Concert Flute
Yamaha YFL-381
Price: 905 EUR – 905 EUR
Price history
Cheapest seen
Most expensive seen
Availability: 0/10 (Very rare)
A discontinued intermediate flute built with a sterling silver headjoint over a silver-plated body, the classic step-up specification that gives advancing players a genuinely different, richer tone core than a fully plated instrument.
About the Yamaha YFL-381
The YFL-381's sterling silver headjoint with an undercut, beveled embouchure hole is the component that most defines its step-up character - headjoint material has an outsized influence on tone compared to body material, and pairing solid silver there with a more affordable plated body is a common, cost-effective way to deliver a noticeably richer sound without a full solid-silver instrument's price. Its open-hole, French-model, in-line G keywork with a B footjoint and gizmo key extends both its technical demands and its range beyond a standard beginner flute.
Ergonomically designed key shapes and placement, a stronger post design to prevent bending, and accessible adjustment screws round out a build Yamaha specifically engineered to hold up under an intermediate player's more demanding daily use. The YFL-381 was succeeded by the inline-G YFL-382 in 2016, but remains a well-regarded used purchase for players wanting Yamaha's step-up tone at a lower price than current production.
Where to buy
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Sound character of the Yamaha YFL-381
This is the classic step-up specification: a sterling silver headjoint sits over an otherwise silver-plated nickel-silver body, and because the headjoint is where the air stream actually generates the tone, solid silver there gives a noticeably richer, warmer core sound than an all-plated flute, even without upgrading the whole tube. Its B foot also extends the tube length to low B, adding resonant mass and fullness to the lower register that a C-foot flute lacks.
Technical data for the Yamaha YFL-381
| Headjoint | Sterling silver |
|---|---|
| Body | Silver-plated nickel silver |
| Keys | Open-hole, in-line G |
| Foot | B foot with gizmo key |
Price history for the Yamaha YFL-381
Cheapest seen: 905 EUR · Most expensive seen: 905 EUR
Cheapest seen
Most expensive seen
The history of the Yamaha YFL-381
Yamaha's YFL-381 served as a core intermediate step-up flute until being succeeded by the YFL-382 in 2016, and remains actively sought used for its sterling silver headjoint tone.
Related guides
- Material: Silver-Plated vs. Solid Silver vs. Gold - Is the Upgrade Worth It? View details
- B-Foot vs. C-Foot Flute: Is the Extra Note Worth It? View details
- Buying a Used Flute: What to Check View details
