Uh..... What?

[MeMyselfandI]

Can anyone explain this odd phenomenon of "Bb flute in D"? See for yourself!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-Bb-FL ... 2750wt_239

But seriously, is there something that I'm missing that would explain the title besides "sellers who don't know what they're talking about"?

[LorenzoFlute]

Bb flute in D, that plays in Eb! (look at the specifications)

[Bran Ruz]

Probably the same flute, and surely the same ugly box : http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... CIFdoZ2wGM .

[Flexismart]

The flute measures 65". Would that not make it about an Bb Bass flute? Being of ebonite it would probably weigh about 7lbs.

[MeMyselfandI]

Bb flute in D, that plays in Eb! (look at the specifications)

Yeah, I noticed that too. But really!?

[Nanohedron]

Probably the same flute, and surely the same ugly box : http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... CIFdoZ2wGM .

I remember that business from a couple of years ago, and I was struck with admiration for the sheer bizarreness of the case. I'd never seen or even imagined its like before. It looks like an Orc's lunchbox. Surely it had been repurposed from some other use, like for a pocket trumpet? But apparently not. Who knows. Sure, I want a case where my flute parts can clatter and bang around into each other. Brilliant.

Quite the vid, for such a load of noninformation. I note that despite making a number of tempting demonstrative approaches, the pitchman didn't actually play the flute (and so we may be assured of its admirable qualities, there being no need, I think might be the intended hopeful logic of the omission), and I confess I laughed when he dumped the flute parts headlong into the case like so much rubbish (well, by some opinions - including mine - of Sialkot City's offerings, in the end that's what he was dumping into the case, wasn't he, so nothing lost). In any case, such rough handling certainly betrays their real attitude about their own product. The prospective buyer having any eyes to see with should mark this.

This bit in the eBay ad also did not escape my notice:

Negative/Neutral Feedback:

If you have ANY PROBLEM with our product or service, please do contact us before hastily leaving bad feedback, we GUARANTEE to resolve 100% of all concerns to your satisfaction. In the rare case that your product arrived damaged or defective, or you have other problems with the product, PLEASE CONTACT US first for resolution of your problem, do not leave Neutral or Negative Feedback in haste!

One detects a history, perhaps?

Bb flute in D, that plays in Eb! (look at the specifications)

Yeah, I noticed that too. But really!?

Of course. Their intended market is the utterly uninformed, and the Bb/D/Eb confusery - which can make the sales pitch seem all the more technical and therefore above the uninitiated's knowledge - is straight out of the "Baffle 'em with BS" tactical handbook. Even if doubts should arise, the price is mitigatingly attractive beyond one's wildest dreams.

[Doug_Tipple]

Actually, there are several errors in the descriptive copy in the ebay ad. The flute is said to be both 65 cm. and 65 inches. Now, all of us know that the flute isn't 65 inches long. 65 cm would be the length of a keyed flute in D, which is what it is, no doubt. I don't understand why this would be described as a Bb flute. A fully keyed flute can play in all the keys, some much easier than others. Also, D is not the lowest note on this flute. It has two keys on the foot which play C# and C.

I have a similar Ferris ebonite flute in F that plays quite well, but I would be very suspicious of this flute, especially at this selling price. Please tell me why anyone in their right mind would make a flute box in that design.

[Denny]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34685

[MeMyselfandI]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34685

Oh, believe me, I have no intention of even considering buying that thing (well, that's not completely true. I am curious as to just how bad it is). I was just baffled by the title! And I'm baffled by how "utterly uninformed" the people who might get this are!

[Nanohedron]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34685

Oh, believe me, I have no intention of even considering buying that thing (well, that's not completely true. I am curious as to just how bad it is). I was just baffled by the title! And I'm baffled by how "utterly uninformed" the people who might get this are!

If I had had Chiff & Fipple, or at least other informed fluteplayers, to guide me before I went shopping for my first trad flutes, I probably wouldn't have made such a mistake even once, not to mention the second time, myself.

[MeMyselfandI]

If I had had Chiff & Fipple, or at least other informed fluteplayers, to guide me before I went shopping for my first trad flutes, I probably wouldn't have made such a mistake even once, not to mention the second time, myself.

Now don't get me wrong, I bought a cheap ebay flute as my first flute (didn't know about c&f and the time either). At the time, I thought $300 for a trad flute was a lot...... That didn't go over well. At least the flute I got was playable and in tune with itself. I consider myself lucky for that.

[Nanohedron]

If I had had Chiff & Fipple, or at least other informed fluteplayers, to guide me before I went shopping for my first trad flutes, I probably wouldn't have made such a mistake even once, not to mention the second time, myself.

Now don't get me wrong, I bought a cheap ebay flute as my first flute (didn't know about c&f and the time either). At the time, I thought $300 for a trad flute was a lot...... That didn't go over well. At least the flute I got was playable and in tune with itself. I consider myself lucky for that.

I would agree. My two purchases - the first unkeyed, the second a block-mounted five-key job - were of indifferent craftsmanship, poor relative intonation, dull tone, sharp pitch such that the slide had to be out well further than typically sought-after, and each had an unusually large embouchure cut that forced me into bad habits just to get a sound out of them. Now after years on decent flutes, I am only lately just starting to undo that and finally realise and settle into a proper embouchure. That "gift that kept on giving" has been the worst aspect of the whole thing, IMO, so for the sake of embouchure habits alone, I try to steer people away from such products.

[Tonehole]

Can anyone explain this odd phenomenon of "Bb flute in D"? See for yourself!

The seller lists a number of different woodwind and brass instruments in Bb and Eb keys. Maybe he just made a simple listing error, or decided to add both keys in the title for buyers who search using those terms?

The affordable cost of his flutes doesn't seem to point towards the specialised market. There is a market for cheap affordable recorders and instruments just for beginners who are interested in playing any music. Apart from Aulos, Yamaha, and a few plastic flute makers, there aren't that many well-tuned alternatives at this price range - especially not for a simple system flute.

[Lars Larry Mór Mott]

Can anyone explain this odd phenomenon of "Bb flute in D"? See for yourself!

The seller lists a number of different woodwind and brass instruments in Bb and Eb keys. Maybe he just made a simple listing error, or decided to add both keys in the title for buyers who search using those terms?

The affordable cost of his flutes doesn't seem to point towards the specialised market. There is a market for cheap affordable recorders and instruments just for beginners who are interested in playing any music. Apart from Aulos, Yamaha, and a few plastic flute makers, there aren't that many well-tuned alternatives at this price range - especially not for a simple system flute.

I wouldn't call a nigh on unplayable flute "affordable" at pretty much any price, unless you want it for decoration or as a prop.
And i somehow get the feeling that a playable flute will cost more than $62.. Heck, i payed (and got) way more than that for my old German flute with iffy tuning.