Flute Shops In London
There are many used flute shops in London, the choice of which to use depends on your situation.
• Flutes for beginners
The industry standard worldwide for student flutes is generally accepted to be Yamaha. Other countries have competing brands (mainly Trevor James in the UK). However we also find that Yamaha student flutes keep their value more than others, and spare parts are much easier to obtain. Yamaha flutes can be bought brand new from most shops in London. We have a constant supply of Yamaha direct from their schools in Japan, barely used, and at much cheaper prices. We also only stock MADE IN JAPAN flutes, whereas the UK shops are now stocking Made In Indonesia Yamaha student flutes as standard.
• Upgrade and Professional Flutes
The most well know shop in London is Just Flutes, that carry a large stock of upgrade and professional flutes, and customers can make appointments to try them out. We compete by saving you the trip into London, and giving a 7 day return period so you can evaluate your flute, as well as a 4 month warranty. Feel safe with Premier Flutes.
• London Flutes - Used
Just Flutes & All Flutes Plus carry a range of varied used flutes, their own or selling on behalf of customers. Here at Premier Flutes, we have a constant supply of Altus, Muramatsu, Sankyo, Miyazawa & Yamaha direct from our supplier in Japan, and so aim to almost always carry one of each necessary model in stock. We don't "source" flutes to service and sell, all our flutes come from a specialist facility where they are set up by specialist Japanese flute technicians with years of experience, so we only have top quality stock. Many are ex-display flutes that are passed to us to sell in the UK.
Should I buy a new or used flute?
• Used Flutes in UK
There are advantages and disadvantages to buying a used flutes:
ADVANTAGES:
• Of course more economical. We aim to be minimum 35% cheaper than new, but more often than not, closer to 50% cheaper.
• Discontinued flutes are often sought after. The latest models are not always necessarily the best.
• Buying a pre-owned flute means that you'll get much more money back if you decide to sell the flute. It's therefore generally more economical for students to by used flutes.
DISADVANTAGES:
• The flute must be serviced and set up by an experienced technician, preferably that is an expert in that particular brand of flute. If not, more often than not it will cost into the hundreds of pounds in initial maintenance to get the flute up to playing standard.
• Should the flute be damaged or eventually have worn parts, you don't have someone to turn to, unless you buy from a dealer.
• No warranty unless bought from a dealer.
We have direct access to just about all original parts for all brands of Japanese flutes, even keys etc. Our supplier (Japan Woodwind) has direct links with the major Japanese flute manufacturers, and in turn has access to these almost impossible to find parts. We supply these exclusively to our own customers, so feel safe when you buy from Premier Flutes.
Flute Prices Guidance
Take these points into consideration when comparing prices. Cheaper flutes can often be cheaper for a reason.
• Who prepared the flute for sale
As already detailed, don't be shy to vet the shop or dealer on their technical ability.
• Flute Warranty
Does the flute have a mechanical warranty? Unfortunately flutes do get balance issues for no reason apart from being picked up and put down, so a flute warranty is essential.
• Aftersales
Many people bang or drop and instrument, parts need replacing. Does the dealer have a stock or access to original spare parts for your exact model of flute? Even if a brand dealer, they surprisingly usually don't have access to these parts as they are sourced from the "workshops" in Japan, not the manufacturer sales staff. Too many expensive flutes end up in the bin because a main part can not be replaced.
At Premier Flutes, we can pick up the phone and speak directly to these workshops in Japan, and have parts within 10 days. We speak Japanese and also handle all export business for our supplier, to other countries apart from the UK (Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines). We therefore have over 3000 used flutes a a year pass through our hands, and all the resources that come come with that enterprise.
What is the best UK flute shop?
There isn't one "best" flute shop. For high end, brand new professional flutes, Just Flutes is the go to shop. For other top quality flutes with reliable, friendly (never pushy!) service and great value for money, we hope we will be near the top of your list.
Buy a flute online
With a 7 day return period, the days of gambling with your money are long gone. We can also take payment via PayPal, so you also have their Buyer Protection.
Offset G vs Inline G flutes
In the center of the flute are the 2 keys that close together and produce the G note as going down the scale. If these keys protrude from the flute , it is known as OFFSET G. If these keys are in a straight line with the other keys, it is called INLINE G.
The only difference performance wise is the position of the keys. There is no difference in tone or quality of the flute.
Inline G flutes require slightly more finger work or stretch, so are not really suitable for young children or people with smaller hands. Some people consider them to be more traditional and so prefer them. Also if you've studied on an inline G flute, of course you're used to the hand position.
Offset G flutes offer what could be considered a more natural hand and wrist position and are place less fatigue on the wrist and fingers.
We actually consider the choice to also be cultural. Many Japanese players prefer inline, whereas westerners will veer towards OFFSET G.
Open hole vs Closed hole flutes
Closed hole flutes are easier to play than open hole. The keys are covered, which means that even if your finger is not directly in the middle of the key when you push it, it will close and air will not come from the tone hole. For this reason, beginners should start on a closed hole flute.
Open hole flutes, also known as French, have a hole in the middle of the key. For the key to close, your finger must be placed directly in this hole to seal it, as you close the key. If your finger is not in the exact position, air will leak, and your note won't play.
Open hole flutes require more precise technique, and teachers sometimes want their students to use one for this reason. They also enable some specialized techniques such as pitch bending and glissandos etc.
However there are many professional players that play on closed hole flutes, it's absolutely not necessary to buy open hole flutes to advance. Also, a player shouldn't be judged on what kind of flute they have. It takes a lot of extra work to adapt to open hole flutes, for few benefits, and you must consider if you're willing to put in the time and effort before committing.
Buying A Flute Checklist
Important Questions To Ask:
• Who serviced the flute?
Is the technician a specialist in that particular brand of flute? Has the technician attended courses or training with that brand? Like with cars, if you own a BMW, the most knowledgable mechanics will be in the BMW car dealer garage, not a generic dealer. How many years experience does he/she have? It takes many years to attain the necessary knowledge to be a top level flute technician.
• Flute pad, felts and parts
Flute pads have a very thin layer of "skin" on the surface. Check it is all intact, and that no felts or corks are loose or worn through.
Our technicians - each one only services one brand of flute. For example, if you buy an Altus, the person that serviced it will have already prepared hundreds, probably thousands of Altus flutes over the years. Feel safe when you buy from Premier Flutes.
