It would be interesting to find out if Asia is putting out better quality than Elkhart.

The Brios are way overpriced for the money. There are far less expensive flutes that play much better.

The head is designed by Sheridan, not made by....(a big difference)

The Asian quality is much better than Elkhart. Elkhart is in the process of moving much of their production for this kind of stuff over there already. Gemeinhardt already has. Manufacturing costs here in America simply won't be supported with what the market wants to spend.

Conn-Selmer (Armstrong Emerson, etc.) is working on it, but they are a little slower..

The Brio outer carrying case is very, very nice though...

Joe B

Joe,
While you are here and giving us your experiences with the newer flutes out from other countries, can I ask you if you have tried or heard anything about the Amadeus line by Haynes? Thanks

I haven't seen one personally Kara. But a few techs that I know who have seen them aren't overly impressed. But it's a first attempt, they are bound to get better.

Since Haynes was taken over by Eastman String, who has previous outsourcing connections in China, it's only a matter of time before they too will have worked the bugs out of things.

That's the reason I love the Azumi. Jupiter is already established making flutes of good quality at a reasonable price. Since Altus and Jupiter are close and they needed to come up with something better than Sonare, you've got Azumi. Altus is putting a huge marketing campaign into the new Z cut Azumi head, which will be an option for the entire Altus line of flutes.

An all brittania silver .958 tube with an Altus Z-cut headjoint on an essentially Jupiter Altus-Bennett scaled flute for a MAP price of $1500 is really quite an accomplishment.

Headjoints aside.. The Azumi body makes the Sonare body look like a kids toy..

I looked at Sonare when they first came out and passed on them because the mechanism was just too flimsy for me. It was more comprable to the mainland China stuff where the Azumi is definately Taiwan type manufacturing..(i.e. much better)

It's not a pro flute by any stretch of the imagination. But it is a fantastic flute for a first open hole instrument for a developing student.

Gemeinhardt is using Angel Manufacturing (a lead they took from the guy who developed stepenhauser saxes). The factory is decent, better than Elkhardt and the Brio is an improvement on what they were putting out. The price and quality are still not near what the likes of jupiter has been doing over the past 5 years..Give Gemstone time though, they'll get there too..

Joe B

Thanks Joe! Well I have a 900 series Amadeus coming in, so I will see what it is like myself, but I just wanted to get your take on it first.

Joe,
How would you rate the Azumi line to the Di Medici line?

thats right Joe