I was wondering if anyone has experience playing alto (boehm) flutes and can rate the following:
Pearl
Jupiter
Armstrong
These seem like the three that are affordable (to me) and I’m wondering which of these is the best in your opinion and why.
Thanks.
I went to a flute fair yesterday and played examples of all three of those. In my experience, with these (and most) brands, it is possible to find really terrific examples and really clunky ones. It is my strong suggestion that you try before you buy, because with mail order, you never know what you’re going to get.
As Jessie said, it’s always good to try before you buy. Most mail-order organizations will let you buy on approval with a short trial period.
I’ve played the Jupiter-diMedici and the Armstrong. Of those, I highly recommend the Jupiter-diMedici. For the money, I don’t think you can do any better. In fact, I liked it so much I bought one!
It has a very comfortable mechanism, a great tone, and about as in tune as one can expect from an alto-flute. I didn’t like the Armstrong alto-flute at all.
Dana
I’ve never tried a Jupiter alto ,but their stuff is always well made and good value for money.
A Yamaha alto is on my “things I would buy if I was in possession of more money than I know what to do with” list. It’s between helicopter and drum kit.
Armstrong alto: i’ve played 2. They’re playable and in tune, but clunky (as Armstrongs usually are). I hear many good things about the Jupiter.
At the flute fair, I tried a Jupiter alto and Jupiter bass at the same booth (Sam Ash). The alto was unfocused and not very good, and the bass was terrific (but not for sale, hmph). I am totally convinced that the quality of both was unique to those two instruments, not indicative of all Jupiter altos and basses. Just something to remember.
I have an Altus alto on trial right now and I am trying to decide if I want to play alto Boehm at all or just order a Low A Irish flute.
Who makes low A Irish style flutes?? I’d love to have a go at one. But they are probably beasts to play, yes?
Become Sarah Allen!
I would suppose they have keys?
They will be heavy. Wow.
Alto Boehm flutes have keys, yes, but one can order keyless Irish flutes in A from Casey Burns and Peter Noy (second one highly recommended, though I have never played a Low A of his yet), at least (maybe more makers will make them but do not advertise them). They are not heavy, especially if you get some wood other than blackwood. Quite nice and resonant, actually. I have decided not to get a Boehm alto, but to order a Low A flute from Peter.
I would choose the Jupiter. Best scale, best mechanism. You do have to be picky about head joints, though. See if your instrument dealer can supply you with a couple to try. Stay away from Armstrong and Pearl. Yamaha are nice. I have a Trevor James alto that I would recommend. I only paid $1400 or so for it (it’s plated) when it first came out but they are probably more now. Check with J.L. Smith. He’s a good dealer, carries lots of different makes. He is in North Carolina…Asheville, maybe?
Elizabeth
one consideration is bore size. a smaller bore will speak more easily and will be more “focused.” with a larger bore, the bigger the change in timbre that you can make.
I admire the brave heart.
Best wishes to you.
But tell me about the
finger spread for the low A
Hee hee. Actually, I have a Low A joint (top body section) for a Casey Burns Bb (but the rest of the flute is really configured for Bb, so the internal tuning on the A is less than perfect, as I was warned it would be) and the reach is totally manageable. It’s no Pratten, mind you. The holes are placed so that a human can reasonably play the instrument.
A while ago (a couple of years at least) i did some research on the FLUTE list and other places. This is what i was told:
(1) Wooden altos
(2) Cheaper good altos
(3) More expensive good altos
I decided then that i was going to get a Jupiter or Trevor James, but i got started on wooden flutes instead. I would still love to have an alto, but the desire mellowed a little after i got my Mark Hoza head for the concert flute; i just can’t imagine myself abandoning that flute for an alto now… But an alto is a beautiful thing. Bass is very nice too, but a lot more expensive. After you play alto or bass for a few days, then the normal flute just feels so light and easy to play, that it’s good to have one of the larger flutes even if just for practicing on it.
One of the many things that’s said about Boehm is that by the end of his career, the alto was his favourite flute. He especially enjoyed using it to accompany singers.
Alto is IMHO considerably heavier on the arms than a bass flute; this is because the bass is more ergonomical. There are curved headjoints for the alto, but they’re said to work well only on the first 2 octaves.
I’ve had a borrowed Armstrong for a few months, and played another Armstrong. What i don’t like about Armstrongs is the clunky “typewriter” mechanism, which has a tendency to get out of alignment. Other than that, i thought it was a fine flute.
That’s all i know, folks. Back to dreaming about my alto now…
g
Hmm. Yes, I, too, found the bass I tried easier to hold than the alto. It was a Jupiter bass and was terrificly resonant. The price was $1499 but they wouldn’t sell it. They were taking orders.
And yes, after playing the bass or the alto, the regular flute feels like a piccolo! 
A bass for $1.5? Are you sure it wasn’t $15K? 
Bass flute is absolutely wonderful for playing jazz. It’s not as hard to play as it seems.
Yes, the bass was $1499 - a great price! I should have ordered one on the spot. Flute World has them for $1995.
Hmm, this changes the whole landscape. I’m used to seeing basses for $5K-15K. Hmm this may be Christmas 2005 for me!
http://www.jupiterflutes.com/alto_bass.html
It will depend mostly if i get gigs to play Boehm flute as opposed to baroque/Irish flute.
Jupiter alto flutes are not in the same league as Jupiter DiMedici alto flutes in my opinion. The Jupiter DiMedici are markedly superior, but not much more expensive. Here’s a link to information on that alto: http://www.jupiterflutes.com/dimalto.html
BTW, I play an alto with a curved head, so it’s actually more comfortable for me than a bass, being lighter and all.
Dana