NAF Scale Songs

High Spirits Flutes

High Spirits flutes are made in Patagonia AZ by Odel Borg.  Their flutes are attractive, well made and have predictable, good sound.  In my flute circle, everyone seems to have at least one HS flute.  They have a clear, clean sound, and are not finicky about exact block/bird placement.  I currently have four.  Their standard flutes are great, and their signature series are beautiful.  I see quite a few professional flutists playing a HS flute.

Kenny King

NAsF made in Mississippi.  KK flutes are a step above plain, but not fancy.  Low-profile blocks, multiple woods, easy-to-play.  KK flutes I have seen are quite nice.  I have three: G, E and an F.

Mad Max Flutes

Max Skabelund is a Mountain Man reenactor, active scout leader, and master flute maker.  His flutes feature a variety of beautiful woods, and crisp tones.  They do not easily 'overblow', and respond nicely to various articulations.  I like this quality of Mad Max flutes because I use trills, Taa's and generally tend to push them.  A friend at the Flute Circle (who is much more soft-breathed) thinks they take too much air, so I bought his Mad Max G (to add to my F# and another G) and love it.  Blocks are nice, but not fancy.  Max often uses inlayed rings of turquoise.  The mouthpiece is different.  Personally, I like it a lot.  Some others don't.

Yucca Flute

All of the flutes on YuccaFlute.com are made from either yucca or agave stalks.  They sound great and are interesting to look at.  I have an F#, a G, and an Eb.  They sound great.  YuccaFlute.com also sells a how-to booklet for those who would like to make their own yucca flute.

John Stillwell - Ancient Territories Flutes

AT offers Backpacker, Craftsman, and Collectors lines.  I own a Craftsman and have handled and briefly played Backpackers and Collectors.  They all sound great.  They have a clean reliable sound and I think are easy to play.  They have an interesting shape to the body - almost triangular, with a flat top.  The ones I've handled are fairly heavy, and are very nicely built.

Pat Haran Flutes

Phoenix-based Pat Haran creates made-to-order flutes at reasonable prices.  Pat has been making flutes for over 20 years, and makes flutes, drones, triples and quads concentrating on voice, range, and response.  I currently have two - an E and a E.  Both are beautiful, and play with great volume and clarity.  I had an older D# with the eagle talon block.  It's sounded superb, but I can appreciate the improvements in woodworking of the modern ones.

Brent Haines - Woodsounds

Brent Haines makes everything from student flutes under $200 up to fine art flutes costing several thousand.  His inlay work is so nice it makes me question whether some of his flutes are instruments or jewelry!  I have a maple burl Classic with Granadillo, Turquoise, and Ebony accents.  It's sound is clear, warm, rich, and full.  I also have a Yellow Cedar Burl F#.  He calls this one 'Sweet As Honey'.

Scott Loomis - Wind's Song Flutes

I have an older Loomis flute in F and love it.  It's simple, lovely, and sounds wonderful.

Tom Haggerty - Triple Flame Flutes

Tom makes NAsF and Pueblo style flutes and plays a wide variety of flute types.  His NAsF flutes are nice, if a bit plain.  They have clear soft tones and are very well behaved.  I have an F#, F, Eb, and a D.  They have good volume and I find them easy to play.

Geri Littlejohn - Wicozani

Geri Littlejohn has been making flutes for over 20 years, originally apprenticing under her late husband Hawk Littlejohn.  Geri's flutes are beautiful to look at and sound even better.  They are have a wonderful resonance.  Every one I have heard has a wonderful fundamental note, and clear, crisp notes.  I have an F# in poplar and LOVE it.  I have sent her a special branch to make a flute from.