are azumis a=440 or 442?

ookwormbay7 · Post by **ookwormbay7** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 5:38 pm

hey, so I'm trying to decide between this amadeus and azumi I have here, but the azumi is being really sharp on top but flat on bottom. I'm trying to figure out if that's because the flute got damaged, or if it is 442, or any other reason. Would any of you guys know about this? They both have such good things about them, and I'm having trouble deciding...

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:16 pm

Most likely that's due to the scale it's built on and your playing. Whether or not it's built to A-440 or A-442 is not likely to make any difference (my primary flute is built to 442, and I have no problems playing in tune, and plenty of other players are in the same situation). You may want to check the position of the headjoint cork, and if necessary adjust it (this is best done by a tech if you don't know what you're doing, as damaging the head can make a big change to the way the flute plays). It may be that the scale doesn't work well for your playing, but these flutes are both built pretty well and are pretty easy to play in tune if you have a flexible embouchure, so I'm more inclined to believe that you just haven't figured out to make the necessary adjustments for those instruments yet. The flute being damaged is not going to affect pitch, but playability overall.

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 9:49 pm

What I have found with the Azumi (and the Sonare - just to throw that in) is that my students who tend to use a lot of air tend to have intonation issues on these flutes, beign sharp on top and generally not blending well with other players. Scientific, no. However, I am not the only flute teacher I know who has experienced this. It may be possible that you fall into this category.

Overall, if you are having issues with the Azumi and you have definately narrowed down between these flutes (and checked the headjoint cork as suggested), I strongly suggest you go with the Amadeus, assuming that you like the Amadeus and the ontonation issues are not there with this flute. You should also try more than one Azumi. I actually suggest to my students that once they have chosen a brand and model, to try as many as five of the same flute (and headjoint combinations within these if that is OK with the seller).

ookwormbay7 · Post by **ookwormbay7** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 10:06 pm

fluttiegurl wrote:What I have found with the Azumi (and the Sonare - just to throw that in) is that my students who tend to use a lot of air tend to have intonation issues on these flutes, beign sharp on top and generally not blending well with other players. Scientific, no. However, I am not the only flute teacher I know who has experienced this. It may be possible that you fall into this category.

Overall, if you are having issues with the Azumi and you have definately narrowed down between these flutes (and checked the headjoint cork as suggested), I strongly suggest you go with the Amadeus, assuming that you like the Amadeus and the ontonation issues are not there with this flute. You should also try more than one Azumi. I actually suggest to my students that once they have chosen a brand and model, to try as many as five of the same flute (and headjoint combinations within these if that is OK with the seller).

That would make sense I guess. Using my old flute, which required alot of air, has made my tendencies...er...what's a good word...well I was amazed by how easy it was when I first played a solid silver flute. I've been having trouble deciding...although the azumi has this pitch problem with me, it has such a nice, deep sound...I am really indecisive about this whole thing. That might have been cool to try more than one kind of the same flute...but fluteworld only lets you have 4 at once. We had to wait a month because the amadeus got lost in the mail...so I'm not so sure if I want to get another 4. But I'll think about it.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:50 am

ookwormbay7 wrote:I was amazed by how easy it was when I first played a solid silver flute.

Ease of play almost certainly had nothing to do with it being solid silver. Design and state of repair will determine how easy/difficult it is to play a particular flute, not what material it is made of. The solid silver flutes probably had a better design and/or were better better adjusted to whatever you're used to.

Absoflutely · Post by **Absoflutely** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 9:14 pm

I recently went thru the same selection process and also narrowed it down to an Azumi and an Amadeus. Ultimately, although the Amadeus was OK, the Azumi was an easy winner. I contacted the Azumi/Altus company thru their website to ask exactly your question and I was told that the Azumies are tuned to A=442. That being said, my teacher plays a 1971 Haynes and he and I easily play in tune together. If you're having trouble staying in tune in the upper and lower registers , you probably need to make an embouchure or air stream adjustment.

In any case, enjoy your new instrument. Mine gives me joy everyday.

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:06 am

What happened to just good old practice!

In the end, no matter what instrument you play you have to learn how to listenand blend in to the rest of the group. If this means retuning, or adjusting your embouchure. Both require practice. I have flutes tuned to many different scales. Big deal, in the end they all do the job. For that matter, I have cheap wooden flutes that have no adjustment, and I can still play them in tune!(PRACTICE)

Frankly, the Altus is a brand I will never buy. I flat out do not like their headjoints. They are good instruments, but I am not willing to put the time into it to get the sound I want. (There goes that word PRACTICE)

Amadeus has a great headjoint, but an average body in my opinion. If you want a Haynes, you just have to get the real deal!

There is a lot of science fiction when it comes to musical instruments. In the end, you just have to find an instrument you like, and do what you have to do to make it work.(PRACTICE)

Nothing beats Scifi better then demonstration and execution. (PRACTICE)

my .02 USD

Phineas