[KeithL]

I bought a lightly used GX III about 18 months ago. I didn't get a chance to try an EX but I did play about 10 other flutes before making a choice. I don't know that you would feel that much difference between the two but you won't know until you play them. I would suggest if you're willing to spend $5k+ on a flute that you try a bunch of different flutes not just settle on one without trying anything else. My second choice would have been a heavy walled Di Zhao Handmade which surprised me a bit since I preferred both it and the Muramatsu to flutes that were substantially more expensive. For me there was a definite point of diminishing returns. I couldn't really appreciate the the difference between a $5k and a $15k+ flute so I know flute shopping for anything more expensive than that is pointless for me.

 

[KeithL]

This is what I've been telling myself as well to try to stave off wanting to spend a lot of money on a flute, and I believe it. I ask myself, "Is your Yamaha 222 getting in the way of your improving? If not, stick with it."

That said, there was such a big improvement in the Yamaha over my old Gemeinhardt from the 1970's that I felt silly for having waited to upgrade. Also, the Muramatsu EX and GX's that I tried not long ago were terrific. It was a lot easier to play softly and to play high notes.

Thanks for the paper, that's interesting and argues for the EX between the two.

The 3rd octave response was ultimately what won me over to the GX. The Di Zhao and a Haynes Handmade Deveau I tried both could be pushed harder down low for bigger sounds down there but the response of the Muramatsu up high was much easier for me.

I agree that all things being equal, lots of practice will have a more positive effect on your playing than an new instrument. However, if you're going to look for something different you may as well get something that facilitates overcoming whatever major challenge you are encountering at your present skill level. When I try instruments I'm considering what the potential new one is going to do for me compared to what I already have, against the backdrop of the type of music I'm realistically most likely to be playing. Along the way I tried a Haynes Commercial and Artley Wilkins that both had wonderful sounds but were more resistant and didn't project like the more modern flutes. If I were going to play mostly in concert bands or small wind ensembles I may have gone for one of them.

I think you're doing the right thing by going to the shop a few times and trying many different brands and models. You may also want to take your Yamaha with you and have them bring you a 500 or 600 series Yamaha with an EC or K hand cut headjoint. It should fit okay on your student body and you might find that all you want/need is a better headjoint and not a whole new flute.

 

[KeithL]

Having owned and owning a number of good flutes, both plated and solid silver, I would say that the biggest difference between these two would be the feel. Silver is heavier and a bit "bouncier" in terms of how the keys feel when you close them. That alone can affect how someone responds to the flute, even if the sound is exactly the same. I would suggest that you try both, if you have a chance, and see if the difference in feel is enough to want to make you shell out the extra $$$.

The EX & GX models have the same silver plated keywork. Both have solid silver headjoints so it's only the body which is different - EX silver plated - GX solid silver.

 

[KeithL]

That's a great point about the set-up, thank you! My initial hope was to finalize the make & model, then try 3 or 4 versions of that flute before making a final pick. I think I'll stick with that.

As an aside, the salesperson said they'd been doing a brisk business selling flutes during the quarantine. Supposedly, people are seeing new value in old hobbies.

Thanks again.

I don't see why they would not allow you to do that if they have the flutes to offer. However, I also don't believe there are many flute shops in the US that could afford to have 3 or 4 of every model flute they offer in stock at all times. I know the specialty sax shops don't keep stock like this.

I wouldn't over-think too much. By the time you make your decision you'll have played whatever you like best against several other flutes. A few years ago I was at Sax Alley and tried a tenor I really liked but instead of making a decision to buy it I futzed around for a few days and someone else came in a bought it. You need to be careful letting the search for perfect become the enemy of the good.

 

[KeithL]

Good advice, for sure. But it seems like flute specialty shops like FluteWorld and Flute Center of New York have the inventory to send out a few flutes of major models from Muramatsu, etc. My question is whether the salesperson is right that quality is so consistent that I wouldn't find much difference among those flutes, or whether each flute is happy/unhappy in its own particular way, so I should I try a handful of GX's?

Yeah, sure, if they gottem try 'em but they didn't have an EX in stock at all for you to try when you went there so it may be difficult for them to either get stock or keep stock. As far as what the sales people say I suspect it's some of each; I'd expect high-line Muramatsu flutes to be fairly consistent but she/he may also be hedging that they may not have more than 1 around for you to play when you're ready to buy. Likewise, as you said they ship a lot of flutes out for trial so they may own a lot of stock but it may not physically be there in the store. I'd also suspect that they are trying to leave extra time in between people playing the instruments due to COVID so having you play a whole bunch of instruments that they then need to sterilize is probably not ideal for them either. At the end of the day, as a mediocre amature flute player, my belief is that once you get into high end professional level instruments there isn't so much "better" as there is just "different" and those differences are likely to be very small. If you played 4 of the same model flutes every day for a week it's possible you'd prefer a different one each day for some reason.

What's curious to me is how well a lot of these retailers appear to be doing selling instruments when there are almost no gigs and what schools, especially music schools or music related programs, are going to look like in the Fall is still in-question for most. I can't believe it would be gigging musicians many of whom seem to be struggling that are buying these instruments. Must be people who had expensive summer travel plans that have been cancelled figuring they have a few thousand $$$ they aren't spending and are getting bored??

 

[KeithL]

I'm the proud new owner of a Muramatsu GX heavy wall.

I went back to the flute shop and was able to try the Mura EX, a Mura DS, and two Miyazawa's (402 & 602). All fantastic flutes, not a bad one in the bunch. But the darker colors of the Mura GX grew on me, and it seems to offer so much flexibility, as others have said.

KeithL was right above: it's hard even for the flute speciality shops to keep more than a couple of examples of the higher-end flutes on hand. With some of the gold flutes, they're doing good to have even one. So I felt lucky to get to try 3 Mura GX's, two heavy wall and one standard, before choosing. The differences were ever so slight, but were there.

Congratulations - I'm sure you'll love it. I wish I had a chance to play a few different models when I bought my GX but regardless I knew it was better for me than what I had and I'm very pleased with it. Enjoy.