I previously purchased the gold and black piccolo from Overstock for about the same price as this flute, and I'm still thrilled with it to this day! I've had it for about 6 months. So I decided to get a flute too, but I was very disappointed in the quality of this flute. The sound quality was poor (it sounded too "airy"), and some notes were hard to get out. I understand this is a school-band flute, as was the piccolo I purchased, so I wasn't expecting great concert quality of a professional flute. But I was expected decent and predictable sound quality. I've played flute for over 25 years, so it wasn't that I don't know how to play it. Also, some of the pads stuck, and the flute joints were hard to put together. They were too tight. The overall construction was very light, and it just didn't seem like good quality. Anyway, it's possible that I just got a lemon, as most of the other reviews here for this flute have been great. But I'm not taking a chance on getting another of the same kind. I returned the flute to Overstock and they gave me a refund. Overstock was prompt and fair about the refund.