Buying a professional flute! Used? New? Brands? - My experience.

[@dasteufelhund]

My take is even if you lack the ability for the level of flute that you want, if you have the money and you want it, go for it. Life is too short. Buy the best instrument for your money so there is no excuse but to focus on one's shortcomings. In early 2000, after I left my professional setting which was the US Marine field band, I returned to school and my professor recommended a Straubinger that led to the commissioning of a 14K Straubinger flute. It was a phenomenal instrument even today. Fast forward, about three years back, I was in the market for a platinum headjoint and I was trying different headjoints all over. On a visit to the FCNY, I came across a holy-shit OMG full 14k 1979 Powell with a Dana Sheridan headjoint that I simply couldn't put down. Back and forth with the trial, it took me six months before I finally determined to go for it with finance and I am glad I did FCNY was tremendous in helping me on this whole process and the two are just a joy to play in terms of different timbre and overtone threshold. I feel very blessed to be in possession of these two finely crafted, heavy metal instruments.

[@faithwassonflutist]

Wow, what a great find in both cases!