What should the price for cleaning & repair be?

lollycross · Post by **lollycross** » Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:52 pm

Hi,
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I can't get the dumb search engine to find it....
I have here my old silver flute that hasn't been played in
40 YEARS. I'm sure 1/2 of my "tone problems" is that the flute needs
pads and a cleaning.
I WILL take it to my local music store, but
I didn't want to pass-out when they told me what the cost
would be. My parents paid $170 for it in 1961, ha ha.
I presume the repair cost will be $200, at least?
If so, would I be better
off just getting a new "student" one at WalMart for $200???
Lolly

kkrell · Post by **kkrell** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:38 am

Always depends on how much work really needs to be done. I'd estimate a student model flute (Bundy, low-end Yamaha, etc.) at about $70 for COA (Clean, Oil, Adjust), and a Professional flute (Haynes, Powell, Brannen) at about $150-200. Pad replacement would take both of those figures up, though.

Kevin Krell

Hoovorff · Post by **Hoovorff** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 5:55 am

I would advise NOT getting a flute from Walmart. These instruments are the Boehm equivalent of flutes made in Pakistan. They break easily and it's not always easy to repair them.

The high school band director at the school where I teach elementary music has told the students to avoid these Walmart instruments like the plague. He said they would discourage beginners from the start because they're more difficult to play and get a decent sound.

The overhaul of a 40-year flute (new pads, etc.) would probably be close to $200 dollars. You'd be better off getting a decent starter/student flute such as a Gemeinhardt or Yamaha.

Good luck, Jeanie

Doug_Tipple · Post by **Doug_Tipple** » Sat Jul 17, 2004 8:34 pm

Hi Lolly,

www.woodwindbrasswind.com in South Bend, Indiana has several quality student flutes below $300. You also might try ebay. I bought a very nice Yamaha flute with solid silver headjoint, B foot, gizmo key, and open holes for not much money, and I am very satisfied with it.

Best wishes,
Doug Tipple

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 5:26 am

lollycross wrote:Hi,
I'm sure this has been asked before, but I can't get the dumb search engine to find it....
I have here my old silver flute that hasn't been played in
40 YEARS. I'm sure 1/2 of my "tone problems" is that the flute needs
pads and a cleaning.
I WILL take it to my local music store, but
I didn't want to pass-out when they told me what the cost
would be. My parents paid $170 for it in 1961, ha ha.
I presume the repair cost will be $200, at least?
If so, would I be better
off just getting a new "student" one at WalMart for $200???
Lolly

$170 in 1961, this could be a nice flute. What brand? Any model number or serial number? My metal flute is a Miyazawa student model (not handmade) made in the 1960s, and it has a very nice sound and feel to it.

g

Hoovorff · Post by **Hoovorff** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 10:52 am

Re: the Walmart "flutes" being sold for a couple of hundred dollars: There has been an interesting thread on Sir James Galway's Boehm flute chat board about these flutes. Players, private teachers, band directors and repair people have all chimed in to note that the Walmart instruments are mostly just ISO's--instrument-shaped objects.

We had two students in our fifth-grade band purchase an instrument at Walmart this year. A girl's parents bought her a flute (First Act is the brand), and within two months they had to buy her a real instrument, a Yamaha starter flute. A boy had a trumpet from Walmart which had valves that continued to stick. Luckily, his father rented him a better-known trumpet from a music shop to replace the ISO.

So, Buyer Beware!

Jeanie

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 11:54 am

Oh, First Act, i've seen them in Costco. I agree, they're junk. You can get a much better used flute for this money.

lollycross · Post by **lollycross** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 4:55 pm

Hi glauber,
My old flute is a Gemheinhardt...their base model, I presume.

Thanks all, for the comments....at least I WON'T be buying a WalMart one!

Maybe just MORE PRACTICE!!!!!
Luckily its for recording, which means I can record ONE VERSE and
then rest my mouth a minute and then record the next verse, ha ha ha,
and don't have to be able to play a tune clear thru....and keep switching
octaves so I can play the notes that come out only.....
I also have an old "Doug Tipple" that does REAL well on the bottom
octave, so I can even play one for the low and one for the middle
octave.......shame on me.......I guess I'm being a cheap-skate!!! ha ha ha
Mybe more "Guinness" would help too; at least I would think it sounded
better, ha ha ha
Lolly

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 7:43 am

That old Gemeinhardt may still be a decent flute. I've seen several old student model flutes that were very good.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Mon Jul 19, 2004 9:43 am

My mate has just bought a solid silver flute on eBay from the US for £70 . It has a little dent in it but it plays well. You should keep your eyes open !

Chiff and Fipple Forums

What should the price for cleaning & repair be?

What should the price for cleaning & repair be?

Re: What should the price for cleaning & repair be?