HANDMADE FLUTES

HANDMADE FLUTES

The Kanji symbol for flute.

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FLUTES OF ELEGANT
QUALITY & CRAFTSMANSHIP
The founder of Altus flutes Mr. Shuichi Tanaka, known as “Speedy” to his friends, is a man of
many talents. He is an artist, musician, engineer, businessman, and most notably a master
flute maker.

As a teenager, Mr. Tanaka studied flute with renowned Japanese teacher and performer Toshio
Takahashi. During this time he not only developed into a gifted flutist, but also a sensitive
student of flute making with keen insight into the needs of flutists.

In 1977, Mr. Tanaka met British flutist William Bennett. The two men had much in common
including their respect and admiration for the vintage flutes of Louis Lot. With Bennett’s
influence and the inspiration of the finest vintage flutes, Mr. Tanaka designed an innovative
modern flute rich in expressive tone colors, with ample capacity for resonance, accurate
intonation, and mechanical strength. This was the first Altus flute, built in 1981.

Over the next decade, global respect and interest for Mr. Tanaka’s innovative Altus flute
increased. In 1990, he designed a beautiful building (pictured left) on a peaceful site in
Azumino, at the base of the Japanese Alps to inspire his artistic creations. This breathtaking
facility is where Altus flutes are still handcrafted today.

The Altus flute is founded on friendships, collaborations, intense research, and a passionate
devotion to music as an essential part of life.
Altus flute maker Shuichi Tanaka and renowned British flutist William Bennett shared an admiration for
Albert Cooper’s vision of updating and modernizing the traditional flute scale. Bennett combined his
vast performance experience and quest for precise intonation with Mr. Tanaka’s flute making vision to
create the Altus-Bennett scale.

An instrument’s scale is determined by the size and placement of each of the tone holes and their
relationship to each other. This crucial design aspect allows flutists to play with accurate intonation and
effortless tone.

The collaboration of Tanaka and Bennett set a new standard for flute design. The Altus-Bennett scale
was carefully designed to provide effortless intonation, impeccably tuned harmonics, and exceptionally
balanced registers. This monumental achievement is one of the hallmarks of the great Altus flute
making tradition.
 WILLIAM BENNETT
ALTUS SINCE THE BEGINNING

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 Tubing & Metallurgy
Altus leads the way in providing an unprecedented array of tubing and material choices for the needs of discerning
flutists. By combining old world craftsmanship with modern alloys and tubing construction, an incredible range
of flutes can be tailored to the specific needs of any flutist. Altus provides the most unique variety of flute tubing
and materials in the world today.

Tubing
Seamed Tubing – Made from a flat piece of metal that is rolled, hand planished and then seamed, the Altus
seamed tube is truly the only handmade flute tube available in modern production.

Sintered Tubing – A process unique to Altus where powdered silver metal is compacted at a high temperature
to fuse particles together directly into a rigid tube.

Extruded Tubing – Metal is drawn over a mandrel through a precise die to form a tube. This construction is the
modern standard in the flute industry.

Alloys
14K Gold – This karat is the most widely preferred gold alloy with sufficient density allowing a standard thin gold
tube. 14K gold’s tone color is dark and warm and its response is both flexible and pure.

Altus 946 Silver™ – Our proprietary Altus Limited (AL) alloy combines silver with the world’s finest precious
metals. It is a perfectly engineered blend consisting of 94.6% silver and 18 precious metals, including small
amounts of platinum and gold. Inspired by the preferred metallurgy of the great French flute making tradition,
Altus silver was designed specifically for seamed tube creation. Only Altus silver provides the correct silver blend
for extensive hand forming and represents the highest art in flute making available today. This results in a flute
capable of producing a wide array of complex tonal colors.

Pure 997 Silver – Our exclusive powdered Pure Silver (PS) tube is made possible only through highly innovative
sinter technology. Normally, pure silver is too soft for successful flute tube production because it requires trace
amounts of harder metals in the alloy to give it sufficient strength. The traditional method of creating a melted
metal alloy results in pure silver tubes unsuitable for flute making. Sinter technology creates hard tubes of pure
silver by compacting the silver under great pressure without melting it into a soft alloy. This unique process
produces a dense and brilliant hard silver tube with supreme projecting qualities.

Britannia 958 Silver – A traditionally created silver alloy composed of 95.8% silver. The remaining common metals
balance a dark, rich tonal color without sacrificing brilliance.

Sterling 925 Silver – Comprised of 92.5% silver, Sterling has long been the industry standard for making high
quality flutes.
DENIS BOURIAKOV
ALTUS SINCE 2000
 Our Handmade Flutes

The Altus flute is a genuine handmade instrument and is the product of brilliant engineering, modern
metallurgy, and seasoned craftsmanship. All Altus Handmade flute models are distinguished by a variety of
tube materials and manufacturing techniques. Years of research and development have allowed Altus to pair
the highest quality materials with a range of flute making techniques culminating in the prized collection of
the world’s finest flutes available today.

Standard features include the Altus-Bennett scale, exclusive SP-1 springs, drawn or soldered tone holes,
French-pointed keys, and gizmo key. Numerous keywork options are available including an open G #
mechanism by special order. Each model comes in a rich leather covered wood frame French case with
leather wrap-around cover.
CHRISTOPHER LEE
ALTUS SINCE 2012
 Mastery
14K Gold flutes are highly prized and inspiring. This level of precision and
craftsmanship allows the finest players to push the boundaries of expression.

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14K GOLD
All Altus 14K Gold flutes feature extruded tubing and
include a wide range of keywork and headjoint options.

The 5707 Altus includes soldered tone holes and a solid Gold mechanism.
The 5407 Altus includes soldered tone holes and a Sterling Silver mechanism.

The 5607 Altus includes drawn tone holes and a solid Gold mechanism.
The 5207 Altus includes drawn tone holes and a Sterling Silver mechanism.
LORNA MCGHEE
ALTUS SINCE 2012
 Emotion
There is no other flute as expressive. The player feels the vibrance of the
instrument as the audience becomes captivated by its tonal beauty.

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SEAMED TUBES
Altus seamed tubes are thin, lightweight and handmade in a choice of two types of silver.
Soldered tone holes and D# rollers are standard. Sterling Silver mechanisms are mounted on
Pure 997 Silver hinge tubes. A variety of keywork and headjoint options are available.

The 1807 Altus Limited (AL) is made with our special alloy of Altus 946 Silver.™

The 1607 Altus is made with our standard Britannia 958 Silver.
GEORGE POPE
ALTUS SINCE 2009
 Virtuosity
The PS is capable of a powerful tapestry of sound. Its unique sintered tube
provides the strength and power to produce amazing projection and intensity.

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SINTERED 997 PS
Our unique 1707 PS model is available only with the Altus standard tubing
thickness. Soldered tone holes and D# rollers are standard. Its Sterling
Silver mechanism is mounted on Pure 997 Silver hinge tubes.

The 1707 Altus PS is available with a variety of keywork and headjoint options.
VIVIANA GUZMAN
ALTUS SINCE 2009
 Spirit
Personality exudes from the Britannia Series! Advanced players and teachers appreciate
its immediate reaction to player demands due to its customizable character, and its ability
to demonstrate a vast palette of tone colors and technique with clarity and precision.

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BRITANNIA 958 SILVER

All Altus Britannia Silver flutes are available in standard, medium
heavy or heavy wall tubing. They feature extruded tubing and
Sterling Silver mechanisms mounted on Pure 997 Silver hinge tubes.

The 1507 Altus includes soldered tone holes and is available with a variety of keywork and headjoint options.

The 1307 Altus includes drawn tone holes and is available with a variety of keywork and headjoint options.
NINA ASSIMAKOPOULOS
ALTUS SINCE 2012
 Tradition
The classic pairing of flutist and the original precious metal has long been held as the soul
of fluting. Connect with the flute’s great history and extend your personality into the future.

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STERLING 925 SILVER

All Altus Sterling Silver flutes are available in standard, medium heavy or heavy wall
tubing and feature extruded tubing and Sterling Silver mechanisms mounted on
Pure 997 Silver hinge tubes. A wide range of keywork and headjoint options are available.

The 1407 Altus includes soldered tone holes and is available with a variety of keywork and headjoint options.

The 1207 Altus includes drawn tone holes and is available with a variety of keywork and headjoint options.
ABI COFFER
ALTUS SINCE 2013
 Energy
In Japanese, Atsui means hot or deep, powerful and strong. By adding
a layer of precious metal, many unique possibilities can be created to
deliver unprecedented power infusing intensity into any score.

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ATSUI
The Atsui finish can be added to any Altus Handmade flute as an option.
The existing tube is clad with a thick layer of precious metal.

18K Gold lends warmth and richness to the tone while the silver gives the flute brilliance and life.

Platinum gives the flute a darker color pallete with exceptional response
while the silver maintains the right balance of sparkle in the sound.
KARL “FRITZ” KRABER
ALTUS SINCE 2011
 Artist Series Flutes

Through the careful selection of materials and the Altus dedication to handmade craftsmanship, the
Artist Series achieves an unparalleled balance between performance quality and affordability.

Artist Series flutes feature handmade silver-plated mechanisms well-known for their hardness, strength
and durability without sacrificing exceptional fluidity and feel. The extruded body tubes maintain a
standard thickness and include drawn tones holes and the Altus-Bennett scale.

Other standard features include stainless steel springs, French-pointed keys, and a gizmo key. Each flute
can be configured with either an offset or inline G. Added keywork options include a split E mechanism
and C # trill. Each flute comes in a French style leatherette covered wood case with a zippered, fleece lined
cover and a shoulder strap.
EMILY BEYNON
ALTUS SINCE 2001

Photo by Eric Richmond

 Dedication
For serious performers refining their talent to rise above the rest, the 1107
has a lush sound with a noticeable balance of brilliance and warmth.

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The 1107 Altus pairs a Britannia 958 Silver Body with a silver-plated
mechanism, and offers a full range of headjoint options.
LISA SCHROEDER
ALTUS SINCE 2009
 Motivation
Mechanical precision and expressive tonal capabilities
make the 907 the perfect choice for the passionate flutist.

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The 907 Altus pairs a Britannia 958 Silver headjoint with a silver-plated
body and mechanism, and offers a full range of headjoint options.
KEITH PETTWAY
ALTUS SINCE 2014
 Balance
Renowned for its open and ringing quality, the handmade 807
is free-blowing and inviting to play, making it the ideal match
for many lifelong flutists including students and teachers.

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The 807 Altus pairs a Sterling 925 Silver lip plate and riser with a silver-plated
headjoint, body and mechanism. The headjoint features our versatile classic cut.
JAMIE BAUM
ALTUS SINCE 1993
 Harmony Flutes

Altus Harmony flutes offer many qualities not generally found in other flutes. Specifically designed for either
the soloist or ensemble player, the Altus harmony collection provides the most ergonomic finger position
and accurate intonation for ease of expression and rich tonal color.

Features include hand cut embouchure holes, hand soldered C # tone holes, drawn tone holes, mother
of pearl buttons on key extensions, French pointed arms and stainless steel springs. Trill keys and split E
mechanisms are included on all Altus Harmony flutes.
ERIC LAMB
ALTUS SINCE 2010
 Intrigue
The flute d’Amore combines the playing ease of a C flute with the haunting open sound of
the alto flute for those wishing to incorporate a unique sultry sound into their repertoire.
It has a larger bore than the standard C flute and is pitched in either Bb or A.

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The 1009 Altus d’Amore body is a seamed Britannia 958 Silver with soldered tones holes and is paired with a
silver-plated mechanism. Standard options include a B or C foot, and a special order open hole version is available.
DEANNA LITTLE
ALTUS SINCE 2012
 Mystery
The alto flute has a fascinating open and warm sound that is perfect
for flute ensembles and solo work. It produces a luxurious, focused
sound while maintaining clarity throughout all registers.

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ALTO FLUTES
Altos are constructed of extruded tubing with drawn tone holes and are available
in either Sterling 925 Silver or silver-plated nickel-silver. Headjoint choices include
the 19 Series curved model, the 21 Series curved and straight model, or the 25 Series
straight model with ergonomic keywork. Silver-plated mechanisms are standard.

The 1000 Series models feature an all Sterling Silver tube.

The 900 Series models feature Sterling Silver headjoints and silver-plated bodies.
The 800 Series models feature a sterling lip plate and riser only on an all silver-plated tube.
PAIGE LONG
ALTUS SINCE 2010
 Profound
The Altus bass flute is luscious and soothing as a solo instrument or in a flute
ensemble. The exceptional intonation, ergonomic design, and precise mechanism
make this bass flute shine as the clear choice for any professional player.

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BASS FLUTES
Our professional model 823se Bass Flute possesses the same
exceptional intonation that all Altus flutes share. The silver-plated
tubing is fitted with our extremely durable silver-plated mechanism.

The 823se Altus Bass Flute headjoint features a Sterling 925 Silver lip plate and riser.
 Headjoints

Each Altus flute comes complete with a professional, handcrafted headjoint.

Silver headjoints are offered with three different cuts and include precious metal
options for lip plates and risers made from gold or platinum. Headjoints can be
purchased separately with a variety of tubing, material and cuts.

CLASSIC CUT
Renowned for producing the trademark Altus sound, this headjoint provides
vibrant warmth with excellent projection. Its pure tonal center allows the artist
great flexibility within an infinite color palette.

Z-CUT™
With a more rectangular embouchure hole with minimal over and undercutting,
this headjoint produces a quick response without sacrificing flexibility or
control. The sound is open and free with a darker tonal color.

V-CUT
Altus has created one of its most powerful headjoints
capable of producing an exceptional tonal depth without
sacrificing flexibility. Featuring a high front wall and
steep angled lip plate, this headjoint performs at
the cutting edge of modern headjoint design.
 Altus Artists

ROBERT AITKEN ERIC LAMB

INTERNATIONAL SOLOIST AND RECORDING ARTIST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE

NINA ASSIMAKOPOULOS CHRISTOPHER LEE

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY TORONTO PHILHARMONIA

JAMIE BAUM DEANNA LITTLE

MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

SHAUL BEN-MEIR PAIGE LONG

DETROIT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (RETIRED) NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

WILLIAM BENNETT PHYLISS LOUKE

ROYAL ACADEMY OF MUSIC ROSE CITY FLUTE CHOIR

EMILY BEYNON LORNA MCGHEE

ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW ORCHESTRA PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY

DENIS BOURIAKOV SUSAN MCQUINN

NEW YORK METROPOLITAN OPERA STETSON UNIVERSITY

ANDREA BRACHFELD KEITH PETTWAY

CONTEMPORARY ARTIST DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEEN CARROLL GEORGE POPE

LOS ANGELES RECORDING ARTIST UNIVERSITY OF AKRON

ABI COFFER NICOLE RINER

FREELANCE ARTIST UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

MICHAEL COX JOHN RUSH

BBC SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

TERI FORSCHER LISA SCHROEDER

PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE NOTEWORTHY DUO

VINNY GOLIN BOB SHEPPARD

JAZZ RECORDING ARTIST INTERNATIONAL SOLOIST AND RECORDING ARTIST

VIVIANA GUZMAN GENI SKENDO

FREELANCE ARTIST FREELANCE ARTIST

ELIZABETH HOLLER-RANSOM ELDRED SPELL

CAROLINA CHAMBER SYMPHONY WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

GEORGE HOYOS MARY STOLPER

ORCHESTRE SYMPHONIQUE ET LYRIQUE DE NANCY GRANT PARK SYMPHONY

REBECCA KLEINMAN GARY STROUTSON

FREELANCE ARTIST INTERNATIONAL RECORDING ARTIST

KARL “FRITZ” KRABER JOEL TSE

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS (RETIRED) TOLEDO SYMPHONY

YU KURATA TREVOR WYE

NIPPON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INTERNATIONAL RECORDING ARTIST, SOLOIST, TEACHER
HANDMADE FLUTES

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