wouldāve required a half-holing, or a key, anyway.)
Red is the Rose fits perfectly in G (Iāve seen dots in C and in G), Down by the Sally Gardens
in D, etc.
Just move up until you have enough notes below the tonic for your air.
Now, if you want to play Jazz, thatās another storyā¦
And if youāve already got a Boehm flute. . . .
Thereās about ONE tune I would like to play that absolutely requires keys (At least for me). Paddy Cartyās version of āJug of Punch.ā The A part is transposable, but the B part isnāt.
I am just making the transition. My new flute is a Casey Burns, keyless. Iām now thinking of getting a Tipple as well. I love the CB flute, and Iām finding it challenging but satisfying. But itās heavy and Iām thinking that it would be good for me to have something that would relieve that one challenging aspect, so I can relax a little more as Iām learning, maybe switch back and forth between a Tipple and the CB.
So did you order your flute yet?
Jennie
Jennie wrote:
My new flute is a Casey Burns, keyless. Iām now thinking of getting a Tipple as well. I love the CB flute, and Iām finding it challenging but satisfying. But itās heavy and Iām thinking that it would be good for me to have something that would relieve that one challenging aspect, so I can relax a little more as Iām learning, maybe switch back and forth between a Tipple and the CB
Instead of buying 2 non Grade A flutes wouldnāt it be economically more productive to invest in a Grade A flute that will also minimize the development of ābadā habits?
Just a thoughtā¦
Donāt tell me a CB flute is not āGrade Aā! Itās a beautiful flute.
But there are so many things to learn all at once that I can see the reasoning in having a ābeginnerāsā instrument, one that helps the player produce music more easily while he or she is developing technique.
Call me impatient. I want to get everything right all at once. But wouldnāt a lighter flute make it easier for me to develop a grip thatās relaxed and correct? Or allow me to play for longer periods?
But in any case, a Tipple could be my all-weather flute. 
Jennie
Hi Jennie
In my experience, a Tipple will require a very different embouchure than your Burns. Yes the Tipple will be lighter, but being a cylindrical flute, itās going to be a bit different. The blow hole is smaller and rounder IIRC, and the body of the flute will feel a little different in your hands. It might be wise to get comfortable w/ your Burns and develop a really good embouchure before buying more flutes.
Probably good advice. Prudence and patience. I wonāt jump into the multiple flute obsession just yet, then.
Jennie
Hey Jennie,
The Casey Burns is a very easy playing flute! Stick to it! The rewards will be greater and come faster!
I gather from your posts, that you are a newbie. But, when I started I considered it lucky when I got any sound at all for the first couple of weeks. When I did, I would keep the flute welded to my lips while changing pages of a music book. Once I removed the flute the āmagic positionā would be lost. Then I would start sounding like a cross between a snake and an angry goose (not a pretty sound!).
A PVC flute is only a few ounces lighter than you wooden CB, a difference you will hardly notice. It will feel awkward for a while, but try to relax. The flute is not a serpent trying to get away.
Take stock in yourself, be proud of what you have accomplished! Keep practicing and striving for better and it will come.
Make Lots of Music!
Jordan
And between the folk flute and a keyless ergonomic standard flute ? is there a big difference ? because there is already a significant difference of price !! 