My daughter has just informed me that she would like a new flute for her birthday. I know absolutely nothing about flutes. I have checked a little on ebay and have googled some, but I thought I could get an answer here faster. She has been playing now for over two years and seems fairly taken with it. She is almost 15 and has a boyfriend so I am afraid to spend an outlandish amount of money on something she will grow tired of. She surprised me at Best Buy when she bought a Mozart cd so she may be serious. Still, I remember when I was 15. :rolleyes: Any advice would be appreciated.
If you buy a used flute, the pads will be a big question mark–you may need to have them replaced and that could cost more than the flute. If she plays, take her to any local music stores that may have used flutes and have her play them. One that plays all the notes well, particularly in the low register, is probably OK.
As parent of a couple of musical kids, I would think getting her a new & better flute would greatly increase the odds that she’d stick with it. My daughter’s jr.high music teacher recommended a great source for reasonably priced and reliably reconditioned instruments …
aside to mod and/or experienced dopers … is it kosher to recommend a specific business in a post? or should I offer to send a link by email on request?
Twoflower, I’d send it by email to be safe. 
Try looking around at local music instrument stores, see what the prices are–flutes, new or used, may come relatively cheap in your area.
Does she take lessons? Is she a music student at school?
Speaking as a school band director, I strongly suggest that you talk to her band teacher first (if she has one). I just hate when kids come in with instruments from eBay, or whatever. It’s not that bargains are bad, but sometimes the instruments themselves are bad. I have counseled parents many times on this point. “Why pay $800 for a flute from the recommended dealer when I can get one for $150 on the 'net?” Caveat emptor. Remember that you will get what you pay for. Find out what her teacher likes and go with that. Stay away from the instruments sold by the large discount retailer based in Arkansas. Stay far, far away. :eek:
Having said all that, there are some real bargains on eBay. I have one band parent who is an expert on this and is always coming up with some great stuff. However, she knows what she is looking for and is prepared to take the occassional risk.
Check with local, reputable dealers. Shop around. I usually recommend that you go local, because those guys may also fix the instrument if it gets broken. Try getting eBay to fix your flute! There are several excellent national retailers as well, and they have strong internet websites. The disadvantage is that they do not offer service after the sale.
So, check with your daughter’s teacher. Check local music instrument dealers. Check online music dealers. Risk an online auction site.
I would think that the fact that you’re post count is in the single-digits, combined with the fact that the OP’s making his first post, may trip somebody’s irony meter if you started recommending a specific business (as in, some may think that you own the business in question, and created a dummy account to ask a question that you could use to direct other posters to your business. THAT’s several no nos).
But people can usually recommend businesses that they have no personal stake in, in fact that makes up a great deal of IMHO threads.
-lv
Email me. I have a world-famous floutist in the family. I may be able to help you with some brand names, dealers, reputable repair folks you can work with, etc.
Cartooniverse
Careful when she wants to go to band camp. Somebody had to say it.
I don’t play the flute but I have bought my share of musical instruments in my day. While flutes may be slightly different, I would be very hesitant about buying an instrument off of the internet. Every instrument, even from name brand places, can have its quirks and some instruments can still be downright rotten. Take your daughter or someone else who can play to a shop and have them thoroughly inspect and play the instrument, then decide. As others have said, it is important to have an instrument that won’t hinder her progress or add anything to the already considerable challenge of becoming proficient on an instrument. I think it is worthwhile to buy a reasonable instrument. I bought a crap acoustic guitar when I first started playing and it has taken me way too long to go out and buy another, better one because I just don’t have the money (I’m borrowing a reasonable one now). Instruments, even crappy ones, tend to stick around like that and if your daughter really takes to it, you won’t want her hating the instrument when the initial cost isn’t that much different.
Moderately priced instruments (which you will probably spring for) are poor investments usually, but if she does ditch it in the future, you can get at least half of your money back (usually).
flautist
(I hope this correction makes me the reigning spelling bitch queen for the year to date.)
It does.
( thank you for the correction. I hear it spoken, I don’t know that I’ve read it. )
Pace yourself. It’s only January 2nd. The trick is to hold the crown all year, hon.
Thanks – I hadn’t even considered that angle :smack: – that *would *be tacky. The cumulative lack of experiecne is exactly why I thought I’d ask first.
That said, I would concur with all the advice to get a good flute locally, if you can. If you don’t have a good local source, there are reliable on-line sources for good reconditioned instruments, if you choose carefully.
OP: My wife’s a flautist, also in St. Louis. There are lots of good resources and shops in the local area. She’d be glad to give you a few tips. If you’d like to email her, the address is aj1120@yahoo.com. Include your phone# if you like & she’ll give you a call.
Meanwhile, some tidbits I’ve picked up as I’ve helped buy (& sell) a dozen of the darn things over the years (she’s down to just 3 at the moment).
In general, a student-quality instrument or a pawnshop or ebay special is a hindance to a player. If she’s just goofing around and wants to be in the school band for social reasons, well that’s probablly good enough. OTOH, if she’s serious about music for its own sake, even if she’s never gonna go pro, that’s a whole different story and a better instrument is worth the marginal dollars, assuming your not struggling to put food on the table and a roof over your heads.
Never buy new. There are lots of good quality used intruments from reputable sources (read “not ebay”) that are half of new price for all but unused condition. Remember these things will last for centuries if well-cared for, so 20 years of occasional playing is nothing. My wife once had 10 different used flutes shipped in from shops all over the country before she picked the one she liked. We paid the shipping ($20/ea more or less), and they were glad to do it. 10 flutes may be more than you need to try out, but they’re available if you want to.
Never buy one without playing it first. Or at least never buy one without playing it without a 100% refund no-questions asked return policy. Even when brand new, they’re very individual instruments, and different manufacturers play very differently, as do different models of the same manufacturer, much less individual instruments of the same model. And for used instruments, the differences get huge. The embouchure either fits your daughter’s face, or it doesn’t. The key pressure fits her fingers, or it doesn’t.
If you buy used, expect to need to have it repaired / reconditioned. That’s a hundred bucks or so and there’s a very high quality shop in North County that’ll do the work right the first time.
At the beginning of the new school years, I saw both flutes and clarinets for sale at rock-bottom prices at Sam’s Club. Quite the surprise.
China has entered another very lucrative market. Not sure about quality, but it doesn’t sound like your daughter already has a gig with the Berlin Philharmonic.
Not an endorsement, just one possible source among many.
Hey now – she’s cool.
Does he have a reputation for standing on one leg?
Hey, why not? Reminds me of one of Ringo’s best quips.
Interviewer: “Are you a mod or a rocker?”
Ringo: “I’m a mocker.”
Thanks – but wrong gender … 
Sample, he’s a she and she stands on both feet. One leg? Huh?
Here is an eBay link for Gemeinhardt Flutes. They are well regarded. If you can find one made in the old factory, you will do better. The newer ones are fine, and there are ones in various price ranges.
My son bought his teacher’s old Gemeinhardt flute. Quite a good sound apparently ( I’m the rare non-musician in the family… :dubious: ).
Gemeinhardt Flutes on eBay for sale
Hope this helps some.
Cartooniverse, who played flute for six weeks in the 4th grade. It just…wasn’t…my…thing…
Kinda disingenuous to hint at a flautistically gifted relative and not name her…
Tara Helen O’Connor
(shown from the waist up. Trust me. She uses both feet. )
I’m so sorry I have not got back yet. I have not read all of the replies. Thanks for the response so far. I should have mentioned that 500.00 is the max I’m willing to spend, and that I am no longer married . We do get along well though. I will read the rest of these post and add. disclaimer! I am not an advertisment for a music store. Although I can see how that could be seen 
The one-legged flautist, Mr. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.
Thank you LSLguy I will e-mail soon. very good information.