Gemeinhardt · Step-up · 3SHB · 1981–present
Gemeinhardt calls the 3SHB a longtime favorite for students upgrading, and its name spells out the recipe. In Gemeinhardt's codes the 3 marks its French open-hole series, SH means a sterling silver headjoint, and B means a B footjoint. The body, keys and footjoint are silver-plated. A plain 3SHB has inline G, and a 3OSHB has the G key offset, the layout Gemeinhardt artist Ali Ryerson calls ergonomically better. The serial chart shows 3SHBs from 1981, and the model is still in the catalog, now with either the J1 headjoint or the newer NG1, sold as the 3SHB NG. Gemeinhardt lists an E facilitator and a gold-plated lip plate as options, and its FAQ says the 3B LTD is the same flute with a gold-plated lip plate. A 3SB is the next rung, with a sterling body and footjoint as well. The 3SHB suits a middle or high school player who's ready for open holes and the low B. Check which G layout you're getting, since the O is easy to miss in a listing title, and look up the serial, since a 1980s flute and a 2009 one are a long way apart in age.
A step-up flute for a player a year or more into band, ready for open holes and the low B. If your child started on offset G, look for a 3OSHB, because a plain 3SHB is inline.
Build and case3SHB
Gemeinhardt's serial chart lists 3SHB serials from 345200 to 404199 for about 1981–1992, and runs in the 692000s to 707000s for 2004–2009. Look for the model number stamped next to the serial on the body.
Pads wear and leak like on any flute, and an older one may need a full repad. The longer B footjoint adds pads and keys to keep sealed, and older Gemeinhardts can have tuning quirks from the company's older scale.
More on this in our flute buying guide.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 3SHB titled reconditioned and play ready from a US repairer at $789 delivered, or the one with its case and cover at $500 and budget for a shop service. There are at least 21 for sale, mostly asking $575–875 delivered. A plain 3SHB has inline G and a 3OSHB has offset G, so match what your child learned on, and ask for a video playing down to low B, since the B footjoint adds pads to keep sealed. Look up the serial too, because a 1980s flute and a 2009 one are a long way apart in age, and pay only through eBay checkout if you try a zero-feedback seller.
$349.00delivered
The lowest delivered 3SHB here at $349 with free shipping, with the case in the photo, well under the band. The card shows no seller, so check feedback on the item page, and ask for the model stamp and a video playing down to low B.
Gemeinhardt 3SHB Flute with Head Open Hole B Foot
$499.98est. delivered
Titled with its case, and the photo shows the case cover too, at $500 delivered from a 99.8% seller, under the band. There's no service claim, so budget for a shop check of the pads.
Gemeinhardt Flute 3SHB Open Hole Solid Silver Head W/Case
$789.00delivered
For a student moving up we'd pick this one, titled reconditioned and play ready by a US repairer with 100% feedback, at $789 with free shipping. The title doesn't mention a case, so ask before you buy.
Gemeinhardt 3SHB Solid Silver Head Reconditioned Play Ready Open Hole B Flute
$789.00delivered
Titled reconditioned and play ready, so it should need the least work before lessons, as the seller claims. Ask what the reconditioning covered.
Gemeinhardt 3SHB Solid Silver Head Reconditioned Play Ready Open Hole B Flute
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$349.00delivered
$349.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$349.00
Good buy
Case in the photo, well under the band. No seller on the card, so check feedback on the item page.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used$499.98est. delivered
$489.99 + $9.99 shipping
Buy It Now$489.99
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 with case. Case and cover in the photo.
Seller: silasdeanepawnshop
99.8% positive
Serviced$789.00delivered
$789.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$789.00
Good buy
Titled reconditioned and play ready.
Seller: janr816
100% positive
Used$519.99delivered
$519.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$519.99
Our take
Titled solid sterling. Case and cleaning rod in the photo.
Seller: pawnamerica
99.8% positive
Used$565.98est. delivered
$549.99 + $15.99 shipping
Buy It Now$549.99
Our take
Titled with cleaning rod and case.
Seller: logahove
99.9% positive
Used$649.99delivered
$649.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$649.99
Our take
Titled Elkhart USA with B foot. No case in the photo.
Seller: stinsoncompany
99.9% positive
Used$1,207.78est. delivered
$1,200.00 + $7.78 shipping
Buy It Now$1,200.00
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 3OSHB, the offset G version, with a gold lip plate and case. Above the band.
Seller: sim-843544
100% positive
Used$700.00delivered
$700.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$700.00
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.
Check the seller
Zero feedback, titled ready to play.
Seller: ell-886059
No feedback yet
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