Hi there! Are there any alto flutists (or flautists) out there? I've been considering purchasing an alto flute (most likely used) in the near future. I have never even picked up an alto flute, but have fallen in love with the sound of one played well. I've played flute for 30 years so I don't think I'll have too much trouble making the transition. But a few questions for those of you who do play alto ... what might be the downside to an alto flute that I haven't encountered with a C flute? What are some of the better brands of alto flutes? Any I should stay away from? And being only 5'2", do you think a straight head joint will work for me. I'd rather stay away from a curved one if possible. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.
I play a Gemeinhart (not a big fan of it, but it was a good price). I have played the Sonare one and a Trevor James and liked both of them.
I have a straight head, but hear a lot of people recommending the curved because of hand positioning and reducing hand problems (pain). Some you can buy with both heads. That could be a good option if you have the money for it.
Thanks for the input. I suppose there are not alot of alto flute players out there. I would rather stay with a straight headjoint as I've heard the sound is slightly affected with a curved head. I also think I will go for a silver headjoint, again for a (hopefully) better sound. I'm going to start trialing some next week. That Sonare looks tempting, but as with everything else, price will be a factor!
As it has been stated many, many times on this forum, the material matters very little. The cut of the head matters the most. A solid head would probably weigh more than a plated head, and weight does matter when it comes to big flutes.
My university has a solid silver Gemeinhardt alto flute. It is a piece of crap, tbh. My plated Pearl alto plays so much better.
