I went to a music shop today in a bigger city and they had an Azumi flute out on display. I'd never heard of them before - does anyone have one? Anyone know how they compare with others?
Also, this might be a dumb question but they have Altus Z-cut headjoints...any experience with one of those? Liked or disliked it?
www.azumiflutes.com
ETA: I checked out their website and it looks like they're affiliated with or made by Altus flutes. Anyone have experience/opinions with those?
Azumi flutes
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Azumi flutes
Last edited by Rayne on Sat Aug 05, 2006 11:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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flutepicc06
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They are similar to the Sonare and Amadeus flutes (and now the Brio) that are out there. They are Altus' version of a flute whose main selling point is a good head, and a cheaper Chinese body. So far, they seem to be very well made, and I have read several positive reviews of them, but so far I haven't managed to get my head on them. I've posted one such review (from a trusted repair tech and friend on another forum) below:
"OK, here's the report.
The Azumi tone holes are somewhere in between Altus and Jupiter..
Jupiter tone holes are filed but not flat at all. There are no course file marks on the Azumi or the Jupiter anymore. The finish could be a little better but it's passable. The azumi is not as heavily flattened so the tone hole isn't completely level (and the rims not too wide.) There's room to work to get them flatter and thinned if necessary. They can be worked on.
The Altus are really wide rimmed, (like Miyazawa's) The finish is beautiful but very wide and they are FLAT. But the rim is way too wide. They can be thinned to a degree.
The soldered tone hole models on the Altus are much better..(if you want to spend $8k more)
Keywork on the Azumi is nice and tight and not flimsy. The quality of the casting is comensurate with the price. (i.e. from looking at the underside of the G# lever.) Ribbing is very stout.
The Z-cut headjoint is very square with modest undercutting and overcutting. Taper appears to be very traditional. (in other words the taper is not extreme to accomplish the same thing and introducing other problems for students later..) Loud, freeblowing, and responsive, just what everyone wants these days. Blow anywhere near the head and it sounds great...
If you are an old school player who like smaller holes and lots of tone color, you might not like the cut. But it is what's popular out there today and will give a student immediate gratification tonally..
Scale is the Altus Bennett scale. No problem there at all..
2 models available. Silver head, plated body, and all silver tube. Silver meaning britannia silver .958. Altus claims the silver content for it sounding darker, but I don't find them to be all that dark with that headjoint. Nice feedback to the player with some depth, but tonally it has more sparkle than darkness. Overall I do like the sound compared to other things in the price range.
Pricing MSRP
Model 2000 $1250
Model 3000 $2000
Internet pricing is $1000 and $1500 respectively. Offset or inline G available
Joe's marks: 2 thumbs up! "
"OK, here's the report.
The Azumi tone holes are somewhere in between Altus and Jupiter..
Jupiter tone holes are filed but not flat at all. There are no course file marks on the Azumi or the Jupiter anymore. The finish could be a little better but it's passable. The azumi is not as heavily flattened so the tone hole isn't completely level (and the rims not too wide.) There's room to work to get them flatter and thinned if necessary. They can be worked on.
The Altus are really wide rimmed, (like Miyazawa's) The finish is beautiful but very wide and they are FLAT. But the rim is way too wide. They can be thinned to a degree.
The soldered tone hole models on the Altus are much better..(if you want to spend $8k more)
Keywork on the Azumi is nice and tight and not flimsy. The quality of the casting is comensurate with the price. (i.e. from looking at the underside of the G# lever.) Ribbing is very stout.
The Z-cut headjoint is very square with modest undercutting and overcutting. Taper appears to be very traditional. (in other words the taper is not extreme to accomplish the same thing and introducing other problems for students later..) Loud, freeblowing, and responsive, just what everyone wants these days. Blow anywhere near the head and it sounds great...
If you are an old school player who like smaller holes and lots of tone color, you might not like the cut. But it is what's popular out there today and will give a student immediate gratification tonally..
Scale is the Altus Bennett scale. No problem there at all..
2 models available. Silver head, plated body, and all silver tube. Silver meaning britannia silver .958. Altus claims the silver content for it sounding darker, but I don't find them to be all that dark with that headjoint. Nice feedback to the player with some depth, but tonally it has more sparkle than darkness. Overall I do like the sound compared to other things in the price range.
Pricing MSRP
Model 2000 $1250
Model 3000 $2000
Internet pricing is $1000 and $1500 respectively. Offset or inline G available
Joe's marks: 2 thumbs up! "
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flutepicc06
- Posts: 1353
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 11:34 pm
Re: Azumi flutes
Altus makes some extremely fine flutes. I'm particularly partial to their harmony flutes (especially their flute d'amour in Bb), but their concert flutes also are extremely well made.Rayne wrote: ETA: I checked out their website and it looks like they're affiliated with or made by Altus flutes. Anyone have experience/opinions with those?
Once again, very helpful. 
Thanks!
Yep, I thought it felt pretty good but the sales guy said it was a fairly new brand so I thought I'd check up on them.
I'll be buying in about a month...still deciding which one to get. I've decided to up my budget a little bit and get one that I really want, so these are definite contenders right now. The 2000 model was the one at the store w/ a $1,000 price tag.
Nobody had any Yamaha or Pearls today and we checked out 3 music stores. I'll have to keep looking around.
Thanks! Yep, I thought it felt pretty good but the sales guy said it was a fairly new brand so I thought I'd check up on them.
I'll be buying in about a month...still deciding which one to get.
I've decided to up my budget a little bit and get one that I really want, so these are definite contenders right now. The 2000 model was the one at the store w/ a $1,000 price tag.Nobody had any Yamaha or Pearls today and we checked out 3 music stores. I'll have to keep looking around.
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flutepicc06
- Posts: 1353
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 11:34 pm
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tothepointe
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- Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2006 12:49 pm
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flutepicc06
- Posts: 1353
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 11:34 pm
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tothepointe
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sun Aug 06, 2006 12:49 pm