2009-2010 Alto and Bass Flute Recommendations

Here are my alto and bass flute recommendations for 2009 - 2010. While at the National Flute Assoc. convention in New York in August, I tried all the new altos and basses I could get to in 5 hours. Here are the brands I recommend with some general price information.

Alto Flutes

Models under $3000 (most come with curved and/or straight heads)

  • Briolette alto was unexpectedly okay - but I have heard many reports of poor workmanship. Approach with extreme caution.
  • Dean Yang
  • diMedici
  • Jupiter
  • Pearl
  • Sonare (sterling head model - straight head only)
  • Trevor James

Models between $3001 and $5000

  • Altus
  • diMedici
  • Trevor James

Models above $5000

  • Eva Kingma - has an open-hole model - straight head only
  • Miyazawa - straight head only
  • Sankyo Prima
  • Yamaha - I don't like the bright tone of this gold-brass alloy, but otherwise this is a fine instrument

Bass Flutes

  • Di Zhao $2100 includes trill keys. At this price, a bargain! (dizhaoflutes.com)
  • Pearl $3500. This year's model has a better low register than last year's model.
  • diMedici $3900 for regular model, $4600 for vertical model. I prefer the sound of the regular model. The vertical model still requires an uncom-fortable stretch of the right hand to be able to reach the foot-joint keys, but then, I do have short arms. I preferred the neck strap to hold up the bass instead of the floor peg.
  • Altus $6900 Gorgeous sound.
  • Eva Kingma $9700 standard model. Glorious sound. Also has small and large bore available and a comfortable vertical bass held up by a simple floor peg.
  • Kotato $12,000. The best.