Gemeinhardt

sakuramimato · Post by **sakuramimato** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:18 am

I just recently recieved a Gemeinhardt 3SB Conservatory
model (with gold-plated lip plate) making my Gemeinhardt 2SP an extremely
inferior flute in comparison. After having my flute for about 5 months, I have
begun to have doubts as there have been many non-recommendations on the
Gemeinhardt flute line. Being a flutist performing under the Gemeinhardt line
for over four years, I have often wondered if a more advanced flute would be
suitable to my level experience. With the Gemeinhardt 2SP providing me with too
many limitations as well as hindering my progress as I switch from the 3SB to
the 2SP, I have begun to doubt my selection of the Gemeinhardt 3SB. In short, is
the Gemeinhardt 3SB a reasonable flute for a 9th grader, or are Gemeinhardts not
as good as what propoganda claims?

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 9:58 am

Gemeinhardt is still fine for your level, it wont limit
your tone or learning. It may need more adjustments and repair than better
brands or it maybe just fine. Once you leave intermediate behind and if you are
still serious about your music you may want to test out some better ones.

sakuramimato · Post by **sakuramimato** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:27 pm

What other brands do you suggest there are? I brought my
Gemeinhardt in for repair after five months and my technician told me that I was
overreacting over a couple of minor scratches. He gladly cleaned, tuned, and
told me to come back when it does need repair. -_-; If the rods holding the keys
(spine.. or however you call it) don't seem to be aligned, I should get it
checked, shouldn't I?

fluteluversmom · Post by **fluteluversmom** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 6:44 pm

I think that what you are playing should be fine for a 9th
grader. My daughter plays the same flute and she is in 7th grade. The plan was
that she would be playing it until college. The only reason we are purchasing a
new one is because of maintenance problems similar to the ones you are having. I
want her to have something that she enjoys playing and not a flute that she is
coming to me every other week and telling me a key is loose or not closing.
Kim

FluteDiddy · Post by **FluteDiddy** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 6:50 pm

I am sure if you ask your repair person about your concerns
about the rods he will explain to you why they look the way they do without a
charge. Unfortunately unless you find a used bargain, flutes that are
significantly better cost a great deal more money.

lhampton · Post by **lhampton** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 7:19 pm

I think gemeinhardts are okay....you know, I loved my gemeinhardts at first and was so opposed to yamaha's and anyone who liked them...
I totally take it back now; I'm finding that the gemeinhardt flute line, just isn't up to par with yamaha. gemeinhardt has a very stuffy sound and just doesn't play loud enough.
I was in your shoes a while back. I had a crappy beginner flute and the gemeinhardt sounded like, I don't know, one of Rampal's flutes...but it's not.
Although, I say this, EVERYONE is different. one type of flute will not work for everyone. you have to try flutes out and get many opinions. the gemeinhardt appealed to me because it had comfortable keys...try these flutes out. It's all about your preferences.

Goddess of Flute · Post by **Goddess of Flute** » Thu Feb 05, 2004 11:13 pm

Im a senior in high school, and ive been playing
gemeinhardt since i have starte 8 years ago. I now play on a 53OSHB, which is
geminhardt 50s series with solid silver head, but silver plated body. Ive only
been playing it for 2 years, and it hasnt had any problems yet. [:bigsmile:] Id
say you made a good choice for an intermediate flute, but when and if you decide
to step it up, i dont reccoment gemenhardt for a professional level.

Kimbralwyn · Post by **Kimbralwyn** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 10:36 pm

I'm going to give you my "have you kissed your Gemienhardt
today" speach. Unless you're a millionare willing to buy a haynes or muramatsu,
stick with you're Gemienhardt. I've tried many upper and lower end flutes, and
my Gemienhardts are the best flutes ever. My old 2sp that's been through
everyting with my still plays as perfectly as when I first tried it, new, and
I've only spent about $100 in repair over the 8 years that I activily used that
flute. My newer flute, a Gemienhardt KG special custom is the best flute I've
ever used, and all but one person I've talked to has agreed. I will say, for a
proffesional musician in an upper level symphony, this flute wouldn't be good
enough, but for anyone else, they're the best flutes you'll ever buy. Love
your Gemienhardt and remember that instruments really do have a soul... Kim

flautist blackie · Post by **flautist blackie** » Tue Apr 06, 2004 5:57 pm

I'm really in no position to give advice on buying flutes,
since I don't yet own my own instrument, but right now, I'm using the 2SP
model too. I've had a whole lot of lower-brand flutes, and they don't work as
bad as most people think. Of course, I may just not be able to tell the
difference between a $700 flute and a $350 flute yet, but my Artley worked
almost as well as the Gemeinhardt 2sp. i could hit C in four octaves and stay in
tune. In short, if Artleys are good enough for middle/high school, Gemeinhardts
definetly excel. I don't know if they're as good as propaganda claims, but the
Gemeinhardt catalogs probably exaggerate a bit (but which instrument catalog
doesnt?)

Nadya · Post by **Nadya** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 11:59 pm

ive played on a gemeinhardt for the past 5 years, and i love them. i have a solid silver 3SB model, open holed, and its great

i think that im gonna get a Yamaha next though

Lisa4 · Post by **Lisa4** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 5:20 pm

No offense but most people that love their Gemmeinhardt are ones that have not progressed to the point where they buy a better flute. Then they understand why no one recommends them anymore.

sakuramimato · Post by **sakuramimato** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 1:28 pm

From what Lisa stated, I somewhat agree, though I'm not entirely sure if I've progressed enough. Though I've only had my 3SB for almost a year, I've already been looking at the Powell (Sonare) since my local dealer has it in stock and am hoping to test it out soon. I think I'll stick with the 3SB until I graduate and see how my endeavors in flute playing run until then.

Nadya · Post by **Nadya** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:06 am

same here....much as i love my gemeinhardt, im looking at buying a Yamaha, preferably a professional model sometime soon

powayflute01 · Post by **powayflute01** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 11:08 pm

Not to completely undermine the very purpose of this thread (which seems to be to sing words of praise for Gemeinhardts)...have any of you tried any other flutes and honestly tried to compare them? Yamahas? Pearls? Just for comparison purposes?

MeLizzard · Post by **MeLizzard** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 6:45 pm

I'll agree that most people who still love Gemeinhardt haven't progressed to a level which would allow one to truly hear and feel a difference. I own two, ironically, but they're each well over ten years old.I'm not sure at what point this happened, but when Gemeinhardt changed their flutes' scale, they really ruined their flutes. Instead of moving the placement of all the key holes in addition to shortening the tube length, they merely shortened the headloint to raise the pitch, with insufficient compensation throughout the rest of the flute. The result is a collection of flutes that, for the most part, have decent tone for intermediate flutes (the cut of the headjoint seems to really fight players with extremely mature, flexible embouchures-I now have to really WORK at playing these flutes, which is not what we strive for as flutists), but are STUPENDOUSLY difficult to play in tune at many critical moments. Yamaha 400 and 500 series, Armstrong intermediate models, and Muramatsu EX are all much better choices. Thankful for my used-but-amazing standard Muramatsu (about 20 years old).