Buying a Flute

We regularly receive questions from associations and individuals about purchasing a flute. What should I pay attention to? Where does the price difference come from? How is it that a flute with only a silver headjoint is more expensive than a flute with a silver headjoint and a silver body? Should I have open or closed keys? A C-foot or a B-foot? In this section, a few answers.

By Peter Swinkels

Three types of flutes

Broadly speaking, we can divide the entire range of flutes into three types:

• Factory-built flutes
• Handmade flutes
• Factory-built flutes with a handmade headjoint

Factory-built flutes
These flutes are built in series. A certain number of tubes, headjoints, keys, etc., of a specific model are made and assembled on a sort of assembly line, tested, and put in a box. These flutes are offered in the following configurations:

Fully silver-plated € 550.00 - € 650.00
Fully silver-plated, silver lip plate € 640.00 - € 760.00
Silver headjoint, rest silver-plated € 940.00 - € 1280.00
Silver headjoint and body, silver-plated mechanism € 1100.00 - € 1400.00

All these models are offered with or without E-mechanism, open or closed keys, and with C-foot or B-foot. The choice for these options is partly determined by the flutist's preference. In general, we advise taking an E-mechanism, which makes the high E much easier to produce and tune for a small extra cost. A B-foot allows playing a low B but mainly gives the flute a slightly fuller and rounder third octave due to the extra length, making it blend better in an orchestra in this register.

Brands that build flutes in this segment include Yamaha, Pearl, Trevor James, Jupiter, Gemeinhardt.

Each brand has its own sound character, and each flutist has their own personal preference. Therefore, it is very important that the flutist tries out as many instruments as possible in the desired price range to see which sound fits best.

Our advisors are happy to help with that!