I was looking on Flute World and saw a used Dean flute and was about to try it out but my parents wouldn't let me until they got some info on that company so if anyone knows anything about them (quality, tone, craftsmanship) could you please post it.

EF Dean Flutes. Nice instruments that needed a LOT of setup. When they were working nicely they are quite nice flutes. Custom Music in MI used to distribute them. I used to sell them some years back. Probably can't get parts for them if you ever need them, but a nice instrument.

Here's the link:

http://www.custommusiccorp.com/flute/dean.html

Joe B

I picked up a new "old stock" student model a while back. The body is quite nice but the headjoint was absolute garbage. The solder job on the riser/lip plate was so poorly done that you could actually see light through it. I tossed the headjoint and replaced it with a Pearl and that did the trick nicely. My nephew doubles on it now (his primary is clarinet). Your mileage may vary ;-)

from what ive heard, they were the pre-dean yang flute we know of today. the guy, dean yang, started a flute making company and named it E.F. Dean. e for ervin monroe (helped design it) and f for fred something from custom music who distributed them. in the 90s or so, ervin monroe took over the company and started distributing through his company, little piper and renamed the flute "dean yang" after the original flute maker dude.

This information came striaght from little piper, so im hoping that its accurate. it also seems fairly accurate because the mechanism and styling is very similar in both the ef dean and the dean yang.

That would be Fred Marrich

If I remember correctly the instrument's basic design concept is one of John Barcellona's. Custom Music (Fred) used him a lot for stuff like this.

Joe B

ive also heard that robert johnson also helped ervin monroe design these instruments in the 80s. of course, im not quite sure how accurate that is as it was just a passing comment during a lengthy conversation.

Another comment regurgitating heresay, but my understand of Dean flutes were that they were based on (or could be called copies) of Maramastu's designs.

IMHO, there are many better flutes now at the Dean's price points...

Jason Blank, Haynes Artist
jblank@wmshaynes.com

ah, the old wives tale of it having to do with the muramatsu flute... never gets old.

the e.f. dean/dean yang flute is not affiliated with muramatsu, whatsoever. its now dean yang and is exclusive to little piper, which is (in a way) the same company as muramatsu america (same owners, same building, etc.). they are assembled in china, handcut headjoint in america through little piper. distributed through little piper.

hope i helped!