I am thinking about purchasing a silver alto flute, and I need some help in making a decision. I don't have the link to the silver flute website that is often mentioned when questions about silver flutes come up on C & F.
Here are two lower cost alto flutes that are available. Can anyone help me with making a decision between the two or perhaps another flute?
ebay ad 1
ebay ad 2
Best wishes,
Doug Tipple
Alto flute recommendations
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Doug_Tipple
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Dana
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I'd be afraid to recommend either of these two on ebay, since they are by virtually unknown brands. For a really nice altoflute, nearly as good as the true professional altoflutes, I recommend Juputer Demedici http://www.jupiterflutes.com/jbi_instru ... Id=5&sId=1 (These are an upgrade from regular Juputer flutes). I rarely play altoflute, but needed to have one available for those times I do. I bought the Jupter Demedici, and have compared it to professional altoflutes. It's not as nice, but it's close.
I've played several "cheap" altoflutes, and wouldn't recommend them. Their scales can be atrocious, and the mechanisms are often quite unreliable.
Dana
I've played several "cheap" altoflutes, and wouldn't recommend them. Their scales can be atrocious, and the mechanisms are often quite unreliable.
Dana
Re: Alto flute recommendations
Listen to DanaDoug_Tipple wrote:perhaps another flute?
ain't no sense in buyin' one that isn't worth playin'
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cocusflute
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Flutes on Ebay
Dana didn't say that the ones on EBay didn't play well.
Both sellers have splendid feedback.
A more expensive flute is not an indication of higher quality.
If there is a return policy Doug would have nothing to lose.
A flute by an unknown maker could still be a great flute.
Both sellers have splendid feedback.
A more expensive flute is not an indication of higher quality.
If there is a return policy Doug would have nothing to lose.
A flute by an unknown maker could still be a great flute.
Re: Alto flute recommendations
...perhaps I should attempt to write in full sentences and expanded babel
Doug,
From what I remember of the last two or three alto flute threads on the flute forum...
Jupiter has been mentioned quite favorably by all and slammed by none.
While it is not the best of breed it does seem to be the price point performer chosen by most posters. (The posters being mostly professional flute players and a few semi-pros.)
The mechanics have been well spoken of also. (Altos being more prone to adjustment issues over time)
I did attempt a search of the forum...the horses need to be feed however and it wasn't going well.
Sorry...that's about as lmuch time as I have right now to say
One an other note!
The Chinese are taking over the low end instrument market.
Many of the repair techs will not work on these flutes.
The mechanism is either breaks and must be replaced (getting parts can be an issue)
or is too soft and will not stay adjusted.
Doug,
From what I remember of the last two or three alto flute threads on the flute forum...
Jupiter has been mentioned quite favorably by all and slammed by none.
While it is not the best of breed it does seem to be the price point performer chosen by most posters. (The posters being mostly professional flute players and a few semi-pros.)
The mechanics have been well spoken of also. (Altos being more prone to adjustment issues over time)
I did attempt a search of the forum...the horses need to be feed however and it wasn't going well.
Sorry...that's about as lmuch time as I have right now to say
They're feed...Denny wrote:Listen to Dana
One an other note!
The Chinese are taking over the low end instrument market.
Many of the repair techs will not work on these flutes.
The mechanism is either breaks and must be replaced (getting parts can be an issue)
or is too soft and will not stay adjusted.
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flutey1
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I've never heard of the first brand, so I couldn't tell you. Venus is a not so great brand that makes a lot of beginning band instruments and the like, so I wouldn't recommend that. (but I personally don't like Jupiter flutes either, so it all depends.) I play on a Gemeinhardt silver alto and those are generally thought of as the best brand of student / amateur silver flutes. I don't know how much a new one would cost off hand. I got mine used. good luck finding one!
cheers,
Sara
cheers,
Sara
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AaronMalcomb
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Jack Bradshaw
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Poisonnally.....I'd look for a used Armstrong...
BUT..if you just want to play w/ one for awhile I'll send you my old PARROT to fuss with.......
Edit: see also http://cgi.ebay.com/ARMSTRONG-ALTO-FLUT ... dZViewItem
BUT..if you just want to play w/ one for awhile I'll send you my old PARROT to fuss with.......
Edit: see also http://cgi.ebay.com/ARMSTRONG-ALTO-FLUT ... dZViewItem
Last edited by Jack Bradshaw on Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
603/329-7322
"I fail to see why doing the same thing over and over and getting the
same results every time is insanity: I've almost proved it isn't;
only a few more tests now and I'm sure results will differ this time ... "
"I fail to see why doing the same thing over and over and getting the
same results every time is insanity: I've almost proved it isn't;
only a few more tests now and I'm sure results will differ this time ... "
Another good brand of alto flutes are the flutes made by Trevor James. I've played a few & a friend just got one of his silver-plated altos (i.e. the Masters series). Not an inferior instrument by any means! It's one of the best alto flutes I've played.
http://www.trevorjames.com/
You might also try putting a wanted ad up on usedflutes.com (but use an email address where you can handle getting ridiculous amounts of spam...) I've seen a couple of Trevor James altos listed for sale there, & I'm sure others have been sold through this site as well.
http://www.trevorjames.com/
You might also try putting a wanted ad up on usedflutes.com (but use an email address where you can handle getting ridiculous amounts of spam...) I've seen a couple of Trevor James altos listed for sale there, & I'm sure others have been sold through this site as well.
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Doug_Tipple
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Thanks for the suggestions. Both of the ebay flutes that I referenced are made in China, and the Jupiter Instrument Company has their headquarters in Taiwan. I have no doubt that the Jupiter Demedici alto flutes are good performers, but the price is more than twice what I had hoped to pay. I am not a professional flautist, and I merely enjoy playing for my own enjoyment. I have a standard Venus concert flute (ebay price @ $150), and, believe it or not, I think that it is a pretty good flute. All of the keys work smoothly and seal well, and the low C is easy to blow. It certainly is good enough for me, so I am inclined to go with the Venus alto flute, thinking that it will most likely be of similar quality. I have owned two Yamaha flutes for comparison.
To answer Jim's question about why I might be interested in an alto flute, my reply is for the same reason that wooden flute folks get the urge to play a low Bb flute: we like the low notes. The silver alto flute plays a low G. I also like the curved headjoint, so I don't have to get tendonitis in my shoulders just to hold the flute. Lastly, musicians, like my cat who has to check out anything new, are inherently curious. We are never satisfied with a few flutes or other instruments. There is something within our psyche that is searching for a new sound, something different.
To answer Jim's question about why I might be interested in an alto flute, my reply is for the same reason that wooden flute folks get the urge to play a low Bb flute: we like the low notes. The silver alto flute plays a low G. I also like the curved headjoint, so I don't have to get tendonitis in my shoulders just to hold the flute. Lastly, musicians, like my cat who has to check out anything new, are inherently curious. We are never satisfied with a few flutes or other instruments. There is something within our psyche that is searching for a new sound, something different.
Here's another voice -
I bought a used Armstrong on eBay less than a year ago. It was poorly presented (including no photo), and therefore went for a cheapish price, <$600 for a solid silver head model. I took it to my local repair guy for a quick tuneup, and he pointed out 3 things:
1) there's one internal tuning quirk, at least in the older Armstrongs - I think it's the "E" equivalent - which is off. Certainly workable.
2) mine turned out to have a solid silver body as well as head, though not foot joint. (arrh?) He suspects somehow a factory mistake, as I am third in a short line of owners, and would think they'd have known if it had been sold as such.
3) Verrry nice tone!!
I would add that it playes like a dream as well, once I finished the rack sessions to stretch my arms. If you have issues, definitely go for the curved headjoint option!
Also, alto flutes are wonderful training devices for nearly all aspects of playing - do a workout on the big boy, and swapping back to a "regular" flute (wooden or otherwise) feels like dealing ice cream with a red-hot scoop!
Enjoy!
Linda
I bought a used Armstrong on eBay less than a year ago. It was poorly presented (including no photo), and therefore went for a cheapish price, <$600 for a solid silver head model. I took it to my local repair guy for a quick tuneup, and he pointed out 3 things:
1) there's one internal tuning quirk, at least in the older Armstrongs - I think it's the "E" equivalent - which is off. Certainly workable.
2) mine turned out to have a solid silver body as well as head, though not foot joint. (arrh?) He suspects somehow a factory mistake, as I am third in a short line of owners, and would think they'd have known if it had been sold as such.
3) Verrry nice tone!!
I would add that it playes like a dream as well, once I finished the rack sessions to stretch my arms. If you have issues, definitely go for the curved headjoint option!
Also, alto flutes are wonderful training devices for nearly all aspects of playing - do a workout on the big boy, and swapping back to a "regular" flute (wooden or otherwise) feels like dealing ice cream with a red-hot scoop!
Enjoy!
Linda