Is this flute "too old"?

[_flautista_]

Hello all, my friend's daughter has been trying flutes for the last few days and has come down to her final decision (or what looks to be her final decision). She is torn between a 1992 Haynes and a Muramatsu DS. Both instruments have a beautiful sound and she truly has a beautiful tone on both. Here are the specs: Haynes- all silver, soldered tone holes, gold rings, 14k riser, C# trill key, and D# roller; Muramatsu- all silver, drawn tone holes, C# trill, D# roller. Now the thing is, the Muramatsu is new, but it seems like she really likes the Haynes too! Should my friend and I steer her towards the Muramatsu because it's not nearly as old as the Haynes?

[SylvreKat]

If the Haynes has been well-maintained, then there's nothing wrong with it being an older flute. My Gemi picc is 25 years old and still plays very nicely indeed, with zero issues. I would put my 25-year-old workhorse Armstrong up against brand new Armstrongs any day. Even my old-old student Gemi still plays well. Think about Strad violins--does anyone hesitate getting one, just because it's centuries old?

It's all in how the owner(s) have kept the instrument.

Which one does your friend like better as in fit and playability? If the Haynes is in good shape and your friend prefers it, then go for it. If one is significantly cheaper and she has no preference, then pick the cheaper.

>'Kat

[_flautista_]

If the Haynes has been well-maintained, then there's nothing wrong with it being an older flute. My Gemi picc is 25 years old and still plays very nicely indeed, with zero issues. I would put my 25-year-old workhorse Armstrong up against brand new Armstrongs any day. Even my old-old student Gemi still plays well. Think about Strad violins--does anyone hesitate getting one, just because it's centuries old?

It's all in how the owner(s) have kept the instrument.

Which one does your friend like better as in fit and playability? If the Haynes is in good shape and your friend prefers it, then go for it. If one is significantly cheaper and she has no preference, then pick the cheaper.

>'Kat

Thank you so much for your input! It seems as though she's favoring the Muramatsu, but she still has a few more days to try them out, so I hope she'll choose the instrument best suited for her without judging the age.

[SylvreKat]

Thank you so much for your input! It seems as though she's favoring the Muramatsu, but she still has a few more days to try them out, so I hope she'll choose the instrument best suited for her without judging the age.

Glad to help.

Is she playing the same songs on each? Something fast with lots of notes to check how fingers fly, something slow with long held notes to check tone? And is she having someone listen when she plays? Does she know another flutist who can play each, so she can just listen and hear any difference between the two?

Do please post back when she makes a choice!

>'Kat

[_flautista_]

Thank you so much for your input! It seems as though she's favoring the Muramatsu, but she still has a few more days to try them out, so I hope she'll choose the instrument best suited for her without judging the age.

Glad to help.

Is she playing the same songs on each? Something fast with lots of notes to check how fingers fly, something slow with long held notes to check tone? And is she having someone listen when she plays? Does she know another flutist who can play each, so she can just listen and hear any difference between the two?

Do please post back when she makes a choice!

>'Kat

Yes she is, but her mom just told me that the flute is a lot younger than what they originally told her. They must have made a mistake, which is of course alright because everyone makes them and she is going to have her band directors listen to her next week!

[SylvreKat]

Yes she is, but her mom just told me that the flute is a lot younger than what they originally told her. They must have made a mistake, which is of course alright because everyone makes them and she is going to have her band directors listen to her next week!

That is AWESOME that she's having her band directors listen! Perfect! Best of all choices short of having experienced flutists listen.

Although I already can see where this will end--one director will like the Haynes better, the other won't.

>'Kat

[SylvreKat]

Wondering what the band directors thought of the flutes, and which they recommended she go with.

>'Kat