I have just started playing and would really appreciate "ie beg some help" in making sense of all the makers of flutes out there quite frankly I am baffled. I am interested in getting a flute but I do not like to buy in quantity only quality. If I am going to learn to play I would like to learn on a great instrument that I can grow with not squander my money on a poorly made flute I will out grow nor develop any bad habits because of a poorly made flute. So my questions are two, what are your top ten as far as flute makers out there and what do you think of High Spirits Flutes my friend has one of theirs and he swears by them.
I appreciate any and all feedback with a greatfull heart.



Namaste

Hi Clinton,

Welcome to the forum!

I can tell you right off that if you want a quality flute that you can grow with and won't waste your money, get a flute from Geoffrey Ellis. (Click on the Earth Tone Flutes logo on the top right of this page to go to his website). His flutes are top notch. I have two that he is finishing and just called and ordered another one yesterday! Geoffrey will answer any questions you have and help you make a good decision for you. He is more concerned about you getting a flute you can play than just making a profit.

Another good flutemaker is John Stillwell of Ancient Territories - http://www.atflutes.com/ John's flutes are very nice. They are a little different shape that takes a little getting used to, but he makes really good flutes.

I don't know anything personally about High Spirits Flutes.

There is a big section on the forum about favorite flutemakers but, be warned! It's a lot to wade through. But there are lots of opinions there as to good flutemakers. You will find that there are some makers that are consistently on just about everyone's top list. Here is the link: http://forums.fluteportal.com/index.php?showtopic=131

Again, welcome! Glad you've joined us!

Welcome to the portal, Clinton. I'm with you, I didn't want to spend money on flutes that weren't top quality, and so yours was one of the questions I asked when I first joined this group. Getting answers at first was like pulling teeth, but gradually I and a few others coaxed (well, whined a little ) out a wealth of valuable information from some really experienced people. I recently waded once again through the link Jan provided above and distilled it to the list below (in no particular order except that I own flutes by the first four--all great). I may have left a name or two off for one reason or another. Anyway, I've learned a lot since then about flute quality, sound and preferences--so I still recommend wading through the discussion thread on your own.

In a nutshell, four flutes in the same key from four different top-notch makers can have amazingly different sounds and feels--and all still sound great. They may fit different moods or uses (i.e., recording, meditating). I've also found I might prefer one key from a particular maker over another key from the same maker. Fingering is also an important consideration. Personally, for now I'll stay away from alternative fingerings (Scott Loomis, Ken Light, and some of Butch Hall's flutes), even though they're highly regarded. I just don't want to get confused until I become a better player. Even standard-tuned flutes can have variations of fingering, particularly in the second octave. My flutes by Petersen, Gomez, and Ellis all play with the same fingering, though I can get an extra note out of Gomez. The Hrebec flute, on the other hand, uses different fingering in the second octave. It's a great sounding flute, but I tend to shy away from the second octave for that reason (generally you can get only two or three notes in the second octave anyway--on the best of flutes).

You may also want to search out and read discussions on this portal about wood features, sound qualities, concert-tuning, and so-called "woodlands" vs. plains-style flutes. In the end, choosing flutes can be a very personal experience, and you might buy and sell a few before you really discover what suits you. Ideally, it would be best to attend fluting events and festivals so you can try out different flutes in person before committing to buy one. Even then, it's easy to make mistakes at first (I did) because of lack of experience. Since most of us are confined to the internet, this portal is an invaluable resource to help prevent you from making too many mistakes. With experience, too, comes knowledge of a standard by which to evaluate flutes by makers not on the list below. Until a maker becomes established and builds a strong reputation, though, I would have to try out their flutes in person.

Hope this helps. Here, then, is the distilled list:

Colyn Petersen
JP Gomez
Geoffrey Ellis
Ed Hrebec
Barry Higgins
Leonard McGann
Russ Venable
Russ Wolf
Randy Stenzel
Pat Haran
Brad Young
Gary Kuhl
Ed Kort
Brent Haines
Coyote Oldman
Geri Littlejohn
Andrew Begay
Bob Child
Butch Hall
The Stewarts (Stellar)
Danny Bigay
Jeff Calavan
Mac Lopez
Scott Loomis
Ken Light
Guillermo Martinez

After rereading this post, I thought I sounded pretty darn smart. I just want to point out that six months ago I was very nearly a complete idiot. The fine folks on this portal deserve all the credit for educating me.

Hello Clinton, Welcome to the Portal! Glad to have you with us. Paul gave you a Great list to choose from so I won't elaborate anymore! Many Blessings...Robert

Paul,
You DO sound smart EXCEPT that you left John Stillwell off your list.

So, that this!
http://forums.fluteportal.com/index.php?showtopic=285

And this!
http://forums.fluteportal.com/index.php?showtopic=317
(scroll down to posts 9 through 12).

High spirit flutes are good quality, massed produced flutes that pretty much all look and sound the same. you can hear it's sound on the music of John Two-hawks, his website has audio clips, although his music is a little too "new-ageish"for me but the flutes sounds good.
i don't have much experience with most of the makers on the list, so i'll leave it to the rest to give you their opinions. i do have a russ venable bass flute and a couple of ken lights flutes ( i don't find the fingering too hard to get used to).

Hi Clinton,

There are a couple of considerations in deciding who to go to for an excellent flute. First, not all makers tune the same, which means they don't fibger the same way, either. I class those tunings into the "more advanced" category, and consider them more suited to experienced (and higher skilled) players. That kind of tuning is referred to as "alternative". Not all makers who use that kind of tuning, identify themselves as using alternative tuning, although some will describe it as "concert". Not all "concert" tuning is alternative tuning, however.

By now you should be beginning to see the problem......there are many variables in selecting a flute maker.

Some makers are known for making great flutes in mid-range keys, while others have special abilities in either high or low range flutes. That simply means it can also matter, what key you are interested in, in a flute, in selecting the maker for that flute.

In the quest for good flutes, referrals from other players are one good source of information, but because playing styles vary, and methods of flute making vary also, sometimes you will also need to consider how you like to play, and who makes flutes that play best in that particular style. That, unfortunately, comes with playing experience.

The issue with playing style, comes from the differences in how makers voice their flutes. Some voice to allow the player to vary their air pressure, while playing, without getting any odd squeaks or squawks, vs. others who voice for evenness in air flow, playing more by note, and less by expressiveness within a note.

Then it can also matter to you, how you like the flute to look, and what kind of finsihing a maker uses, as that varies all over the place. Some people like natural style finishes, others like hard shell finishes, and some even like hard epoxy based finishes, and some don't really care, and have all kinds of finishes among their flutes.

Lastly, price points are also all over the place, with makers running the gamut from quite reasonable, to outrageously expensive, and everything in between. So, budgetary constraints can also play a role in your flute choices.

Since you are the only one who can actively make decisions on those variables, (although the more you can share about what you like in those variables, the more specific help can become), you have a complex decision making process to go through.

There is one essential tool, to acquire in evaluating flutes, which I recommend immediately. That is a small, inexpensive, chromatic tuner. These are available in music stores, and will help you determine not only the accuracy of the flute key, but also the actual fingering for any given note on that specific flute, which varies not only from maker to maker, but from flute to flute, even from the same maker. Such are the variables of flute making, which are controllable, only to a point. This item can be acquired from $25.-$50. depending on brand and model.

Now, as to my recommended flute makers, realize that I have variables per the above discussion, represented in my list of flute makers. I have to modify my playing style, with some flutes, and play them "the way they want to play", to get the best playing qualities from them, not because there is anything wrong with them, but because they have been intentionally made, differently, by their various makers, and that requires using different playing techniques for different flutes.

Now if you aren't hopelessly confused, by this discussion, here are some very fine makers, that you will find a fair amount of differences between their flutes:

High Spirits flutes......yes they play very well, overall, and are a good value, for a new player. They are not quite as stylish or as impeccably finished as some makers, but they play quite well, and are a good investment.

Now, here's the rest of the list, with some special notes, which are my own personal opinion, and include the disclaimer, that I am not a musician, nor a trained anything with flutes......., I am just a player, with a bit of experience who has made it my business to come to know as much as I can, about a lot of flute makers, for reasons much as you describe in your original question:

J.P. Gomez - Heartsong Flutes........top notch tuning, excellent finishing, but flute styles vary and tuning varies a little with flute style, for fingerings. Mostly mid-range keys.

Gary Kuhl - Spirit Bird Flutes.........top notch tuning, impeccable finishing, limited flute styles, simple in design, tend to play with more "precision" playing, and do not "push" as well as some makers. Mostly mid-range keys.

Geoffrey Ellis - Earth Tone Flutes........excellent tuning, excellent finishing, usually simpler in design, although sometimes does very creative art flutes, makes absolutely wonderful drones, and is known for lower range flutes.

Pat Haran......an all-around excellent maker, with some unique, complex to play designs, also known for excellent tuning, impeccable finishing, and low range flutes, especially.

Colyn Peterson.......makes a very good flute, excellent finishing, simpler in design, and gets a kind of uniqueness of tone, tuning can vary. His wife does some beautiful art, on some flutes.

Ed Hrebec - Spirit of the Woods flutes- excellent reputation as a maker. I have no flutes from him, but I have played a few, and some I liked, others I didn't. I would say that I have too little direct experience to share, about this maker, to help you with the characteristics of his flutes.

Russ Wolf.......makes excellent flutes, is hard to get a flute from. While I think he made his best flutes when he split them, vs. gun boring, he has worked through some of those transitional issues, and recent flutes have been excellent, in the gun boring, though perhaps a note shy of when he split them. Very affordable, when you can get one. (He lives ten minutes from me, and I have only gotten 2 flutes in 3 yrs.)

Butch Hall........makes excellent flutes, but his best are "concert" or alternative tuned. His most recent standard tunings have been excellent as well, as he has gone into making more standard tunings, by popular demand. Tends to have impeccable finishing, but very basic blocks, and simpler design, although he has, over time, made some art style flutes. Very affordable, but primarily a mid-range maker. Top notch customer service.

Greg Jones - Wingshadow flutes - currently available through Mark Slater, at the Flute Case Store, specializes in bird beak art flutes, in various birds, are excellent tuned, impeccably finished, and beautiful to look at (except the Calif. Condor, which is an ugly bird ). Very reasonable for art flutes. Do not "push" quite as much as some makers.

Russ Venable - RV Flutes - excellent tuning, impeccably finished, and makes various tunings, including diatonic, "Indie" and other "exotic" tunings. Well known for his diatonic and drone flutes, especially. Makes keys from high to contrabass.

Leonard McGann - Lone Crow flutes - excellent tuning, nicely finished, with a special reputation for drone flutes. Makes a range of keys and some special tunings.

"Kuzin" Bruce Belmore - Kuzin Bruce flutes - perhaps the best value in flutes, with excellent tuning, nice finishing, nice range of keys from high through mid-range, as well as some "exotic" tunings, simpler in style, emphasis on playability. Also known for great values in his drones.

Randy Stenzal - Feather Ridge flutes - excellent tuning, excellent finishing, simpler in style, emphasis on playability.

Brent Haines - Woodsounds Flutes - excellent tuning, impeccable finishing, uses an epoxy high gloss finish not liked by some people, emphasis on exotic woods, high priced, simple in design (although he does some nice art flutes, also), has good customer service, and even does a xmas card to his customers (unique in that.)

Michael Graham Allen - Coyote Oldman flutes - perhaps can be called the "standard" in flute makers. Having made NAF flutes for about 30 yrs., is one of the most experienced in the business. Excellent tuning to top-notch tuning, from flute to flute. Tends to mostly make cedar flutes, although he uses some special finishing techniques. Has some unique and interesting designs. Does some art flutes, and is the first maker to produce the Hopi and Anasazi embouchure flutes (much harder to play). Very reliable source. Pricing has gone up in recent years. Highly respected.

Andrew Begay - one of the true native makers, who makes a great flute. His flutes utilize a unique design, neither split nor gun bored, but rather sectioned. His flutes have excellent tuning, they "push" well, and are very "expressive". One of my favorite makers, but he has had some personal issues, which he now seems to be overcoming, which has made him difficult to contact and order from. If you see him at an event, where you can try the flutes, be sure to do so.

Bob Child - Ugly boy flutes - curious business name, but excellent tuning, impeccably finished, and some flutes are top notch. His flutes do not "push" as much as other makers, but they have a clean, crisp sound. Affordable. He is moving in August, after which he will have more flutes available, and will likely be seen at more events. He makes a neat "bagpipe" drone, that is quite different.

Stellar Flutes - have none, and have only tried one, which was very nice, in a high key. Not very common in these parts. Excellent reputation.

Danny Bigay - Mountain Spirit Flutes - have been trying to acquire one of his for a while, but not in the right part of the country. I have tried a few in shops, in NC, and they played well, but not perfect. Excellent reputation as a maker, tends to be on the more expensive end.

Jeff Calavan - Oregon Flute Store's "Laughing Mallard flutes" - have none, but tried several a few years ago, at an event, and thought they played well. Does a lot of art flutes, although some seemed "incomplete" to me, in carry through of design.

Mac Lopez - Whirlwind Studios - have only tried some flutes owned by another flutie, but most were excellent, and some very artistic designs. Tends to offer more artsy flutes, at higher prices, on the web and ebay. Never been able to buy one at a price I could live with.

Scott Loomis - Loomis Flutes - only have one, and it is a very old one, acquired second hand. It plays well, has excellent tuning, and is expressive. It is simple in design, and I have an interest in getting one of his bird beak flutes, at some point in time.

Ken Light - Amon Olorin flutes - Nakai's flute maker. Ken uses an alternative tuning on his flutes, which makes them concert quality, but trickier fingering. I have never been able to learn that fingering well enough to invest in one. He uses mostly western cedar, his flutes are thin walled, and very responsive, making subtleties easy to do.

Guillermo Martinez - just got 2 flutes from him this spring when he was at a local event. Excellent tuning, very nice finishing, and he makes an assortment of keys, and art flutes, especially bird beaks and NW Native styles. His flutes will vary a little in tuning, so you might want to try several, to find the one that fit with you.

Jonah Thompson - JT Navajo flutes - .....perhaps the most under-rated maker out there. Only problem is, he mostly makes A flutes. He re-designed his voicing over the last couple of years, and took his flutes from excellent, to an outstanding value, in a strong voiced, top-notch tuned, but a little less polished in finishing, in one of the most affordable flutes in the marketplace. He uses a lot of pine in his flute making. If you need an A.....this is a best buy.

Larry Spieler (and company) - Chris Ti Coom flutes - .....more simple in style, but well tuned, solidly made flutes, widely used by musicians. Affordable. Tends to like to make 5 hole flutes, but makes 6 hole as well.

James Gilliland - .......makes cane flutes in a wide range of keys, well voiced, strong players, beautifully finished, and quite affordable.

Jack Thomas - Silver Song flutes - .......an amazing wood carver and wood artist, not just in flutes, but other works as well. While jack is slowing down, in his retirement years, he makes amazing creations, that are well known in the flute community, as he sells a lot of his flutes through Mac Lopez. His flutes have excellent tuning, are impeccably finished, but do not "push" as much as some makers. He made "spirit" flutes for me and my wife, which are highly valued. I also have a plain jane flute I love. While not inexpensive, a good value in art flutes, and a very good value on his plain jane flutes.

Dennis Frederikson - NZT Designs - a new flute maker for me, but a strong comer, who makes amazing art flutes, as well as simple cane flutes, and bamboo flutes. The flutes I have are well voiced and tuned, and they are expressive players. Perhaps not quite as refined in finishing on some cane / bamboo designs, since he adds wood blocks and sound mechanism onto the cane or bamboo, on some flutes, and his finishing on those has to catch up to the voicing quality. Affordability is good. His art work is extensive and incredible on his art flutes. He also makes flutes in bone, in the Maori style, fully carved. His work is a mixture of New Zealand's Maori arts and Native American arts, and is unique in that combination. Also makes a lot of other stuff, including beaded flute wraps.

Charles Littleleaf - Ancient Vision Flutes - another top native maker, who I have been unable to get a flute from. I have tried one flute, that was exceptional in voicing, and while nicely finished otherwise, this particular flute had never had a final finish applied. I don't think that is normal. Sells now and again under the "Happy Valley" flute label on ebay, with simpler designs, which tend to sell for way above average prices. His regular line is art flutes, and they are on the high end.

Keith Glowka - Buffalo Moon flutes - .....besides making an excellent western cedar, thin walled, responsive flute in standard tuning, vs. alternative tuning, Keith makes unusual flutes in buffalo horn, and other "horns", and in bone. Perhaps not as well known, as his wooden flutes are all the same style, and he is known more for his horn flutes.

I may have overlooked a maker or two, who deserves mention, in this listing, and to those I have inadvertently overlooked, I apologize in advance.

There are other excellent makers in the marketplace, who I have little or no direct experience with, that also have excellent reputations as makers, and some of those make some unique instruments, which I can't afford, like Werner John, who makes an 8 hole flute, and Stephen De Ruby, who makes flutes for Golana, so......this is not a complete list by any means, of the very good makers, who are out there.

Hopefully, though, this will be of some help, in seeking out flutes you will be happy with, and will want to keep. However, you should recognize that at times, you will still buy a flute, that just doesn't "talk to you" after you take it home. Eventually, those will go away, to a home that is a better match for that flute.

My own experience is limited to the makers I have had some exposure to, and have had the opportunity to at least try some flutes, or is so highly recommended, in reputation, that I feel compelled to mention them. Those responding from other parts of the country, will of course, have other excellent makers to mention, who are not on my list, because I don't see them, or have never been able to acquire a flute from them.

Each of us has to find the makers that "fit" with how we play, and what we look for in a good flute, so it is still a personal choice kind of decision. The above is just my personal contribution to a very all-encompassing question, which is obviously hard to answer, by any single individual.

Good grief, Rick! Poor Clinton probably has a headache now!

JUST KIDDING!!

Excellent review (even though you left John Stillwell off your list, too!)

Noisy Bear, where are you? I know you like John's flutes. You got me hooked! I need you to straighten out these two guys!!

Rick,

That's a very impressive reference list! I'm sure people are grateful for your detailed analysis.

Dave

I believe that Rick has set the official record for the most substantial post the forum has seen to date Wow!

Welcome to the Forum Clinton and thanks for the excellent question! I'm a new guy here too and am learning in leaps and bounds from the generous folks that contribute. The concentration of information sure makes this a convenient place to use as a reference...and some of the nicest people you'll ever meet too! Good luck in deciding which flute to begin with. Just remember...one flute will DEFINITELY lead to another...and another...and another...
(Thanks Rick for your impressive post...VERY useful to us "newbies!"
Tom

If we could only get Rick to come out of that Shell and not be so Reserved! Just Kiddin Brother! Many Blessings...Robert

Ok......so I felt that some kinda detail was needed. Tootie, I haven't got a John Stillwell, and I have only tried a couple, some things I liked one or two things I wasn't as fond of, and I had hoped to try them more extensively at Zion, but then the plans went down the tubes, and I didn't get there. That's the way it goes.....the best laid plans....get wiped out, when you least expect it.

Hi Rick,

Every time that you mention Coyote Oldman Flute, you qualify that his prices has gone up(increased). His basic flutes including his Anasazi are only $240. I've seen flute maker with less than 3 years flute making experience, selling their for considerable more. It not as if he selling the same flute that he made 10 years ago, his flutes are evoling and improving. The Anasazi flute which Geoffrey is making(his first) is selling for almost the same price as Michael's. His flutes are not Bells and Whistles, but quality, well crafted musical instruments. Prices goes up, purchased any gasoline, lately?

Great review, thank you Rick.

Hugo

Michael's prices went up because he changed how he was doing business. That priced me out of his flutes. That is all I am saying. If you can afford the new pricing, more power to you.

He has not had a $240. flute at any event I have been to, lately.

Maybe you have had better experience than I, in recent time.

Yes, everything is going up, except my income. As that happens, I must seek out the makers that offer greater value in their flutes, or I cannot buy flutes. That is simply the skinny of the situation.

Hi Rick,

I live in Japan and has never been to an event, I purchased my (3) via internet, at $240 a pop. I guess he carries his painted, carved and inlayed flutes to the events. By the way, what were his old prices. Love your posts, you are really educating me, keep up the good work.

Lawrence

Hi Lawrence,

Where in Japan? I lived for a brief while on Hokkaido back in the mid 70s. Loved my time spent there. Wish I knew about shakuhachi flutes then...I might have got one cheap.

Hi Lawrence,

In 2004, I purchased his bead beak flute in G for $280. with the Lakota styling and painted. The very next year, the same flute.....except for a little difference in the style of painting.....became $480.

That was a substantial increase in just one year. I simply could no longer consider buying his flutes. That was largely due to the newer painting style he began doing to his flutes. Basically, underneath, they are the same flutes they always were, just with a new painted finish. I can't afford to pay $200. more for paint.

It was pretty much that way, across his entire line of flutes, and even his unpainted flutes went up nearly 50% that year. Then, the unpainted ones just sort of only appeared on the web site, in limited availability.

Underneath the paint, they are still ERC flutes. I can buy flutes in that wood, from other makers, for much less, that play about the same, than he now charges. My budget says I must take that option, no matter how much I might like Michael's flutes.

When I first came into flutes, Michael offered some great values, and he helped me out with some of those, when I needed some flutes at a price, but those days are over, I'm afraid. I'm glad I got the ones I did, when I did.

I'm in Kamogawa-shi, a coastal town in Chiba prefecture, about 2 hours from Tokyo, by train. I came here originally to study shakuhachi with Katsuya Yokoyama. Since I gotten one of Coyote Oldman's Anasazi flutes, I very seldom pickup the Shakuhachi.

Lawrence

That's quite a tribute to the Anasazi flute. I was on an isolated post in the U.S. Coast Guard not too far from Urohiro. I did manage to get to Tokyo once and Sapporo once. All I knew how to play back then was a stereo.

Paul, I was pretty much the same, but I was in Europe, and while there, was friends with a fellow who had natural musical talent, and he got me into guitar, and I took lessons from a German teacher, who spoke no English, so it was kind of interesting.

While I didn't have time to continue with the guitar, over the years, I still have a fine one, I got later on, made in Madrid. I hope to add it to what I do, with music, after I retire, and have some time.

Playing the shakuhachi did make it much easier for me to play the Anasazi, though. (Not that I play either of those well.)

Clinton:
The folks have given you a pretty good introduction. Let me just add these comments. I have found High Spirits flutes to be inferior generally. (I deleted my other comments.) I have none in my collection. Suffice it to say.
Look for a maker that has a good return policy. Try to go to a circle and play other folks flutes, avoid the flutes as said with the alternate tuning, invest in a good quality flute without all the fancy artwork and pricey add ons until you know what you are doing. A quality flute from a reputable maker will hold its value.
Personally I would agree with much of Ricks list. If you were to ask me I would get one from Geoffrey. He would be a good place to start. He has done some of the most artitstic flutes I have seen and makes high qulality flutes through out the range.
Yes get the tuner and learn how to use it. Good luck and give us a report on how you did!
The rest of my short list
Colyn Petersen Woodland Voices
Ed Hrebec Spirit of the Woods
I have many flutes from the list Rick has given and will not list them again. Some are hard to get flutes as the makers are not full time. The list of full time makers that are really good in my opinion is quite short!
Of course if you don't decide to go with one of my recomendations thats ok with me , it will mean I won't have such a long wait when I put in my order!

As a youngster I took guitar lessons from a very old woman (in my eyes back then) who taught Tom Mix to play. I still have a very nice Yamaha guitar I've had for 30 years now but don't play as often as I should.

Paul, mine is an Hernandez, made in Madrid, which I have not had out of its case, for about 10 yrs. It is a classical nylon string guitar. It will need new strings, and I am hoping to get around to getting it out of the case, before the end of the summer, although it is hard enough for me to find adequate practice time, in today's far too busy world, on flutes, much less guitar.

I have three High Spirits flutes. One is a high D that is actually nicely voiced and tuned for an inexpensive flute and is great for just throwing in a backpack and I don't worry about it getting banged about. Another is a black A that I never play because I've long since discovered much nicer flutes. (The A I play is by Ed Kort.) The last High Spirits is my first flute and for that reason I'll never get rid of it. It also doesn't really get played. On rare occasion, I'll pick it up and I'm reminded again of how much better sounding it's replacement is. The first two will eventually be gifted to someone(s).

My own experience with High Spirits flutes is that they are an excellent value, they are always at least excellent in tuning, if not near perfect, and they are very affordable. As I suggested earlier, the finishing isn't quite as perfect as a better maker, but the playability is what counts, and they play quite well.

I have tried many of them over the past several years, and always found them to be good players. I only own one, an A, but it is a near perfect flute, in terms of playability, in that it plays the full scale, has clear tone, a strong voice, and it plays in my expressive style, very well. I have 3 A's.....and when it comes to playability, it is my best one!

I might add, that a performing artist who I like very much, Douglas Blue Feather, plays High Spirits flutes exclusively, in concert. As a Nammy award winning artist, I doubt that would have happened, as many times as it has, if the flutes did not play well.

I will admit that I prefer the ERC flutes to the other woods, however.