Gemeinhardt · Student · 2SP · 1978–present (as 2SP)
The 2SP is the flute Gemeinhardt built its business on. Kurt Gemeinhardt opened his company in 1948 to make professional silver flutes, and Wikipedia's history says beginner flutes soon became its bread and butter. Gemeinhardt's serial chart traces the 2SP back through the M2 and M1 student models to the mid-1950s, and the 2SP name itself starts at serial C80000 in 1978. Today's 2SP has the silver-plated J1 headjoint, closed plateau keys, offset G and a C footjoint, and Gemeinhardt calls it the most popular flute dealers and educators pick for beginners. Where it's made has changed. The early flutes came from Elkhart, Indiana, and Gemeinhardt now makes its headjoints there and does final assembly in Taiwan and China. Older ones deserve a tuning check. In the mid-1970s many makers moved their tone holes to the A440 scale worked out by Albert Cooper, and Wikipedia says Gemeinhardt was slow to follow, which can leave an older Gemeinhardt sharp in the high register and flat in the low. A teacher with a tuner can tell you in a few minutes, and the letter at the front of the serial number tells you roughly when yours was made.
A standard beginner setup with closed holes, offset G and a C footjoint. Favor a newer one, or have a teacher check an older one's tuning, and plan on a service before the first lesson.
Build and case2SP
Gemeinhardt publishes a serial chart on its website, and the model number is stamped next to the serial on the body. On a 2SP the letter at the start of the serial gives the era. C means about 1978–1981, D 1981–1984, E 1984–1987, F 1987–1990, G 1990–1992, H 1993–1995, I 1996–1998, J 1998–1999, L 2001–2004 and N from 2004. Serials with no letter, or with an A or B prefix, are generally the earlier M1 and M2 flutes of the 1950s to 1970s.
Leaking pads and a head cork out of place are the usual problems on any student flute. Older 2SPs can play out of tune between the low and high registers because of Gemeinhardt's older scale, and school flutes often have bent keys from rough assembly.
More on this in our flute buying guide.
Buying guide
We'd buy a 2SP titled overhauled, like the one from a US repairer at $285 delivered with its case and cleaning rod, or save money on one titled plays well, like the 1993-94 flute with a case at $133, and budget for a shop service. There are at least 213 for sale, mostly asking $110–210 delivered, so this is an easy flute to find. Older 2SPs can play out of tune between the low and high notes, so favor a newer one (the letter at the front of the serial gives the era) or have a teacher check it with a tuner, and ask for a video playing from low C up to see whether the pads seal. Skip asks near $400 that aren't titled serviced, and where a card shows no seller, check feedback on the item page.
$75.43est. delivered
The lowest delivered 2SP here at $75, but it comes with no case and the photo shows only part of the body. Ask for photos of all three joints and the lip plate, and plan on buying a case.
Gemeinhardt 2SP Flute (no case)
$132.78est. delivered
Titled plays well, made in Elkhart around 1993-94, with its case, at $133 delivered from a 100% seller, near the bottom of the band. A flute that age deserves a teacher's tuner check, and a shop service is still a good idea.
Gemeinhardt 2SP Flute Silver Plated Elkhart USA c.1993-94 w/ Case Plays Well
$284.99delivered
For a parent we'd pick this one, titled overhauled and ultrasonic cleaned by a US repairer with 99.7% feedback, with the case and cleaning rod in the photo. At $285 with free shipping it's above the band, and the overhaul is what you're paying for.
Gemeinhardt Flute Silver 2SP W/case - Overhauled & Ultrasonic Cleaned!!
$284.99delivered
Titled overhauled and ultrasonic cleaned, with the case and cleaning rod, so it should play the day it arrives, as the seller claims.
Gemeinhardt Flute Silver 2SP W/case - Overhauled & Ultrasonic Cleaned!!
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$75.43est. delivered
$65.00 + $10.43 shipping
Buy It Now$65.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
No case, and the photo shows only part of the body.
Seller: mel_799645
100% positive
Used$132.78est. delivered
$125.00 + $7.78 shipping
Buy It Now$125.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled plays well, Elkhart c.1993-94, with case.
Seller: feralfinery
100% positive
Serviced$284.99delivered
$284.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$284.99
Good buy
Titled overhauled and ultrasonic cleaned. Case and cleaning rod in the photo.
Seller: osoriotech
99.7% positive
Used$98.71est. delivered
$90.00 + $8.71 shipping
Buy It Now$90.00
Our take
Titled a 2010 model, with case.
Seller: bearandterry
99.7% positive
Used$162.49delivered
$162.49 · free shipping
Buy It Now$162.49
Our take
Titled "READ 1ST", so read the description for faults. Elkhart, with case.
Seller: jsayed2011
99.8% positive
Used$184.93est. delivered
$160.00 + $24.93 shipping
Buy It Now$160.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled tested, good sound, with case.
Seller: bigbadtycoon
99.5% positive
Used$229.00delivered
$229.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$229.00
Our take
Titled excellent condition with the original hard case. No seller on the card, so check feedback on the item page.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used$408.00est. delivered
$399.00 + $9.00 shipping
Buy It Now$399.00
Priced high
From a music store, with case and care kit, but about 2.5 times the median with no service claim.
Seller: volkweinsmusic
99.9% positive
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