Seven day trial and one   year warranty on the instruments I sell.

  USED INSTRUMENTS IN

          MY INVENTORY

Miyazawa 500 - ALL sterling silver, including keywork.  Inline G, open hole, B footjoint.  $4650.

Muramatsu headjoint, all sterling silver:  $800.

Yamaha 200 series - $450-550.   Features on both the 221 and 225 models are:  closed holes, offset G, all silver plated, C footjoint.

Yamaha 261 or 265 - $575-$625;   (open holes, silver plated, offset G, C foot) 

Yamaha 361 or 365 - $775- $825; (open hole, offset G , C or B foot, sterling head)

Yamaha 381 or 385 -  $750 - $795;  (sterling head, plated body and keywork, open hole, inline G, C or B foot)

Yamaha 471; Allegro series with split E mechanism and gold plated lip plate; offset G, open holes B foot with gizmo; $1495

Yamaha 461 - $1250-$1350.  These are hard to find but sometimes I have one; ask me.  Offset G, B foot, solid silver hj and body with plated keywork. 

Yamaha 481 - $1200-$1300.  Inline G, B foot, solid silver hj and body with plated mechanism

Emerson ELD, closed hole model; $325-$350.

Emerson ELD (open hole, inline or offset G, C foot) $400-$450

Armstrong 303; sterling silver headjoint, silver plated body, foot and keywork, inline G, B footjoint; $650

Jupiter 511 or 507(closed hole) $350 to $450; open hole $475 (used) to $575 (new).

Jupiter 611 (open hole, sterling headjoint) $650

Pearl student flute 501, $425-$495.  Closed holes, offset G, split E mechanism, C foot.

EMAIL ME if you are interested in having me get one of the above instruments ready for you or if you'd like to see some pictures. Shipping is $20 on flutes.

How and where to buy a quality used flute; Read this to see what I do that's different from other places that sell used flutes

        JUNE and JULY 2008

        I have a lot of turnover in used flutes, constantly selling those I have worked on and buying new ones for my inventory.  I mostly buy Yamaha, Pearl and Jupiter flutes.    (I don't buy or sell Artley, Bundy, Gemeinhardt  or some others but I do repair them.)  I have closed hole flutes and open hole flutes, both silver plated and sterling silver, inline G and offset G, C foot and B foot, in various combinations.

I also buy, repair and sell Yamaha and Gemeinhardt piccolos. (see the piccolo page)

Here's what I do to the used flutes and piccolos I sell:   I correct padding, adjustments, key heights, spring tensions and tenon fit.  I clean, oil and often replace or wax the headcork to make sure it's a good seal.  I may replace corks or felts-- whatever the instrument needs, I do in order to bring it up to my standard.  This is a service that's getting harder and harder to find--big flute companies can't afford to do this kind of work on the myriad of flutes they sell.  

The work I do on used flutes will make the padding and adjustments last longer than if you buy a new flute of the same kind.  Here's why: 

When a student or intermediate instrument is made at the factory, the first priority is quantity, not quality.  The factory must turn out a certain number of flutes per day and so each flute does not get much individual attention from the padder. 

The way the factory  pads a flute is to put a pad and shims in the key cup, then dampen, heat (or bake!) and press the pads onto the tone hole with force and for such an amount of time that the pad will conform to the top of the tone hole no matter what.   So, the flute plays--at least for a certain length of time.  Over time, the felt in the pads starts to relax as it gathers moisture from the air and from the player's condensation, and the felt  begins to revert to its original shape.  In this condition, the pads don't cover the tone holes, and the flute doesn't play well.  This is about when the owner decides to sell the flute and when I decide to buy, repair  and sell it.  I re-shim the pads without use of heat or force which takes more time, but lasts years longer.   Often a flute will play better after this kind of work then when it was brand new.

        The best way to buy a  flute from me is to contact me via email.  You can tell me what you're looking for, or, if you don't know too much about flutes, I am glad to share my knowledge with you. We can talk about your needs, wants, budget, and I will  make suggestions that will best serve your situation.  If you decide to  buy from me, I will prepare a flute or piccolo especially for you, your child, or your student.   You don't pay me until the instrument is ready; then I ship out it out,  and you have a full seven days to make sure you're pleased with the flute or piccolo--full refund less shipping if you decide for any reason it's not the instrument for you.  I place a one year warranty on everything I sell.