So I'm play-testing altos right now and have in my possession a Jupiter w/ curved & straight heads and a Dean Yang with only a curved head. I've heard great things about the Jupiter and really like it's response, but I'm thinking that the Dean Yang, while a bit more expensive, has a smoother mechanism and the balance with the curved head is a bit better. I'm wondering if all you tech types out there have any experience with the Dean Yangs. How do they hold up, repair-wise in comparison to the Jupiters? Thanks!

i know that the dean yang is a nicer flute. im not sure how the altos are but their c flutes are very nice.

I almost wish I had a straight head with the Dean Yang because I suspect the overall reach would be easier to manage than the straight head on the Jupiter (yup, I'm a shortie).

little piper, which is the..... um...... "main place thingy" for dean yang flutes (im drawing a blank here. today has been a long day) can and will send you other dean yang alto flutes with straight heads.



AH THE MAIN DEAN YANG DEALER! THERE WE GO!! haha



anyway, talk to them, ask for information on it, and they will send you a flute on trial. i bought my muramatsu through them. theyre actually the same company as muramatsu america but whatever.

http://www.littlepiper.com

hope this helps!

Thanks for your advice! I keep going back and forth... I want this one, no, I want this one, wait, um.... I still haven't decided It's probably a good thing I don't have any more brands here to try!

In case anybody is at all interested, here's an update. I kept the Jupiter and returned the Dean Yang. Like I said before, the Dean Yang had a much faster & smoother key action and a lighter touch, but overall, the fit and feel of the Jupiter was better, for me, at least. I liked the Jupiter's key placement more than the Dean Yang, especially the right hand. I also liked the response of Jupiter's headjoint more than the Dean Yang. I could push the Jupiter harder without cracking. When I'd try to push the Dean Yang, either it would crack or I'd get no sound at all. Not sure what that was about, because I've never experienced that on my C flute. I also felt that the Jupiter had a sweeter, more full-sounding upper range. The Dean Yang just sounded thin and hollow. So there you have it! Of course, your mileage may vary

Now I just need to invest in some alto flute repertoire. Any suggestions?!

Fluteworld has an entire section of alto repertoire. Lots of C flute music, or other instruments (I'[ve used Clarinet before, but you do occasionally have to transpose up an octave) will sound nice too if you're playing unaccompanied. Congrats on the new purchase! I have what I believe is the same model as yours (It's loaned out at the moment, so I can't be sure), and it does a great job for me....I'd love a Yamaha gold brass model, but can't justify the huge cost for something I play relatively rarely. Anyway, enjoy your new purchase, and let us know how it's coming on!

Thanks for the sugggestions. I'll take a look!

glad you went with the Jupiter, I have one of the new bass flutes here, they keep improving both the bass and altos each year.