Selling a Used Flute? How Much It’s Worth and Where to Sell It

There are many reasons for selling a used flute, whether it’s just because you or your child doesn’t play it anymore, there is a need to upgrade to another flute or you are changing to another band instrument.

Depending on the conditions, your flute is very likely to have a second life with a potential buyer and player. Those chances are high these days, as we are currently talking about one of the most popular instruments.

You might be wondering, how much does a used flute worth? And where to sell it? We are answering those questions below.

How Much Does a Used Flute Sell For?

The price of a used flute is highly dependent on its current condition, what material it is made of, the brand, its workmanship, and what level of flute it is. Keep in mind that a well-made flute normally sounds better, is more reliable, and will have a longer life.

If you are talking about a used beginner or step-up flute, then a good metric would be 50% off what is worth buying a new flute.

A simple search in the most common online marketplaces to sell used musical instruments (for example, Reverb.com, Facebook Marketplaces, eBay, or Craigslist) will give you an estimation of the price.

Considering the various types of flutes and player levels, generally, you can sell a used flute within the following prices ranges:

Used Flutes Price Ranges

• Student Flute: $80 – $400
• Intermediate/Step-up/Open Hole Flute: $200 – $600
• Professional Flute: $ 900 up to $9000

How Much Is a Used Yamaha Flute Worth?

In terms of quality, Yamaha musical instruments are one of the top-rated brands and are a popular choice from beginners to professional players. Yamaha flutes are no exception.

Depending on its condition, material, and type of level (student, intermediate or professional), a Yamaha used flute might be sold around the following price ranges:

Used Yamaha Student Level Flutes

• from $200 to $600
  • Example 1 – Yamaha YFL-221 Student Flute.

• Example 2 – Yamaha Advantage Student Flute

Used Yamaha Intermediate Level Flutes

• from $400 to $1700
  • Example 1 – Yamaha YFL-382

• Example 2 – Yamaha YFL-462

Yamaha Professional Level Flutes Price

• from $1000 to $3000
  • Example – Yamaha YFL-677H

How Much is a Used Gemeinhardt Flute Worth?

Another great option for flutes, which is well reputable and normally in high demand, is Gemeinhardt Flutes.

Used Gemeinhardt Student Level Flutes

• from $120 to $700
  • Example 1 – Gemeinhardt 1SP

• Example 2 – Gemeinhardt 2BLK

Used Gemeinhardt Intermediate Level Flutes

• from 400$ to $1500
  • Example – Gemeinhardt 3

Used Gemeinhardt Professional Level Flutes Price

• from $600 to $3000
  • Example – Gemeinhardt 33OSB

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Factors Influencing How Much Your Used Flute Worth

If your flute is one of the described above, you already know how much it can be sold for. However, if you are still unsure about its condition, or you have a model not detailed above, then what should you consider for determining a price for your used instrument?

Apart from its current condition, there are four factors you should consider while evaluating how much your flute is worth.

Flute Level

A flute model is normally identified in three different levels: student flutes, intermediate or professional. Their price is directly related to their level:

• The higher the flute level, the more costly it will be. A beginner flute price is in the range of hundreds of dollars, while professional flutes, are in the thousands range
• As levels grow, quality does also. Manufacturers typically enhance the consistency, usability, and durability of flutes by targeting higher-level players (intermediate to professional).
• Consider this, because someone looking for intermediate to professional level flutes will already know what he or she can get from such level of flutes and has considerable knowledge in that instrument. Be honest with the actual condition of the used flute.

Flute Materials

There is a wide range of materials used in the manufacturing of a flute.

From pricier and more quality ones like gold to more affordable options such as wood or even plastic, you have it all nowadays. Such materials influence sound quality and timbre and vary depending on the thickness of the material.

Also, and not less important, they can influence the durability of the instrument. Cheaper flutes tend to prevail way less than higher price options (except for the plastic flutes).

Below, we order such materials from pricier options to cheaper ones

Material	Price	Level
Gold	Very high	Professional
Silver	High	Intermediate / Professional
Wood (Grenadilla)	Medium	Student / Beginner
Copper or Nickel	Cheaper	Student / Beginner
Plastic	Cheaper	Preschoolers / Student / Beginner

How Old Is the Instrument

If you have an older instrument, you might ask: are old flutes worth anything?

It is important to note, that the age of your flute does not necessarily mean it will sell for less. The condition of the flute is more important. While new flutes are generally more expensive than used flutes, there are some cases where used instruments increase in value as they age.

Best Brand Flutes

The most known flute brands are:

• Gemeinhardt
• Yamaha
• Pear
• Selmer
• Altus
• Miyazawa

Their flute models tend to be the ones with more demand, reflecting models with more quality but also with higher prices.

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Where to Sell a Used Flute?

If you ask “where can I sell a used flute”, then your probably best answer nowadays will be online in marketplaces like eBay, Facebook Marketplaces, Craigslist, Amazon, or online websites specialized in musical instruments Reverb.com.

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Broken or Damaged Used Flute? Consider Repairing Before Selling

If you have a broken or damaged flute and are wondering if it still might hold some value, you should consider the following before starting the process of selling it:

• Does it need a professional repair?
• Is the sound quality affected by the damage?
• In which part is the flute damaged? Is it visible?
• Does it need major repairs?

If the instrument is still somehow in good shape, but has some damages or isn’t playing like it used to, then you might consider the option of doing a check-up or an overhaul recovery. Such recovery and inspection could give the flute a greater price and more years of playing.

That check-up and recovery should be done by a professional flute specialist. The costs vary greatly depending on the professional or the shape of the instrument. But, you can have an idea with the following prices, practiced by Lori Lee, a San Francisco flute technician:

Costs for Repairing a Used Flute

C Flutes:

• Student Instrument – $375
• Intermediate/Step-up/Open Hole Instrument – $800
• Professional Instrument – $1,200

Alto and Bass Flutes:

• Intermediate Instrument – $900
• Professional Instrument – $1,200

Such overhaul inspections and repairs include the following accordingly to Lori Lee: repadding and shimming of pads, adjusting, complete disassembly and oiling of mechanisms, oiling wooden bodies, cleaning and hand polishing, limited spring replacement (as required), mechanical adjustments, simple resoldering, and dent removal. I will need to schedule overhauls in advance and keep your instrument for a minimum of two weeks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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