Woodwind Instruments > Armstrong Woodwind Instruments > Flute

Advantages: Plentiful and cheap, all the quality needed for beginners
Disadvantages: Most Armstrongs not suitable beyond grade 5

Armstrong flutes are one of those makes that I feel are underrated. They must be one of the most popular makes of flute for beginners – particularly those learning at school. They are solid, reliable, plentiful and incredible value for money. Go into any music shop, and there are bound to be plenty of second hand Armstrong flutes for very little money. They have a really warm tone, and are very solid. It is rare that you have any problems with this ... Read review

Advantages: Ok as a cheap flute for beginners
Disadvantages: Poor tone, bad value for money!

...my Dad bought me an Armstrong flute. It was a make it had never heard of before, but the people in the music shop I bought it from assured me it was a good make. The flute didn't come with a solid silver head, but my Dad paid extra for it. Buying an Armstrong flute was a big mistake and I wouldn't reccommend anyone to get one. Stick with the well known brands such as Yamaha or Trevor James. Armstong had a poor tone and I had loads of problems with ...
...I was fed up with Armstrong and decided to turn Yamaha. I bought the Yamaha 311, and I would reccommend this flute to any intermediate player. The flute has a Solid Silver head joint and a Silver plated body, but it makes a lovely tone, they retail at about £800 but if you shop carefully you should be able to get one cheaper than that. (I part exchanged my Armstrong and the 311 was in the sale when I bought it, and it worked out at around £450) This ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent build quality and intonation
Disadvantages: The usual limitations of a beginner instrument

...played both, I'd say the Yamaha is very much worth the extra. The build quality is simply what you'd expect from such a respected make, and that makes all the difference to the tone and tuning as well as the robustness and mechanical reliability of the flute. While not a professional instrument by any means, a beginner should be able to pass several Grades before this flute begins to be the limiting factor in tone production, and the tuning is reasonable ...
...kept to a minimum and with the occasional service the flute will last many years even in the hands of a complete novice. Obviously as with any silver or silver-plated instrument regular cleaning is necessary to prevent tarnishing, but most music shops will bundle a cleaning cloth with an instrument bought new. In all a highly-recommended flute for beginners but beyond Grade 6 or 7, start to think about an upgrade. ... Read review

Advantages: Great value for money, excellent intonation, low maintenance, consistent quality
Disadvantages: Tone is no better than you'd expect from plastic

I've been playing Aulos recorders for years, and now own Sopranino (207), Descant (205A), Treble (309A) and keyless Tenor (311N), as well as a Fife (C-21). All of the instruments are easy and forgiving to play, have near faultless intonation and sound about as good as a plastic instrument ever will. With the possible exception of the Yamahas in tenor and below, these are easily the best introductory-level plastic instruments around. Even with wooden ...
...1-series. However, dismissing the Aulos as purely a child's instrument is unfair, as it's perfectly good for consort work or solo work up to a reasonably high level and better than most cheap wooden instruments. Treble - again, this is a perfectly adequate consort or solo instrument and better than cheap wooden instruments, but as you might expect it can't really compete with the solo tone of a good wooden model if you have the money. If I was buying ... Read review

Advantages: easy to learn
Disadvantages: none

...music shop and there were songs that Boyzone sang in it. They music books vary in price, (£5.00 upwards) In my opinion a Yamaha recorder is the best one to by, well thats my opinion anyway I have done this review on Dooyoo Thanks for reading ... Read review