MUSICPRIDE - quality second-hand flutes and clarinets

Introduction

Although flutes are classed as a woodwind instruments, nearly all modern flutes are made of metal; some professional or very old flutes are made of wood.

Flutes come in four different sizes which make up the flute family. Beginners start on the most common member of the family – the 'C soprano concert flute', it is so common that people usually just call it the flute.

The parts of a Flute

There are three parts to a flute: -

The head-joint - this has the 'embouchure hole' into which the player blows.
The long tube called the body on which are found most of the 'keys' - these are operated by the players fingers so that various "pads" either cover or uncover the 'tone holes' to make different musical notes.
The short tube called the foot-joint which has three keys on it. The foot-joint fits onto the tenon at the bottom end of the flute body, and the head-joint fits into the socket at the top end of the body.

The metal keys on the flute make up the mechanism of the instrument. The keys are supported between metal pillars on screws or rods. Each key has a wire spring that keeps it held open or held shut. Most the keys have a key cup in which there is fitted a pad to cover the tone hole. The keys also have cork or felt glued on to function as a stop so that the key opens the correct amount.

The pads, corks, and felts on the instrument (and also the adhesives which keep these items in place) deteriorate over time. On older or poorer quality instruments the mechanism itself starts to wear and the keys can become loose or jammed. We service all our instruments to make sure everything is in good order before they are sold.

Although not a part of the instrument there is one other vital accessory – the case. A well fitting case protects the instrument during transport (a bad fitting case will damage the instrument!).

Special flutes for children

To assist children, some manufacturers make a curved head-joint so that the child has less difficulty stretching to reach the keys on the body of the flute. We sometimes sell instruments with curved head-joints.

Jupiter manufactures the 'prodigy' which does not have a foot-joint and has other modifications for smaller hands. Because a child would need to upgrade to a full size flute fairly soon after starting to learn there seems little advantage in buying one, however the prodigy flute might be useful for schools where the instrument could be continually passed on to new beginners.

Children usually start recorder at the age of 7 or 8 before progressing onto the flute. Children who are ultimately interested in playing saxophone are best off playing the flute (or clarinet) first until their fingers are big enough to reach all the keys of the Saxophone.

Variations in design

Modern flutes vary little in the design of the mechanism so they all feel more or less the same to the player. They can vary in tuning to some degree – with poorer quality instruments being difficult to play in tune.

The standard student flute is usually made of silver-plated metal, has covered holes, an off-line G assembly, a straight head-joint, and it may or may not have a split E mechanism. What does this all mean?

Silver-plated metal: Student flutes are made metal which is then silver-plated. Some student flutes have a solid silver lip plate to avoid corrosion of the silver-plating caused by the moisture from the player’s lips. Some student flutes have a silver lip-plate and silver 'chimney' (sometimes called the 'riser'). The chimney is the very short tube that joins the lip-plate to the head-joint, if it is solid silver it can be hand finished which can enhance the sound of the flute. Top of the range student flutes have a solid silver head-joint this avoids plating wear, allows for hand finishing of the embouchure hole, and also means the head-joint can be worked to the shape of design mandrel more accurately, also the denser material is said to be more resonant.

Covered holes: Nearly all student flutes have covered holes – this means every hole on the flute has a metal key to cover it and there is no hole in the key. A few student flutes are open-holed which means some of the metal keys have holes in the top which need to be covered by the fingers, this makes it more difficult to play but encourages good finger positioning when playing.

Off-line G mechanism: this means the keys used to play the note G are slightly offset from the other keys, this mechanism is found on all student flutes.

Straight head-joint: head-joints can be straight or curved. Only small children need to use a curved head-joint. Most manufacturers make both types.

Split E mechanism: This is a optional feature on all flutes from the student to the top professional model. The fact that top professional models are available without it is an indicator that it is not essential. It makes it easier to play some high notes, but at the cost of making others more difficult to play.

Categories of student instruments

We divide instruments into four categories:

Older student instruments: These are models that have not been manufactured for several years but were well made. They are suitable for up to and including grade 5.

Standard student instruments: These are models manufactured within the last 10 years. They are well-made, robust instruments suitable up to and including grade 5 (and probably beyond with a custom service). Makes include Jupiter, Trevor James and Buffet.

Premium student instruments: These are models manufactured within the last 10 years. They are very well made and are suitable up to grade 8 (when Custom serviced). The best examples are Yamaha YFL200 series and Pearl 500 series. Both of these brands manufacture a range of flutes from student up to professional level.

Advanced student instruments: These are versions of the premium student models but fitted with a solid silver head-joint Yamaha 300 series and Pearl 600 series). The solid silver head-joint enhances the tone of the instrument and means the embouchure plate and chimney will be not corrode.

Manufacturers and models

There have been dozens of different manufacturers and hundreds of different models over the years. We only sell well-known models that are of good quality: they play well and, if looked after, will last years.

Yamaha: Yamaha (along with Pearl) make the best student flutes. Models come with or without split E, open hole or covered hole. Yamaha student flutes come with a silver-plated straight head-joints but a curved head-joint can be purchased separately. Yamaha also make an advanced student flute with a solid silver head-joint. Yamaha has been issued different model numbers over the years reflecting slight changes in design, student flutes model numbers start with a 2 (211,221 etc), advanced student models start with a 3. To take a look at the flute pages in the Yamaha website; click here.

Pearl: Pearl (along with Yamaha) make the best student flutes. Models come with or without split E, open hole or covered hole. Pearl student flutes come with a silver-plated straight head-joints, or a silver-plated head-joint with a silver lip-plate and chimney, they do not manufacture a curved head-joint. Pearl also make an advanced student flute with a solid silver head-joint. Pearl has been issued different model numbers over the years reflecting slight changes in design, student flutes model numbers start with a 5 (501,521 etc), advanced student silver head models start with a 6. To look at the flute pages on the Pearl website; click here.

Buffet: Buffet is a Brand name owned by the Music Group (formerly Boosey and Hawkes). Buffet flutes are well made and are popular with teachers and players alike. Models come with or without split E, open hole or covered hole. Buffet student flutes come with either a silver-plated straight head-joint, or a straight and curved head-joint. Either way the case supplied with the instrument is designed to contain the instrument and the head-joint(s). Buffet also make an advanced student flute with a solid silver head-joint. Buffet has used two different series of model numbers over the years reflecting changes in design: older Buffet flutes are model 861 (or similar); newer models are 6020 (or similar). Note that the 'Buffet Evette' name is not part of either series, this brand name is used on cheaper flutes (and clarinets) and we do not sell these instruments due to the low quality of manufacture. To look at the flute pages on the Buffet website; click here.

Jupiter: Jupiter flutes are well made and are growing in popularity with Teachers. All standard size models have a silver chimney (riser) and are available with or without split E, with open holes or covered holes. Jupiter student flutes come with either a silver-plated straight head-joint, or a straight and curved head-joint; either way the case supplied with the instrument is designed to contain the instrument and the head-joint(s). Jupiter also make an advanced student model with a solid silver head-joint. Jupiter also manufacture the 'Prodigy' as described earlier. To look at the flute pages in the Jupiter website; click here.

Trevor James: Trevor James flutes are popular with teachers because of the ease with which beginners can get them to sound. Trevor James student flutes are available with covered or open holes, with or without split-E. The instrument can be supplied with a straight head-joint a curved head-joint or both. The straight head-joint can also be supplied with a silver lip-plate. Trevor James also make an advanced student flute with a silver head-joint. To go to the Trevor James website; click here.