Hi,
I'm hoping you can share you wisdom with me.
I have an intermediate flute that I bought from a specialised flute shop that let me try out all their different flutes and headjoints until I found one that I loved.
A few years later, I still have it and intend to keep it as my "main" flute. Recently, I've been fancying a wooden flute but can't justify the cost of a "good" one, but see that there are loads on ebay from China. Not really cheap, but cheaper than a known brand from a shop.
Would this be a gamble? Their feedback is pretty good, and so far no complaints of manufacture defetcs, tuning issues etc?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150849753233? ... 1438.l2649
Cheap flute from China?
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Re: Cheap flute from China?
Chinese flutes I dont think so Good luck
Re: Cheap flute from China?
Chinese wood flutes are VERY hit and miss. Not because of the flute itself mostly, but the sellers. There was an earlier thread on here from a few years back about this very subject. I think the thread got lost in the forum upgrade. The quality was ok, but the main issues were related with communications and support. Another issue is customs. It could take up to a couple of months to get it.
I have owned my share of good and bad Chinese flutes. I actually knew a Chinese seller that i use to recommend who made good ones. The flute will probably be fine, but you are still taking a big chance with your money IMO. From the looks of things, the Seller is new, but off to a good start.
Maybe some others will chime in on this one.
Phineas
I have owned my share of good and bad Chinese flutes. I actually knew a Chinese seller that i use to recommend who made good ones. The flute will probably be fine, but you are still taking a big chance with your money IMO. From the looks of things, the Seller is new, but off to a good start.
Maybe some others will chime in on this one.
Phineas
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zummerzet_lou
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2003 5:30 am
Re: Cheap flute from China?
Thanks,
After much deliberation I've decided that I don't want to lose any money, so now trawling some reputable flute shop websites for 2nd hand flutes.
I think I may have found my *new* flute, but going to discuss it first with my flute teacher! It's a wooden body, silver, silver head with ebonite lip plate. Just worried that not having a wooden head joint, I'm going to get a different tone.
It's about twice the price of the "cheap" chinese one, but comes with a good recommendation from the shop, and will be serviced etc by their workshop,
After much deliberation I've decided that I don't want to lose any money, so now trawling some reputable flute shop websites for 2nd hand flutes.
I think I may have found my *new* flute, but going to discuss it first with my flute teacher! It's a wooden body, silver, silver head with ebonite lip plate. Just worried that not having a wooden head joint, I'm going to get a different tone.
It's about twice the price of the "cheap" chinese one, but comes with a good recommendation from the shop, and will be serviced etc by their workshop,
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fluteguy18
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm
Re: Cheap flute from China?
Di Zhao has an all wood flute (with plated keys) for around $3k USD. I've tried it once or twice and it was pretty good for its price range. Sure, it's not a $12k powell or Abell, but it's still a pretty good flute.
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zummerzet_lou
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2003 5:30 am
Re: Cheap flute from China?
Thanks FluteGuy. I contacted a local Di Zhao stockists about the wooden flutes. They no longer stock them as they found that there were some good, and some not so good. They did say that at present they are not made by Di, but that is going to change soon so they expect the quality to improve once this happens.
In the mean time, I'm still heading towards the 2nd hand flute I found. My teacher liked it, so just waiting for a couple of things to be confirmed and then it'll be mine!!
In the mean time, I'm still heading towards the 2nd hand flute I found. My teacher liked it, so just waiting for a couple of things to be confirmed and then it'll be mine!!
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zummerzet_lou
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2003 5:30 am
Re: Cheap flute from China?
Just wanted to pop back with an update.
I did find a 2nd hand flute, in my price range. Trouble was, whilst it was wooden body it had a silver head, and ebonite lip plate AND I couldn't try before I bought as it was the other side of the world. So, at the point I decided to just live with my old flute until I could get to a flute shop to try and few.
Then, a week ago someone here advertised a 2nd hand wooden head joint, which I've bought to fit to my existing flute. Cost about half the price of the 2nd hand flute, and it's made such a difference to my sound.
Much warmer, and richer .... still early days yet, but was a good buy for me.
I did find a 2nd hand flute, in my price range. Trouble was, whilst it was wooden body it had a silver head, and ebonite lip plate AND I couldn't try before I bought as it was the other side of the world. So, at the point I decided to just live with my old flute until I could get to a flute shop to try and few.
Then, a week ago someone here advertised a 2nd hand wooden head joint, which I've bought to fit to my existing flute. Cost about half the price of the 2nd hand flute, and it's made such a difference to my sound.
Much warmer, and richer .... still early days yet, but was a good buy for me.
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zummerzet_lou
- Posts: 89
- Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2003 5:30 am
Re: Cheap flute from China?
Hi,
After much trawling of forums, feedback etc I went with my head and decided NOT to buy a cheap flute. Sure, there was a chance that it would have been *OK*, but I know I'd have spent the period thereafter wishing I'd spent more and bought something of better quality.
Instead, I opted for a compromise (still haven't completely given up on the idea of a FULL wooden flute) ... I am now the owner of a beautiful Powell wooden headjoint, fitted to my existing Yamaha flute. It was sold by a reputable instrument shop, who also does repairs and servicing.
The verdict .. I love it! Gives a completely different sound to my flute - richer, darker and fuller, but without the price tag. It still wasn't cheap - $1400 NZ, but I haven't wasted my money on something that has quality issues and cost a lot less than a full-flute all made in wood.
HTH
Lou
After much trawling of forums, feedback etc I went with my head and decided NOT to buy a cheap flute. Sure, there was a chance that it would have been *OK*, but I know I'd have spent the period thereafter wishing I'd spent more and bought something of better quality.
Instead, I opted for a compromise (still haven't completely given up on the idea of a FULL wooden flute) ... I am now the owner of a beautiful Powell wooden headjoint, fitted to my existing Yamaha flute. It was sold by a reputable instrument shop, who also does repairs and servicing.
The verdict .. I love it! Gives a completely different sound to my flute - richer, darker and fuller, but without the price tag. It still wasn't cheap - $1400 NZ, but I haven't wasted my money on something that has quality issues and cost a lot less than a full-flute all made in wood.
HTH
Lou