Recommendations for Doubler?

[SwingKat]

Happy New Year everyone!!! I am primarily a clarinet player, but play a whole slew of other woodwinds/brass and looking to pick up a flute for use in pit orchestra. I have very limited experience with the flute and was hoping to get your recommendations on a good flute to learn/double on. Here are a few flutes that I found that I'm interested in:

1) Azumi AZ-Z2RBO

2) Lyric LA-1, offset G, B footjoint

3) Yamaha XT-1, offset G, B footjoint, split E

What are your opinions on the above 3? Feel free to mention any others that might be better suited for a doubler. Thanks!!

[Phineas]

Happy New Year everyone!!! I am primarily a clarinet player, but play a whole slew of other woodwinds/brass and looking to pick up a flute for use in pit orchestra. I have very limited experience with the flute and was hoping to get your recommendations on a good flute to learn/double on. Here are a few flutes that I found that I'm interested in:

1) Azumi AZ-Z2RBO

2) Lyric LA-1, offset G, B footjoint

3) Yamaha XT-1, offset G, B footjoint, split E

What are your opinions on the above 3? Feel free to mention any others that might be better suited for a doubler. Thanks!!

What you are asking does not make any sense. You can learn or double on any good playable flute. I have seen section/pit players play on everything from the bottom of the line Gemmy to 14K Gold. It just depends on the money you want to spend.

The above flutes are fine, but is there any reason that you need a B-Foot for your application? I have done my share of pit/section work and all I really needed was a Plateau Key C-Foot.

Just me .02 USD

[SwingKat]

What you are asking does not make any sense. You can learn or double on any good playable flute. I have seen section/pit players play on everything from the bottom of the line Gemmy to 14K Gold. It just depends on the money you want to spend.

The above flutes are fine, but is there any reason that you need a B-Foot for your application? I have done my share of pit/section work and all I really needed was a Plateau Key C-Foot.

Just me .02 USD

Thanks for your $0.02! I guess what I was really getting at with my question, other than a general opinion of those options, was if there was a flute that was better suited for doubling, for example - if there was one that projected more or was easier to play for someone doubling, etc. For the B foot, I've never really been one to get the cheapest of the cheap, especially with used instruments, so it was more just happenstance that those three, which seemed to be the better options of the used instruments in my price range, all had the B foot. Judging from your reaction, I'm guessing not a necessity to pit orchestra? The majority of the shows I've played were with a community theatre who had a flute player, so I never played, nor really paid particular attention to the actual range of the flute parts. But now that I've moved, I figured I should probably learn flute in order to have more options for involvement with the community theatres in my new city.

[Kaylyn]

If I was looking at using a flute only for doubling or in pits, and not as my main instrument, I'd be looking at:
1. Yamaha 221/225
2. Jupiter 507
3. Di Zhao DZ-200
4. Pearl Quantz 505 with the plateau key option

I have played/owned the first two and have heard great things about the other two. Really, you don't need anything fancier than that. Obviously, if you have a lot of spare flute money you can go as fancy as you want but If budget is of concern any of the above instruments would serve you well.

I would focus on closed hole (plateau) flutes if I were you. I know you can plug open holes, but really the closed hole option will be cheaper and will allow you to learn the flute basics without the added effort that goes into open holes.

[SwingKat]

Thank you Kaylyn! I appreciate your suggestions!

[Phineas]

Thanks for your $0.02! I guess what I was really getting at with my question, other than a general opinion of those options, was if there was a flute that was better suited for doubling, for example - if there was one that projected more or was easier to play for someone doubling, etc. For the B foot, I've never really been one to get the cheapest of the cheap, especially with used instruments, so it was more just happenstance that those three, which seemed to be the better options of the used instruments in my price range, all had the B foot. Judging from your reaction, I'm guessing not a necessity to pit orchestra? The majority of the shows I've played were with a community theatre who had a flute player, so I never played, nor really paid particular attention to the actual range of the flute parts. But now that I've moved, I figured I should probably learn flute in order to have more options for involvement with the community theatres in my new city.

I could tell you what flute to get. But that will not do you much good. That is what I am getting at. I am a Flute player that doubles on Saxophone. I went through the same pitfalls. The first Saxophones I got were fine until I became a better player. Then my needs changed. It happens to everyone. B-Foot is a gimmick and a fad mostly. I have them and practice scales with them. Have yet to run into a chart with low B that is written for flute. Or Low C for that matter.

Most people who double on flute buy quality student models. They are easier to play and have decent projection without much trouble. Other players, like my Uncle, is a Saxophonist that doubles on flute. He has a pro model Yamaha and cant even play the damn thing. He basically got it to match his Yamaha 82Z Saxophones...LOL But he really sounds better on his Armstrong 104.

Did not mean to sound weird or mean. I just get asked this question pretty often.......

[SwingKat]

I could tell you what flute to get. But that will not do you much good. That is what I am getting at. I am a Flute player that doubles on Saxophone. I went through the same pitfalls. The first Saxophones I got were fine until I became a better player. Then my needs changed. It happens to everyone. B-Foot is a gimmick and a fad mostly. I have them and practice scales with them. Have yet to run into a chart with low B that is written for flute. Or Low C for that matter.

Most people who double on flute buy quality student models. They are easier to play and have decent projection without much trouble. Other players, like my Uncle, is a Saxophonist that doubles on flute. He has a pro model Yamaha and cant even play the damn thing. He basically got it to match his Yamaha 82Z Saxophones...LOL But he really sounds better on his Armstrong 104.

Did not mean to sound weird or mean. I just get asked this question pretty often.......

No worries, I didn't think you came across that way! I really appreciate your advice! It's exactly what I was looking for. I certainly don't want to end up spending extra money on an instrument that I can't play, that's for sure! Thanks!