What is UsedFlutes.com?

Updated

UsedFlutes.com is a free classified ads site for used flutes, piccolos, and headjoints. It is a listing board, not a retailer: buyers browse ads and contact sellers directly, and sellers post their own ads at no stated cost. It suits players who want to compare instruments across many brands and price points, and who are comfortable evaluating a seller and an instrument themselves. It is less suited to anyone who wants buyer protection, condition guarantees, or trial periods built into the purchase.

What you'll find listed

The site organizes ads into three main categories: Flutes, Piccolos, and Headjoints. Brand names referenced on the site span student to professional makers, including Gemeinhardt, Yamaha, Muramatsu, Haynes, Powell, Brannen, Bundy, Armstrong, Sankyo-Prima, Drelinger, Arista, Nagahara, Trevor James, Pearl, and Burkart. The site claims over 13,000 flutes listed.

Individual ads typically include a description, asking price, seller email, location, and posting date. Some include photos or links to video. A few examples from the current listings show the range:

Instrument Notable details in the ad Asking price
Pearl sterling silver headjoint, 3K gold lip plate "Like New," unused; ~19.7 mm tenon outer diameter; seller notes professional fitting still required $899
Vintage Haynes flute C foot, inline, solid silver, serial #30579, overhauled by Flute World $3,000 plus shipping
Millereau vintage French flute Restored and repadded, no serial number, estimated 1879–1911, video link included Not stated in excerpt
Burkart Elite flute with 10K headjoint .016" sterling body, B foot, offset G, C# trill, 10K rose gold headjoint; seller cites $28,840 new price $21,630

How buying works

  1. Browse the category that matches what you want (flute, piccolo, or headjoint).
  2. Read the ad for specs, condition notes, and price.
  3. Email the seller directly using the address in the ad to ask questions, request more photos, or arrange a trial and payment.
  4. Verify the instrument yourself before paying—ask for a trial period, a video of the instrument playing, or an independent technician's inspection.

Because transactions happen directly between buyer and seller, the site itself does not appear to mediate payment, hold funds, or guarantee condition. Treat each ad as a lead, not a vetted offer.

How selling works

Sellers use the "Place Ad" link to post a listing. Based on the existing ads, a strong listing includes:

  • Exact model, serial number where available, and key specs (footjoint, G offset/inline, tone holes, headjoint material)
  • Condition history, including recent service—for example, "overhauled by Flute World" or "last COA in August 2022"
  • A clear asking price and who pays shipping
  • Photos and, ideally, a playing video
  • A working contact email

Practical cautions

  • Headjoint fit is not plug-and-play. The Pearl ad itself notes that even within the same brand, a headjoint upgrade "will always require proper fitting by your local flute technician." Budget for a technician visit.
  • Vintage instruments need provenance checks. Ads for older French and American flutes may lack serial numbers or have uncertain manufacture dates; ask for restoration records.
  • Prices are set by sellers, not the site. Compare an asking price against the seller's cited new price and against other listings before committing.
  • Shipping and payment terms vary by ad. In the Haynes listing, for example, the buyer pays shipping through a specified carrier.

If you want a broad, low-cost way to see what's on the used market across many makers, UsedFlutes.com is a reasonable starting point. If you need a guaranteed return policy or escrow-style protection, plan to arrange those safeguards with the seller directly or buy through a dealer instead.