My Current Flute: Altus 1107

Hi everyone,

I thought I would show you my current flute and run through the specs fully with you.

Image: Courtesy of Lauren Foley

Specifications

• Hand-finished flute
• Hand-cut 958 'Britannia' head joint
• 958 'Britannia' body
• Silver plated mechanism
• Available with closed or open holes
• Offset G or Inline G key
• Open G sharp system available by special order 
• Split E Mechanism on offset models
• Available with C foot joint or B foot joint
• French-style Pointed Key Arms
• William Bennett "WIBB" Scale
• Includes leatherette-covered wood case and cleaning accessories
• Open hole models also include a set of rubber plugs

The Altus 1107 is my current flute, and is also my favourite flute out of every one that I've ever brought. I've also given her the name Ayanna.

The Altus 1107 flute is a massive improvement compared to the Miyazawa 202 flute that I had owned previously. I decided to go with an open holed model rather than closed hole, and it took me around about a week to transition between a closed hole model and an open holed model, and I don't think I'll be going back to closed hole anytime soon.

Altus flutes also has a choice of three different head joints, and they are the C Cut, V Cut and Z Cut, and when my arrived it came with a Z Cut head joint. The Z Cut is more of a square cut head joint, and it gives me the depth, and a more darker tone which I have been looking for since I switched from violin to the flute back into 2013. I adore the darker tone that this flute produces, especially in the lower register. Also, the Altus 1107 is has a 958 Britannia silver head joint and body which also helps to produce a dark, rich tone.

Out of all the flutes that I have had this is the one that I've enjoyed learning and playing on the most. The staccato comes out really easily, but I need to remember to use a light tongue to produce the staccato, other wise it will come out a little on the harsh side. The dynamics can also be adjusted quite easily, but I still need a little more practice to improve on my dynamics but I can easily get this flute to play quietly or loud, it's just the mid dynamic range that needs work.

  The William Bennett scale and mechanism is a delight to play, as it feels really smooth under the fingers, and I can also seal the open holes really easily.

When I first started learning how to play the flute within the space of a month I started looking at intermediate flutes, and also trying a few intermediate flutes to find a brand that really suited me. I came across the Altus brand whilst I was in Forsyth's in Manchester, and I asked to try the 907 flute, which is the baby sister to the 1107; and I just fell in love. I also explored Miyazawa a little more and tried both the 402 and the 602, and I even tried a Yamaha intermediate flute at Dawson's Music Store that was also in Manchester. I fell in love with the Altus 907, but I then tried the 1107 and I also compared both models, and I actually found that the 907 was on the brighter side and the 1107 was exactly what I was looking for in a flute. The Miyazawa 602 was a close second, but I honestly don't think that I would have enjoyed playing on it as much as I do with my 1107.