When a player achieves a certain level of proficiency, it becomes necessary to upgrade from their student instrument in order to continue making progress.
At this time there are many different brands to choose from, all very well made, and we suggest trying as many of them as possible to find the one that suits you best. Each manufacturer uses a distinct style of key work and each has chosen a compromise in embouchure design giving different characteristics in sound, flexibility and response. Many of the brands offer several styles of head joints to suit a variety of players’ tastes.
We stock all of these brands, in a selection of specifications, as well as offering a choice of alternative head joints for each.
Altus
These instruments are designed by Mr Shuichi Tanaka and made at the custom built factory at Azumino in Japan. Mr Tanaka has great experience of flute design and manufacture having spent many years with Muramatsu, Miyazawa, Takumi and K.H.S. Musix (where he was involved in the design of the Jupiter and Di Medici flutes). He was inspired by older instruments, such as the Louis Lot, and, in collaboration with William Bennett, has aimed to produce a modern Japanese flute with a complimentary range of tone, resonance, intonation and accuracy of mechanism.
Features
Altus 807 Series Flute
These flutes are the most modestly priced of the Altus range. The solid content of the flutes is kept to a minimum by using the material only in the lip plate, i.e. the most important area for tone production. The body and key work are made from silverplated nickel silver.
Options
|
|
Altus 907 Series Flute
These have a solid head joint and silverplated nickel silver body tube and key work.
Options
|
|
Altus 1007 Series Flute
This range has a solid body and head joint tube with silverplated, nickel silver mechanism.
Options
|
|
Altus 1107 Series Flute
These utilise a ‘Britannia Standard’ material for the body and head joint tubing i.e. 95.8% pure as opposed to 92.5% but are identical, otherwise, to the AF1007 series.
Options
|
|
Altus 1207 Series Flute
Instruments in this range have solid tube and key work and drawn tone holes.
Options
|
|
Altus 1307 Series Flute
These are identical to the 1207 series but use the ‘Britannia’ material in the body and head joint and normal material for the mechanism.
Options
|
|
Mateki
Mateki means “Magic Flute” in Japanese. The company was started by the recently deceased Mr Watanabe, a former Muramatsu craftsman and partner of Suichi Tanaka in the now dissolved Takumi company. They have long been regarded as one of the best Japanese companies and they pride themselves on the levels they have achieved as a small factory. Earlier models in the mid-range, MO-002, 003, which you may see available second hand, were made by the craftsman Mr Takeuchi, now deceased.Features
Mateki Flute Model MO-021
These have a solid head joint and silverplated body and key work.
Options
|
|
Mateki Flute Model MO-031
These have a solid body tube and head joint with silverplated key work.
Options
|
|
Mateki Flute Model MO-041
These are solid throughout.
Options
|
|
Miyazawa
Masashi Miyazawa established Miyazawa Flutes in 1969 having previously worked in the Muramatsu flute factory. While many players and makers have experimented throughout this century with different materials, Miyazawa have developed the technology of combining materials to create new alloys for flute making. Experiments during the 1970’s led to the PCM alloy, which is a combination of 65% silver with copper, gold and palladium.In 1998, Miyazawa have streamlined their range by changing their model numbering system, and rationalising their range. The model numbers in brackets indicate superceded models.
All new models except the PM101, have a heavier solid crown and will use a new ‘flat bottomed’ key cup which allows more accurate seating of the pads.
Features
- Pointed ‘French’ key arms on all models.
- Choice of materials and alloys.
- Choice of head joint designs in each model range.
Miyazawa PA101 (MS70S) Series Flute
These flutes are the most inexpensive of the Miyazawa range. The solid content of the flutes is kept to a minimum by using the material only in the lip plate, i.e. the most important area for tone production. The body tubing and key work is made from silverplated nickel silver.
Options
|
|
Miyazawa PA201 (MS95S) Series Flute
This range is a step higher in material content than the PA101 series, having a solid head joint with silverplated nickel silver body. All instruments are available in the same choice of specifications as above.
Options
|
|
Miyazawa PC301 (PCM300) Series Flute
These flutes use the material called Palladium Copper, developed by Mr Miyazawa, in the tube and head joint. This is silverplated to give the appearance of a silver tube. Many players have found the material a very good alternative to silver, producing a different tone colour.
Options
|
|
Miyazawa PM401 (MC325) Series Flute
These have a solid tube and head joint with silverplated, nickel silver,mechanism. The standard tube thickness is 0.015”
Options
|
|
Muramatsu The Muramatsu Company is the oldest of the Japanese companies, established in Tokyo in 1923 as a flute specialist. During the 1930’s Koichi Muramatsu collaborated with the flute inventor Okura, who is reported to have developed a mechanised version of the Shakahachi called ‘Okraulos’. The Muramatsu factory closed during WW2 but in 1957 reported making their 10,000th flute. Many companies have endorsees for their products but Muramatsu is privileged to have the most famous player of all, James Galway, as an ardent supporter of their products.
Features
- Pointed ‘French’ Key arms on all models, giving the appearance of a hand made instrument at all levels.
Muramatsu EX Model Flute
Silver head joint with silverplated nickel silver mechanism.
Options
|
|
Muramatsu GX Model Flute
Silver tube, head joint, rings, ribs and posts with silverplated, nickel silver mechanism.
Options
|
|
Pearl
The Pearl Company has been making flutes for over 25 years. They have two factories, one specialising in ‘Student Flutes’, the other specialising in ‘Mid-Range’ and ‘Hand Made’ instruments. The unique feature of the Pearl Company is that they utilise a ‘ pinless ’ mechanism in all models, including student flutes.Features:
- Selection of embouchure designs in all ranges.
Pearl ‘Dolce’ (685) Model Flute
This has a solid head joint and silverplated nickel silver body and key work.
Options
|
|
Pearl ‘Elegante’ Model Flute
These models have a solid tube with silverplated nickel silver key work. The 781 series have ‘C’ style key arms, the 785 series have pointed ‘French’ key arms.
Options
|
|
Pearl ‘Cantabile’ (881) Model Flute
These are solid throughout with ‘C’ style key arms. The tube thickness is 0.40mm
Options
|
|
Sankyo
Kikuo Hisakura established the Sankyo Flute Manufacturing Company in Sayama-city in August 1968. The aim was to produce ‘Flutes of Ideal Sound’ by offering high-class instruments that are built from high quality materials to an exacting quality standard.Much work has been done on head joint design and Sankyo produce a range of lip plate styles, including both the ‘Raised Shoulder’ series and ‘High Wave’ (i.e. reform lip plate or winged lip plate).
Sankyo have also introduced the ‘NEL’ as a standard option on all models. This is, in fact, an adaption of the ‘E Ring’ principle but incorporated in the tone hole design i.e. by making the tone hole of the lower G smaller the venting for third octave E is improved, giving an alternative to the traditional E mechanism. Sankyo offer several versions of this with both ‘normal sized’ G key and ‘small’ G key.
Sankyo flutes are particularly favoured in France where
the internationally renowned player and teacher Alain Marion is their chief
advocate.
Features
- Wide selection of head joint options in each range.
- ‘NEL’ or ‘New E’ (see above)
Sankyo Etude Flute
This is the most popular of the Sankyo range, built with the more advanced student in mind. The Etude has a solid head joint with silverplated nickel silver body and mechanism.
Options
|
|
|
Sankyo Silversonic Flute
This model has a solid tube and head joint (0.38mm tubing), with silverplated nickel silver mechanism.
Options
|
|
|
Sankyo Artist Flute
This is an ‘all-solid’ version of the Silversonic with solid tube and head joint (0.38mm tubing as standard) and solid key mechanism.
Options
|
|
Yamaha
The Yamaha Company has been in business since 1887 and, without doubt, their student flutes are the best selling in the world. Yamaha have invested in the best technology and materials and, coupled with an excellent quality control, produce consistently reliable and popular flutes.The following range is made by Yamaha in their factory for hand made instruments, in a separate building to the student instruments. They all have the same precision of mechanism and quality of head joint cut as the hand made models.
Features
- Range of embouchure styles.
- Pointed ‘French’ key arms on all models.
Yamaha YFL ‘3’ Series Flutes
These instruments have solid head joint with silverplated nickel silver body and key work.
Yamaha Flute YFL313
Closed
holes with E mechanism
Yamaha Flute YFL383
Open
holes with in line G keys
Yamaha Flute YFL373
Open holes with offset G keys and E mechanism
Options
|
 |
Top Wind Europe's Favourite Flute Shop |
| 2 Lower Marsh, London, SE1 7RJ. Tel: 020 7401 8787 |