I have had this instrument for just over a month and given it an extensive 'work-out', even using it on a professional concert.
My usual flute is a Sankyo HMDH (CF501 in the current range) and I was looking for an inexpensive back-up instrument that had closed holes and an E- mechanism (as a multi-instrumentalist I often don't have sufficient time to practise enough and the Sankyo needs constant work with open holes, centre action and no E- mechanism). With its' B-foot, I just had to try this instrument.
The Kotori KF-CBEO appears well made and feels comfortable to play. It blows freely in all registers but I feel that the response is not as instantaneous and that of the yamaha student models, especially on the lower notes. The dynamic range is also, as yet, slightly limited but I have seen a marked improvement over the last four weeks so imagine that once fully 'blown-in' this will improve.
At the price I am amazed at this instrument. It gives students the opportunity to have a B-foot instrument that plays and feels as if it cost three times as much. I even think that with an after market solid-silver head I could be happy to use it in place of my normal instrument.
Well done Thomann.... yet again!
