Best Altus Open Hole Flutes 2026
Alright, so you're looking at open hole flutes. Smart move - they open up a whole new world of possibilities for articulation and phrasing. But wading through the options can be overwhelming. If you're serious about your playing, you've probably heard the name Altus - they've been quietly building some of the best flutes out there for decades, and their open hole models are worth a serious look.
Last updated: September 1, 2026
Altus AS-A11 RBEO-S Flute
- • 925 sterling silver lip plate and chimney for bright tone
- • 958 sterling silver headjoint and body for rich response
- • Offset G key system simplifies high register playing
- • Drawn tonehole risers ensure consistent airflow control
- • No specific weight listed makes carrying unknown
- • Ring keys may be less durable than open keys
- • Steel springs feel less premium than gold options
Altus AS-A10 RBEO-S Flute
- • True 925 sterling silver throughout headjoint and body
- • S-Cut mouthhole design for modern intonation
- • Silver-plated nickel silver key system
- • B-foot with offset G for advanced players
- • Steel springs can feel less smooth than brass
- • 0.38mm wall thickness may vibrate differently than thicker options
- • No specific weight or balance data provided
Altus AS-A10 REO-S Flute
- • 925 sterling silver body ensures bright, responsive tone
- • S-cut mouthhole design aids modern embouchure control
- • Offset G key simplifies high-register fingerings
- • 0.38 mm wall thickness provides sturdy, consistent response
- • Heavy weight may strain smaller players over long sessions
- • Silver-plated nickel silver keys can tarnish over time
- • No specific action depth or key height data provided
Altus AS-A12 RBEO-S Flute
- • 925 sterling silver headjoint and body for bright tone
- • Ring keys and E mechanism allow fast fingerings
- • Offset G key system simplifies advanced passages
- • SP-1 alloy springs provide smooth and responsive action
- • S-cut mouthhole design limits certain tonal options
- • No wood veneer option available for softer sound
- • B-foot joint is shorter for some players
Altus AS-A12 REO-S Flute
- • 925 sterling silver body, headjoint, keys, and risers ensure brilliant tone and bright response.
- • Offset G and E mechanism provide smooth intonation across the full register.
- • S-cut mouthhole design encourages focused sound and quick response.
- • 0.38 mm wall thickness balances projection with a warm, singing tone.
- • Premium price point makes it less accessible for entry-level students.
- • Sterling silver requires frequent polishing to maintain luster and playability.
- • No listed maintenance instructions or warranty terms in the description.
Altus AS-A11 REO-S Flute
- • 925 sterling silver lip plate and chimney for bright tone
- • 958 sterling silver headjoint and body for consistent pitch
- • S-cut mouthhole design aids fast note attacks
- • Ring keys and offset G for comfortable reach
- • 0.38 mm wall thickness may feel thin to some players
- • No specific weight listed makes handling hard to predict
- • Steel springs can wear faster than gold or silver springs
Altus AS-A13 RBEO-S Flute
- • Exceptional projection and focus thanks to the S-cut headjoint.
- • Britannia silver body offers a warm, rich, and responsive tone.
- • Ring keys and offset G enhance comfort and intonation precision.
- • Drawn tonehole risers contribute to even tone across the range.
- • The 958 Britannia silver can be more susceptible to tarnish than higher karat silver.
- • Offset G design might not suit all players accustomed to standard models.
- • Premium-priced, representing a significant investment for most players.
Altus AS-A13 REO-S Flute
- • Exceptional projection and focus due to the S-Cut headjoint.
- • Britannia silver body provides a warm, resonant core tone.
- • Offset G enhances ergonomics and comfort for smaller hands.
- • SP-1 springs offer remarkably light and responsive key action.
- • The 958 Britannia silver body can be prone to minor denting with rough handling.
- • The high-end price point puts it out of reach for many students and hobbyists.
- • The S-cut headjoint, while powerful, might be too focused for some players' preference.
Altus AS-A9 REO-S Flute
- • 958 Britannia silver headjoint delivers exceptional projection and warmth.
- • S-cut headjoint offers a responsive and focused tone ideal for soloing.
- • Nickel silver keys with ring keys provide precise intonation and comfortable action.
- • Drawn tonehole risers contribute to a remarkably even and consistent response across registers.
- • The offset G may not suit players accustomed to a traditional embouchure.
- • Britannia silver headjoint demands careful maintenance to prevent tarnish.
- • Premium-priced, representing a significant investment for many flutists.
Altus AS-PSD ERB1 Flute
- • Exceptional projection and focus thanks to the S-cut headjoint.
- • 997 ALTUS Pure Silver provides a remarkably warm and complex tone.
- • Drawn toneholes enhance responsiveness and intonation accuracy.
- • Offset G and ERB1 design offer ergonomic comfort and improved reach.
- • The high silver content demands careful maintenance to prevent tarnish.
- • Premium-priced, making it a significant investment for most players.
- • Offset design might feel unusual for players accustomed to inline models.
Altus AS-1407 XRBE Flute
- • Exceptional projection and clarity thanks to the S-cut headjoint.
- • 925 Sterling silver construction delivers a warm, focused tone.
- • Offset G enhances comfort and accessibility for smaller hands.
- • Soldered C# tone hole provides intonation stability in that challenging area.
- • The sterling silver body can be prone to tarnishing, requiring regular polishing.
- • The premium price point places it beyond the reach of many students and hobbyists.
- • Offset design may not appeal to players accustomed to a traditional embouchure.
Altus AS-A9 RBEO-S Flute
- • Exceptional intonation thanks to the Britannia silver headjoint
- • RBEO-S design offers responsive, nuanced playing
- • Solid silver-plated keys provide smooth, reliable action
- • Drawn toneholes enhance projection and tonal complexity
- • Britannia silver headjoint can be brittle and requires careful handling
- • Nickel silver body plating may require more frequent polishing
- • Offset G can feel awkward for players accustomed to inline designs
Open Hole Flutes by the numbers
Measured across all 108 models in this category, so «wide», «short» or «expensive» mean something you can check.
How to Choose the Best Open Hole Flutes
Tone
Altus flutes are known for their warmth and complexity. It's not a bright, sterile tone; there's a richness and depth that allows for nuanced phrasing and really sings in a chamber ensemble or cuts through a rock band without sounding brittle. That 'fat midrange honk' is a real thing with Altus - it just sits beautifully.
Keywork & Action
The ergonomics are spot-on. Altus uses a really comfortable, rounded key design that minimizes fatigue, even during long gigs. The action is consistently light and responsive, allowing for incredibly precise articulation - crucial for those fast, intricate passages.
Headjoint Design
The headjoint is the heart of any flute, and Altus really nails it. Their headjoint voicing provides a surprising amount of headroom without sacrificing that characteristic warmth. It's got a responsiveness that lets you really dial in your dynamics, from a breathy whisper to a powerful projection.
Build Quality & Materials
Altus uses high-grade silver alloys, and the tolerances are tight. You can feel the quality in the mechanics; everything feels solid and well-fitted. This translates to a flute that will hold up to years of gigging and practice - a real investment.
Intonation
While no flute is perfect, Altus consistently demonstrates excellent intonation across its range. It's remarkably stable, which saves you time tuning and lets you focus on your performance, especially important when you're playing with a tight ensemble.
Buying Guide
Don't be swayed by flashy finishes or marketing hype. With Altus, you're paying for the craftsmanship and the subtle nuances in tone. Used models can be a great value, but have a tech check the pads - that's the most common point of failure. Avoid the temptation to cheap out on the headjoint; that's where the magic happens.
How This List Is Built
We don't play these instruments — we're a catalog, not a review desk, and we'd rather say so than pretend otherwise. This page covers 12 of 108 open hole flutes from the Thomann catalogue, which is the largest single source of specification data in this category: 12 in detail, the rest listed with their specifications.
Position is computed, not curated. We parse the manufacturer's own description into actual values — nut width, scale, fret count, fingerboard radius, size, alloy — and rank on them: how many specifications a model has published, how many of them are measurable numbers, and how precisely it meets this page's criterion. A product image adds a little. Price is not a ranking signal: it tells you nothing about whether a neck fits your hand. The same inputs always produce the same order, so nothing here is shuffled to look fresh.
What this list is good for: narrowing a category down to a shortlist by spec and budget. What it isn't: a substitute for hearing an instrument. Before you buy, read hands-on reviews and, where you can, play it. Full methodology.
