YAMAHA Custom Handmade Flute | YFL-877

YFL-877

Inspired to start afresh, we went back to a clean slate applying all of the knowledge, advancements, and skills we’ve obtained over the last two decades crafting some of the finest handmade flutes available today into the design of an entirely new line of handmade instruments. Focusing on innovation, we’ve created some instruments that change the image of the handmade flute significantly. They offer tone with charm and depth, and a wide dynamic range that allows performers to play with a wide range of expression and the tone and volume flutists have long desired. From the finest details to their overall design, every part, process, and component on these handmade silver flutes is designed to function in harmony with the rest.

Headjoint

The new Yamaha “Type A” headjoint enables the flutist to produce an easy yet colourful sound and still play using a wide dynamic range. The newly designed lip plate promotes efficient playing technique and provides optimal resistance when paired with the new Handmade flute body. The “Type A” headjoint provides a high degree of freedom for musical expressions and has been praised by many players for its rich and clear sound, which is distinctive even at pianissimo.The wall thickness is slightly increased from other headjoint models (9K Gold: 0.35→0.43mm, 18K Gold: 0.3→0.35mm, 14K Gold: 0.3→0.43mm) to improve the resonance of the headjoint and promote a solid resonance when playing fortissimo, maximising the tonal colours available for the performer.

Toneholes

The overall weight of the flute was slightly raised by increasing the thickness of the toneholes. Combined with a special undercut tonehole design that is used only in combination with soldered toneholes, the performer is enabled to play with a colourful palette of sounds. An optimal level of resonance provides a wide dynamic range with the volume and presence needed for performing in professional orchestras.

Flat Pad Cups

The thicker and more durable key arms and machined pad cups provide better stability than more traditional-style pad cups. Pad conditions can be easily stabilised for a longer length of time when the pad is seated in a flat pad cup. Because the pad is more stable, it is also able to respond more freely, creating a rich and desirable resonance.

Straubinger™ Pads

Straubinger™ Pads have been widely adopted as significant components of a high quality handmade flute because of their clear response and optimal resonance. Straubinger™ Pads are more tolerant of environmental change and remain in top playing condition for a longer period of time. A Yamaha Handmade flute with Straubinger™ Pads enables the player to achieve a clear response with a more resonant sound.

Acoustic Annealing

A special acoustic annealing process that allows for a more pure transmission of vibration from the player to the flute provides Yamaha Handmade flutes with a deep, mature sound and clear response.

What We Like

For a very long time and like many in Australia, I was not aware that Yamaha produced high-end Custom Handmade flutes. Their student and intermediate flutes have always been popular and well regarded but their high-end instruments were simply not available in this country. When I moved to Europe, I began to notice the popularity of their professional instruments and saw them in the hands of friends and colleagues who now occupy seats in world-renowned orchestras. I also found out that some of my favourite flute players were in fact, Yamaha artists. Incredible musicians such as András Adorján, Mathieu Dufour and Peter-Lukas Graf have all been playing on Yamaha flutes for decades.

It wasn’t until I began studying with Andrea Lieberknecht in Munich however that I actually got to try one of these fabled instruments. As a Yamaha Artist, Andrea has worked closely with the craftspeople at Yamaha to help them design the current lineup of their top of the range instruments. She plays on a 900 Series gold flute and was kind enough to let me try it and I was promptly blown away. To say that these instruments are up there with some of the finest flutes being produced in Japan, or even the world is an understatement. At FLUTES & FLUTISTS, we are proud to be the exclusive stockist of these exceptional instruments here in Australia.

You can learn more about how Yamaha works with artists here: https://au.yamaha.com/en/products/contents/winds/artist_meets_yamaha_artisan/