2011-2012 Alto and Bass Flute Recommendations

Here are my alto and bass flute recommendations for 2011-2012. While at the National Flute Assoc. convention in Charlotte in August, I played all the new altos and basses I could find and here are the brands I think are worth trying. Because there is no standard key configuration for altos and basses, a personal "hands-on" trial is necessary to determine which instrument fits your hands best.

Alto Flutes

Models under $2500 (most come with curved and/or straight heads)

  • Brio
  • diMedici
  • DiZhao
  • Jupiter
  • Pearl
  • Sonare (sterling head model - straight head only)
  • Trevor James
  • Vento (A new brand. Currently the least expensive at $1000. Has two years free repairs.)

Models between $2501 and $5000

  • diMedici
  • Trevor James

Models above $5000

  • Altus - curved and straight heads available
  • Eva Kingma - has an open-hole and closed hole model - straight head only
  • Miyazawa - straight head only

Bass Flutes

  • all basses include trill keys
  • Vento $1600. Includes two years of free repairs. From MusicFactoryDirect.com
  • Di Zhao $2100. Also has a wide bore for $2300 that is excellent.
  • Guo $2100. A plastic instrument that comes in startling colors. The sound was surprisingly okay, not good, but okay. The mechanism made way too much clacking noise, but if you are looking for a very light bass and don't mind having a tone you can't do much with, this is for you.
  • Pearl $3400-ish. A nice sound and a key configuration that works well for me.
  • Jupiter diMedici $4400-ish. The horizontal model with a nice sound and there is a vertical model ($5300-ish). The vertical model still requires an uncomfortable twist of the right wrist to reach the foot-joint keys. It comes with a neck strap like a saxophone, though there wasn't one with the instrument I tried and the right hand thumb support was too high. The floor peg support design has improved.
  • Altus $7500. Gorgeous sound.
  • Eva Kingma $9800-ish. Has a horizontal model with a glorious sound available with a small or large bore. Eva will custom design a key layout that works for you. She also has a comfortable vertical bass that is a pleasure to play.
  • Kotato $12,000. A large bore horizontal bass with a stunningly full and rich sound. The instrument has a graphite rod that attaches to the bottom of the flute with a swivel joint that holds the flute up. These are now available through Carolyn Nussbaum's.
  • I tried four Trevor James basses last year and two this year. I only liked one of the six.