Where are Yamaha flutes made in?

Question:I purchased a Yamaha 461H flute and it arrived today. However, I noticed that it was made in Indonesia; I would prefer one from Japan. Do they still make them in Japan or are there limited quantities? Is it possible to contact wwbw.com and ask them to exchange this one for a Japanese-made flute?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I purchased a Yamaha 461H flute and it arrived today. However, I noticed that it was made in Indonesia; I would prefer one from Japan. Do they still make them in Japan or are there limited quantities? Is it possible to contact wwbw.com and ask them to exchange this one for a Japanese-made flute?

Most Yamaha flutes are outsourced now. From what I know, there are not any that are actually made in Japan, even the professional ones. And as a wwbw.com customer, I'm sure you can't make the exchange anyway.

Personally, your 461H should still sound fine, even if it's made in Indonesia. There shouldn't be much difference.

If you want a flute made in Japan, you should buy from a Japanese maker, like Sankyo (not sure?).

I'm curious....why do you want to trade? What is it about the different manufacturing locations that you prefer?

I agree with the first answer, however. Yamaha has closed a LOT of US shops because many of our favorite instruments are made by mechanics, not musicians. US workers expect a lot more from their employer than many music companies have not been willing to meet (take Conn-Selmer, for example).
There are still the same quality control tactics, the same materials, and the same standard whether in Indonesia or Japan. As far as I know, there are only 3 manufacturing locations left in China, each one focusing on different specialities. My clarinet professor is a Yamaha clinician and sponsored musician--he relayed all of this to me last year. They might have transferred all flute production in Indonesia by now, or they might not.

Secondly...I think the raw materials needed to produce instruments are more abudant in Indonesia.

Visit the link below on wwbw's return policy. Just reading through it, it looks like it may be too late for you to return it--they require contact and shipping within 48 hours of receipt if you are dissatisfied.