2025-2026 Alto, Bass & ContraBass Recommendations

While at the National Flute Association convention in Atlanta, I played all the NEW altos, basses and contrabasses I could find. Here are the new instruments that I think are worth trying. Because there is no standard key layout, a personal “hands-on” trial is necessary to determine which low flute fits your hands best.

This page includes the following information:

  • Stores That Stock Alto and Bass Flutes
  • Stores That Rent Alto and Bass Flutes
  • Additional Stores That Have Altos and Basses
  • Alto Flute Recommendations
    • Between $2000 and $3000
    • Between $3000 and $5000
    • Above $5000
  • Bass Flute Recommendations
  • Contrabass Recommendations

Recommended Stores that Stock Alto and Bass Flutes

Stores That Rent Alto and Bass Flutes

  • Adams Flute Center – Ittervoort, The Netherlands – adams-music.com
  • Brass and Treblas – Lillestrom, Norway – brass-and-treblas.placestars.us
  • Flute Center of New York – Manhattan – http://www.flutecenter.com
  • Flutistry Boston – Boston, MA – flutistry.com
  • West Valley Music – Mountain View, CA – www.westvalleymusic.com
  • Royalton Music – Cleveland OH
  • Long and McQuade Music – Toronto (for Canadians only)
  • Kimberly Jurens Woodwind Repairs Inc. – Victoria, B.C. – http://www.fluterepairs.ca
  • www.tetractys.co.uk for UK residents

Additional Stores That Have Alto and Bass Flutes Onsite

Alto Flute Recommendations

Models around $2000 – $3000

Most altos in this price range have curved and straight headjoints available. You can get both. How does it sound and how do the keys feel in your hands? Especially test the facility and response of the footjoint notes.

  • Di Zhao
  • Jupiter – a one year wait list
  • Pearl – border line pass (tried three)
  • Trevor James – border line pass (tried three)

Models between $3000 and $5000

  • Di Zhao
  • Haynes Amadeus – border line pass (tried four)
  • Jupiter
  • Pearl – border line pass  (tried two)
  • Trevor James – border line pass (tried three)

Models above $5000

  • Altus
  • Eva Kingma
  • Kingma-Brannen
  • Miyazawa – straight head model only. Border line pass.
  • Sankyo
  • Yamaha

Headjoints

  • Chris Abell – wooden straight alto head joint. Outstanding.
  • Juan Arista – straight and curved sterling alto head joint. Fabulous.

Bass Flute Recommendations

Listed by lowest priced model. All basses shown include trill keys which are used for many alternate fingerings and solving response problems. I consider trill keys a “must have.” A b-foot only comes on some brands and is not necessary. It does give you one more note but adds length and weight to the already heavy instrument. If you chose a b-foot, be prepared to find a good support system for the instrument.

  • Guo bass $2200 for New Voice, $3750 for Genaditte.  A light weight plastic instrument with a surprisingly wide dynamic range. Recommended for people with shoulder problems, arthritis or other physical limitations. Clacky key noise has diminished but is still a little annoying. The tone is one dimensional. Comes in wild colors.
  • Di Zhao $3800. Comfortable to hold and good sound and response. Trill keys can get in the way.
  • Pearl $4740. The clacky right hand key problem has been solved and the low notes were acceptable.
  • DiZhao vertical bass $4650. Low pass. Comfortable to play. Trill keys can get in the way. There is a wait list.
  • Pearl – $4750. An ok bass
  • Jupiter vertical bass – $7000. Short wait list. Good tone.
  • Altus $12,500. One was not available to try. They have been excellent in the past.
  • Prima Sankyo $15,900. Wonderful tone and light responsive action. The support issue has been solved.
  • Kotato $16,000. A large bore horizontal bass with a powerful, rich and huge sound. Light and responsive key action. Adjustable support rod works well when sitting.
  • Eva Kingma $19,400 and up. Price fluctuates with exchange rate and cost of materials.  Glorious sound. Available with a small or large bore.  Open-hole option available ($21,000)
  • Eva Kingma vertical bass. Fabulous! Contact Eva directly for current price. Just enter Eva Kingma on your browser. Price fluctuates with exchange rate and cost of materials.
  • Kingma-Brannen bass. Open holes. Wonderfully light and seems to play itself! Comes with a Wiseman case. Contact Eva directly for current price. Price fluctuates with exchange rate and cost of materials.

Contrabass Flute Recommendations

  • Pearl – $17.6K – footjoint reasonably easy to reach.
  • Jupiter – $19.7K – footjoint reasonably easy to reach.
  • Kingma – $27.5K  Has trill keys!!!! Excellent tone, response and key action. Eva has redesigned the foot joint key access and it is so much easier for the average sized woman to reach!
  • Kotato  – $28.8k + Powerful rich tone. An outstanding instrument recommended by several friends who play a Kotato. There was not one a new to try at the convention.
  • Kotato Double Contra – $48.5K. A massive and powerful instrument that is only available to try on the west coast.
  • Kingma Double Contra – beaucoup bucks!  Eva had her newest version available to try and it created quite a stir!