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Purchase this instrument and receive a free 1-year extended warranty that starts at the expiration of the factory warranty!
Discover the popular Gemeinhardt 3SHB flute, one of the most recommended step-up flutes on the market today!
The Gemeinhardt Company is the music industry’s largest exclusive manufacturer of flutes and piccolos. They are known globally for their legendary history as artisans in the flute industry, and they continue to be renowned leaders in the flute world. Gemeinhardt prides itself on combining the most advanced instrument manufacturing technologies with the ever-important traditional human touch to create an exceptional line of instruments, ranging from the beginner to the professional level.
The Gemeinhardt 3SHB flute is a reliable instrument choice for intermediate students. With an unprecedented level of quality control including two tiers of professional magnehelic bench testing, the 3SHB flute provides a perfect instrument for the advancing student flutist.
The Gemeinhardt 3SHB flute includes a 3-Year Factory Warranty.
Included Accessories: French-style black plastic case with black nylon cover, cleaning rod
This flute is also available with an offset G key system: Gemeinhardt 3OSHB
Check out a professional model Gemeinhardt flute: Gemeinhardt 33SSB
Product Details
Level: Intermediate
The Gemeinhardt 3SHB flute is an intermediate level instrument.
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Key: C
The C flute is a non-transposing instrument. Non-transposing instruments are those which are notated in the same key on paper that they sound when they are performed.
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Headjoint: Solid silver
The Gemeinhardt 3SHB flute has a standard wall solid silver headjoint, providing the instrument with a resonant and rich tone quality. The “wall” refers to the thickness of the metal, measured at the side of the embouchure hole.
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Footjoint: B with gizmo key
The Gemeinhardt 3SHB flute has a B footjoint. There are two main types of flute footjoints: C and B. The C footjoint has the Eb key, the C# key, and the C key. C footjoints are common on student flutes. The B footjoint, used for many intermediate and just about all professional flutes, has an extra key on the end that extends the flute’s range down by a half step. A B foot aids with sound production in the lower register and intonation in the third register. A gizmo key closes the low B tone hole without closing the low C or C# hole, facilitating performance of a fourth octave C and making for convenient fingering for high C. The gizmo key is sometimes called the high C facilitator.
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Body & Keys: Silver-plated
The Gemeinhardt 3SHB flute’s triple-coated silver-plated finish can be polished to maintain its shiny appearance. Keep in mind that silver does tarnish, and therefore maintenance with a silver polishing cloth is important. Even tarnished silver can be made to look very nice with proper polishing. Do not use liquid silver polish, as it can interfere with the mechanisms of the flute.
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Key Style: Open-hole (French keys)
The Gemeinhardt 3SHB flute has an open hole key style, also known as ring keys or French keys, meaning that the flute has venting holes at the center of its keys. The alternative is a closed-hole key type (also known as plateau keys), which is generally discouraged beyond the entry level. If you are purchasing the Gemeinhardt 3SHB for a young student, it may be helpful to utilize a product to close the holes, such as key plugs or ring key patches, but generally intermediate players are ready and should be encouraged to use a flute with open holes.
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Key System: Inline G; no split E key
The Gemeinhardt 3SHB flute has an inline G key system. An offset G key means that the G keys are slightly offset from the rest of the keys and are mounted on separate posts. This contrasts with an inline G key, wherein the G keys are in a straight line with the rest of the flute’s keys. The offset G key can be advantageous, particularly for younger players, because it can accommodate smaller hands and tends to encourage a more comfortable hand position. Acoustically, there is not a difference between an inline G key and an offset G key. Inline G key systems may be more advantageous for players with particularly long fingers, although it can also just be a matter of personal preference. The Gemeinhardt 3SHB intermediate flute does not have an E mechanism (also known as a split E key).
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Spring Type: Stainless steel
Needle stainless steel springs are durable, they have strong holding power, and they do not rust. Stainless steel is the most common material used for standard and intermediate flute springs. The spring helps to open and close each key over the corresponding tone hole. This is an important job for a small pin; if the springs are too tight, the key will require too much pressure to close; and if the springs are too loose, keys will be slow to rise back up after being pressed.
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