Need some Flute info

Posted on

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member Since: Nov 27, 2007

I've been looking on Ebay at flutes. I have know clue what im looking at, weather they are any good or not.

can anyone help me out here?
Its for an absolute beginner firstly, there seems to be quite a few on Ebay Australia, for 99cents plus shipping costs.
Am i just asking for trouble being that cheap, or are they ok?
its a
"2008 new Silver flute 16 Key Open Hole C Key Flute"
Thanks Maties.

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 20, 2008 05:45 pm

At that price ou may be asking for trouble I think. Sound like you might get a chrome plated plastic flute there with that one. If you can put up a link I will gladly go take a look at it for you.

Around here you can generally find a decent used one for around the $100 mark or so. But they can run up to several hundred or more for a better name.

I saw the 99 cent jobs on ebay, although it looks like the buy it now price is $139.95 on those. So I would imagine it probably would not actually sell for that cheap in the end.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Jul 20, 2008 08:44 pm

oh really? i didnt see that bit, oh well.
yep there's no point risking it i guess. 30 bucks in my pocket is better than in their's.

my Ma want's to learn, do you know if its really difficult? I will return with the link anyway, have a geezer for me.
cheers Noize.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Jul 20, 2008 08:51 pm

hey Noize grabbed that link for yee.
actually its more like the address.

search.ebay.com.au/search...&category0=

there is one there for 99cents. its about a 5 or 6 down from the top, From China. so it must be quality.... Ba Ha Ha Ha!
There are others there, i really dont know the difference quality wise, so i guess i need to get clued up on that before i do much.
see what ya think. appreciate it, Thanks mate.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 20, 2008 09:27 pm

Hey Deon, ya I saw the one from China that has a bit over 39 minutes left on the sale.

IF that is the one that is a good begginer flute. Not absolute top notch or anything but it is a short keyed version and pretty simple to start with.

But ya, that is a very cheap price indeed. Does still make me wonder, but it looks like a full metal flute.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Jul 20, 2008 09:50 pm

yeah i know, it looks really good, a little too good!
Now i think of it, you would think it must be metal if they want 30bucks postage for it.
but then again, they might be thinkers like myself.
will send them a message i guess.
thanks for ya help there Noize.

http://www.reverbnation.com/2ndg
Member
Since: Nov 27, 2007


Jul 20, 2008 09:57 pm

ah well, there it is...they want 180aud. for shipping! must be a tax dodge or something eh?
Im thinking i might just have a look localy for one.
bit too much coin to be trusting it to be good me thinks.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 20, 2008 10:08 pm

Yep, that sounds about right. Sell ya a cheap flute and hit ya for tons of shipping when it only cost them 10 bucks to ship it.

But ya, you should be able to find something local I am thinking.

And yer welcome indeed.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jul 21, 2008 11:29 am

Quote:
my Ma want's to learn, do you know if its really difficult?
My daughter rented one (that might be an option for you. Many music stores rent them out as a school band instrument). She tried for awhile and found it very difficult to learn. She gave up in frustration after about 3 months. I tried it out as well and found it rather difficult too. A good embouchure is very important and is the most difficult part IMO.

Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007


Jul 21, 2008 05:32 pm

Though it's not a keyed flute, I started learning to play a bit when I bought a bamboo flute at the local Renn' Faire. Just a typical 6-hole transverse flute. (I have 3 now, a Bb (piccolo range), an Eb (lower range), and a Gb..least I THINK it was a Gb.(mid-range)

I too think the hardest part is getting the embrechure correct to get a good clean sound from the instrument, then the rest is starting your scales and learning the key combinations, and articulation.

Someday I'd like to pick up a nice keyed wooden flute and start learning to play that. Lark in the morning larkinthemorning.com/default.asp
has some very nice wooden keyed flutes. They also have other winds, and i'm sure they have metal flutes as well.

This site:
www.woodenflute.com/playing
Also has some lessons for getting started, and some very nice wooden flutes. Mostly in keys common for Irish music (D is very common if I remember)

They can get quite pricey though.

Though for bamboo flutes, this site: www.romyb.com/introduction.html
has a good concept of making a proper embrechure, and then just practicing until you get a good clear sound without the "fuzz" I used this concept quite a bit when I was still starting out. (heck, technically I'm still a beginner, since I just play for fun)

I think he mentioned trying to get your lips shaped like a grain of orzo, and then blowing softly like trying to cool down a spoon full of soup. At least that's how I started learning.

Although I've adjusted my shape a bit, and now I can get a fairly clear sound, but yeah it does take some practice and dedication at the start. I should probably practice more, but I'm not a serious flute player, just for fun. I've improved quite a bit over the last year or so though. :)

Maybe I'll find some time to put up some improv solo work this weekend ;)

Happy flute hunting! It really is a nice instrument once you get the hang of it, and you get your lips in shape/working properly.

-J

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jul 21, 2008 05:52 pm

[quote]Maybe I'll find some time to put up some improv solo work this weekend ;)
[/quote]

I'd be interested in hearing this J-bot. Even more so would be the way you record it.

Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007


Jul 22, 2008 02:27 am

Unfortunately I have to say don't expect anything fancy. I don't do much at all in the way of recording, and all I have is a cheap noname-brand dynamic mic that was a hand-me-down, and frankly, it doesn't record very well at all.

If I was going to do a serious recording though, given that the flute tends to be a softer instrument, and very expressive and dynamic, I think I'd probably see about getting a decent mic, possibly a condenser, or a good dynamic. My place tends to not be the most sound-proof, so I'm leaning towards dynamic.

Although I might grab a pack of those small K-Micro condensers, and try to rig some sorta side-clip mount for the flute. That might work well since the K-Micros are nice and small. Actually, that gives me ideas to play around with so I might order some soon.

Anyways, to try and get back on topic here, www.music123.com should have some standard wind instruments, including flutes.

www.music123.com/Flutes-W...uments.Music123

but for new instruments, you can expect to pay around $200 at the low end. Also, rather than e-bay, you might give craigslist for your area a try. You might find someone wanting to sell a flute. More likely guitars/bass/drums, but you never know. I'm in a fairly small city, but I've see the odd flute up for sale on occasion, so it's worth a shot.

-J

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Jul 22, 2008 07:42 am

Here's a site I keep close:

www.wwbw.com/welcome.aspx...iSave200-_-home

Here's a student flute link:

www.wwbw.com/Barrington-M...e-i125743.music

The reviews seem pretty decent, and for 230 $us, it seems pretty cheap.

Not sure about international shipping though, you'd have to research.

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jul 22, 2008 10:38 am

J-bot, if you don't have any of the K-Micro's you should get some anyways. I found a lot of uses for them. I've even used them as a talk back mic as they plug directly into my board.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jul 22, 2008 08:56 pm

I will second BH on that. I have two matched pairs. One pair old style and one pair of the newer version. They both kick butt.

Byte-Mixer
Member
Since: Dec 04, 2007


Jul 23, 2008 12:25 am

Took your advice. The K-Micros are ordered. I also ordered a little desktop tripod for the dynamic mic. I'll hop by one of the local shops for some XLR cables at some point this week.

Also, I had an arts and crafts moment. Took me about hour, but I just crafted a makeshift pop filter (which I've been meaning to do for awhile) Ah, the ingenuity of a wirehanger, a couple dryer sheets, and a wee bit of krazy-glue. :-D

Pics will be up in a moment. I'll also post a small pic of the little audiofire. It's cute :)

edit: Pics are up!

-J

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