Cheap Flute & Clarinet

brianharris

Hi All,

Gotta get my kids a flute and clarinet as they are starting lessons, but I want to avoid breaking the bank if possible.
Any suggestions?
I've checked waltons and the flutes are starting at €200 for 'Vivace', which seems steep if they don't stick with the lessons.
Are there any other good but cheaper brands out there, and where could I buy them?

Sevenspeed

There is a site in Ireland that do really good entry level instruments, I have bought a flute from them amongst other instruments. The flute was only around €90, but I have to say it is perfect, lovely tone from it. Got a few other bits & bobs also and have to say superb value overall.
Link to the flutes:
http://www.guitar-warehouse.com/product_results.asp?CategoryID=23

They also do clarinets:
http://www.guitar-warehouse.com/product_results.asp?CategoryID=33

Dublin Guitar

Hi Brian

Speak to Paul at Paul Ryan Brass & Woodwind, or Joe @McCullough Piggott. They're the two best in Dublin for student or professional brass and woodwind. I worked with the premier student brand, Jupiter, for several years, and despite my guitar background, learned a good bit about the instruments. Essentially it's the same as any instrument, but multiplied several fold. If you buy cheap, you get a very poor instrument, and €200 is a very cheap flute. Poorer quality instruments can also lead to young players losing interest quickly.

Vivace, Odyssey and Stagg are all in the same bracket for quality. A very good beginner flute would be a Jupiter or a Yamaha.

The best thing I could advise is to speak to the experts. I know that Paul does a rental scheme, Joe might, but I'm not sure, so that is a good immediate cost saving option for you.

Hope this is some help to you

DGC

brianharris

Thanks, when you say a cheap flute for €200 will probably be poor quality, do you mean the sound will be poor, or what exactly. It's just that I can't imagine a shop like Waltons selling poor quality instruments? would they?
I had a look on ebay also and they range from around €70 and up, and even the cheap ones are getting good feedback. I'd love to shell out, but would be afraid it could be money down the drain if they don't stick at it.

Squidgy Black

Waltons tend to be extremely over priced on most things, so you're really getting a cheaper instrument for a higher price. Stay away from ebay if possible, you'll end up with scrap metal.

A cheap instrument is harder and less enjoyable to play, and will sound bad. A cheap and bad instrument can put someone off as it can be too hard to play and too much effort.

Dublin Guitar

brianharris wrote: »

Thanks, when you say a cheap flute for €200 will probably be poor quality, do you mean the sound will be poor, or what exactly. It's just that I can't imagine a shop like Waltons selling poor quality instruments? would they?
I had a look on ebay also and they range from around €70 and up, and even the cheap ones are getting good feedback. I'd love to shell out, but would be afraid it could be money down the drain if they don't stick at it.

Like anything, you can buy a cheap version of most isntruments. Woodwind instruments are intricate in their construction. Most of the cheap ones are poorly constructed and issues like sticking keys are common. If you think of it in relation to shoes, you can buy decent looking ones for €4.99, nice ones for €50 or good ones for €100. In relation to feedback, people don't tend to knock a product they've bought.

When dealing with instruments like flutes, it is best to consult the experts, if only to see what the service charges are like on instruments purchased from eBay or Lidl. I've seen awful examples brought into both of the dealers I mentioned above, and in some cases they are not salvageable.

Kite Runner

hi brian

I would definitely go to paul ryans, dublin for advice. I would also recommend

http://www.hansonclarinets.com/Hanson_Clarinet_Company._Making_Music_in_Great_Britain./Home.html

I bought an intermediate ebonite model off them a couple of years ago, superb tone and quality.Google them for reviews

But even more important please stay away from any ebay chinese offerings, unless you want to turn your children off music for life,

Strings.ie

2 out of the 6 Odyssey Flutes that we had in were faulty in that they were leaking air from a pad or two. This meant that the bottom Octave D-C would not play. A beginner would not have known it was a fault with the Flute which may well have lead to them giving up!

We wont be getting anymore Odyssey!

I personally have had a Yamaha Flute for over 21 years and it still plays perfect. If you can't afford new go for a 2nd hand. Buffet Flutes are also worth considering.

goblin59

I got my clarinet off ebay.co.uk for around 80quid. was a decent yamaha model.

Didnt have any airleaks in it, could get the higher register on it and the pads were light to use.

clarsax

Surely talking to the teacher is the first step. They generally have makes and model that they use and recommend

falldavid

I have tried the Paolo Mark flutes and they are actually quite good.

clunked

brianharris wrote: »

Hi All,

Gotta get my kids a flute and clarinet as they are starting lessons, but I want to avoid breaking the bank if possible.
Any suggestions?
I've checked waltons and the flutes are starting at €200 for 'Vivace', which seems steep if they don't stick with the lessons.
Are there any other good but cheaper brands out there, and where could I buy them?

As a professional wind player and experienced teacher from beginners through to third level, please do NOT buy a Vivace or other poor quality instruments. Most of these instruments are cheap for a reason desperate tuning, poor tone quality and soft keywork that will cause problems in a short space of time. Such second rate instruments can put off a beginner in many cases. You can get a clarinet or flute on a 3 monthly rental basis so that if all goes well, the rental price can be deducted from the total price.

andrewg82

jupiter clarinets are solid