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Original poster

Would buying a cheap new flute be a disaster?

23 replies

devondeva · 27/11/2019 12:36

DD14 has suddenly said she wants a flute for Xmas. We're not confident this is something she is really going to work at so don't want to spend a lot of money at this stage, but do want to give her the chance. I've been looking at flutes and am quite shocked at how good the reviews seem for some of the very cheap ones *around £65) e.g. Eastar. I had assumed we would get her a second hand one but am a bit concerned on buying unseen from e.g. ebay and we may have to wait a while before getting something reasonably close to us that i can view (I used to play many years ago so have a bit of an idea what I'm looking for). What are people's experiences? Are cheap new flutes OK for absolute beginners for a year or so, or are they actually more difficult to learn on that more expensive flutes?
Thanks

OP posts:
stripeypillowcase · 27/11/2019 12:43

ask the teacher for recommendations.
I don't know the brand mentioned.
when I worked in a music shop (disclaimer 20 years ago) yamaha were the go-to for reliable and affordable instruments for beginners.

ImportantWater · 27/11/2019 12:46

We have been hiring DS1's flute for the past four years from our local Music Education Hub (although we could probably have bought one for the same money by now). If she wants it as a present though I guess that is not an option.

ALadyofLetters · 27/11/2019 12:47

Don’t do it! I started playing the flute as an adult and bought a cheap flute. It was awful. The keys bent out of shape within a fortnight.

A more expensive but second hand flute would be a better bet.

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BackseatKnitter · 27/11/2019 12:50

I bought a cheap flute from eBay a few years ago - labelled ‘MJB’. It’s ok but not great. Fine on the middle notes but struggled to reach the very high and very low notes with it. If she’s at a level where she wants to play the full range of notes it might not be the one.

Although if she commits to it more in the future it’s not a huge amount of money to write off and you could probably sell it on eBay for a similar amount and put it towards a better one.

GuppytheCat · 27/11/2019 12:52

What instrument (if any) has she played before, and why flute, do you think?

Scarscar · 27/11/2019 12:58

I was always advised to get a second (or third) hand Yamaha. Which is what I've always done. And I've always bought and sold on eBay. No problems so far but maybe I've just been lucky.

Cheap flutes can be harder to play.

NannyR · 27/11/2019 12:58

I used to look after two girls who were learning the flute. They had cheap, starter flutes and I had to take the flutes to the music shop for repairs several times. The guy in the shop said that they would have been better off buying secondhand better quality flutes, more expensive to start with but cheaper in the long run as they won't need repairing or replacing as the child progresses. I can see that you might not want to spend a lot though if you don't know that she's serious about it.

Original poster
devondeva · 27/11/2019 12:59

Thanks for your responses
She sings, but apart from a brief period on piano some years ago she doesn't play an instrument.
I think it's the flute because several of her friends do - she's been saying she wants to start an instrument for a few months now though. We probably won't be able to get her into lessons with the school until summer term so asking the teacher not really an option (although that's reminded me I have a friend who may be able to give advice).

OP posts:
GuppytheCat · 27/11/2019 13:06

If you can afford it, I'd get a secondhand one of a very standard sort so probably Yamaha and tell her to resell it (for a very similar price!) if she doesn't get on with it.

GuppytheCat · 27/11/2019 13:07

I'm guessing you are in Devon, or I'd suggest you came round and tried one of our unused ones upstairs!

platform9andthreequarters · 27/11/2019 13:07

As a teacher of some woodwind (but not flute), I would seriously advise against it. I taught someone with an extremely cheap clarinet where the keys bent continuously and I could bend them back with my fingers it was that flimsy. If you buy one and she doesn't take to it, you'll be practically giving it away secondhand. But If you buy a secondhand instrument from a more reputable maker (yamaha etc) and she doesn't stick to it, you will be able to sell it on probably without losing money, or if you find a gem going cheap on ebay, make a profit.
Check local music teachers and shops in your area and ebay/gumtree. There are a lot of flutes around and it's not a particularly expensive instrument, even new.

Winterdaysarehere · 27/11/2019 13:09

Ask your ndn....

dreichthanksgiving · 27/11/2019 13:12

I'm assuming she has actually tried playing a flute a few times?
I only ask because dd thought she might like it, tried it at school and hated it.

Original poster
devondeva · 27/11/2019 13:16

She's had a go on a friends. Really not sure how she'll take to it though.
Thanks - will look into second hand.

OP posts:
Seeline · 27/11/2019 13:20

Many music shops have hire schemes. Would it be worth doing that for 6 months or so to see if she is going to keep it up?

PuffinDodger · 27/11/2019 13:28

I wouldn't. We bought a cheapo and it kept bending out of shape and the sound was bad. I'd have gone to Just Flutes in Croydon for recommendations if buying again. (Or wherever your nearest place is)

PuffinDodger · 27/11/2019 13:30

Someone in dd's school had a 5K flute. It sounded amazing!

Seeline · 27/11/2019 13:32

Just Flutes are brilliant.

platform9andthreequarters · 27/11/2019 13:52

If you are in Devon, John Packers in wellington might not be too far. They have they're own brand of flute, not sure what it's like but their other instruments are solid and pretty good for beginners.

Willdoitlater · 27/11/2019 14:33

I'm going to be one of those irritating people who doesn't answer your question but goes off at a tangent instead, but bear with me...

Would she consider learning the recorder as a serious instrument? This could be instead of the flute or as a precursor. A top of the range resin descant is less than £50 and would be good enough to take her all the way to grade 8. It's a lot easier to get started with recorder and very possible to teach yourself for the first few grades.

It's just a thought. It just seems a shame that your daughter would have to wait 'til the summer to start lessons on the flute.

Willdoitlater · 27/11/2019 14:36

Correction: Grade 8 should read grade 5. For higher grades you need a treble instrument. Or just start on treble from the off..sounds a lot nicer.

Original poster
devondeva · 27/11/2019 14:40

Hi
I played the recorder to quite a high standard before learning the flute myself and know it's a really good progression. I don't think she'd buy it though. I did try and get her interested when she was younger but it just didn't work out. I agree it's a shame to wait but was thinking of trying to teach her some of the real basics before she starts lessons.

OP posts:
TheGonnagle · 27/11/2019 14:40

Don’t do it (flute teacher here!).
Go second hand if you’re unsure she’ll stick to it. Get a Yamaha. That way, if she doesn’t take to it you can resell at the same price. If you buy the cheap (crap) one it’ll sound shocking and be hard to play so she’ll either give up through frustration or you’ll be going shopping for a flute again.

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