Handmade Custom | Powell Flutes

Powell^® Handmade Custom flutes have been the “gold standard” of the flute world for more than eight decades. Instruments made in the 1920s are still being played today. Powell instruments are celebrated for their color, tone, ease of response and reliability. Today’s Custom flutes continue this tradition and are handmade to exacting specifications by our skilled artisans. Each instrument is a highly functional tool as well as a stunning work of art.

Each Custom flute includes a Handmade Custom headjoint of your choice, a fully pinless mechanism with traditional adjustments, Modern Powell scale, 10k white gold springs, pointed arms, Straubinger pads, leather case and case cover. There are multiple combinations of materials and options which allow you to customize your instrument. Every Custom flute offers a unique voice for each owner.

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"For me, the Powell flute is home and family, mystery and future. An irreplaceable partner to realize the beauty of music.”

Nobutaka Shimizu, principal flutist Kyoto Symphony, Japan

Sterling Silver – Known for its immediate response and clear tone, sterling silver is the most popular metal used in professional flutes. Our flutes are available in three tubing thicknesses (.014”, .016” and .018”). The thinnest wall (.014”) is very responsive and the lightest of our models. The heaviest wall (.018”) provides a deep, dark sound. The medium wall (.016”) is the most popular thickness due to its ease of response and depth of sound.

Aurumite® 14k - Aurumite® flutes are produced using a patented process that electronically fuses two tubes of gold and silver. The Aurumite body is .016” thick with an interior layer of 14k rose gold and an outer layer of sterling silver. This unique material combines the projection of silver with the warmth of gold. Aurumite was introduced by Powell in 1986 and then patented. Because we have been making flutes out of Aurumite for over 20 years, our experience working with this material is unrivaled in the industry.

9k rose gold – 9k rose gold flutes provide a solid gold body at a more affordable price. The 9k model is the lightest of the rose gold flutes while retaining the warmth of heavier karat gold.

10k yellow gold – Yellow gold flutes are praised for their projection and lyrical quality. These flutes are slightly lighter in weight than their higher karat cousins.

14k rose or white gold – We have been making 14k rose gold flutes since 1928 and they continue to be played by some of the top flute artists in the world. The 14k rose gold flute is our most popular gold due to its balance of response and depth. White gold offers a slightly more direct and focused sound.

19.5k rose gold –Powell introduced this unique material to the flute world in 2004. 19.5k rose gold is characterized by a strong projection, a wide range of colors and flexibility. The higher karat gold provides the player with a luscious resonance that carries across any size room allowing, the player to explore new dimensions in their sound.

Platinum – Platinum is the rarest of the metals used in flute making and has the highest density at 21.5 (see Varese). Doriot Dwyer has described the sound of a platinum flute as “ringing and true.” Today our platinum flutes are played by some of the world’s leading artists because they offer stability of pitch, a strong high register and are resistant to over blowing.

Grenadilla – Since 1997 our unique design has produced a wooden flute that is comfortable, elegant and offers the warmth of wood, yet has the projection of a metal flute. We have selected grenadilla as the wood of choice.

Body Material	Mechanism	Soldered Tone Holes	Drawn Tone Holes
Sterling silver	Sterling	Available	Available
Aurumite® 14k	Sterling	Available	n/a
9k rose gold	Sterling	Available	Available
10k yellow gold	Sterling	Available	Available
10k yellow gold	10k yellow gold	Available	Available
14k rose gold	Sterling	Available	Available
14k white gold	Sterling	Available	n/a
14k rose gold	14k rose gold	Available	Available
14k white gold	14k rose gold	Available	Available
19.5k rose gold	Sterling	Available	Available
19.5k rose gold	10k yellow gold	Available	Available
19.5k rose gold	14k rose gold	Available	Available
Platinum	Sterling	Available	n/a
Platinum	10k yellow gold	Available	n/a
Grenadilla wood**	Sterling	n/a	n/a
Grenadilla wood**	14k rose gold	n/a	n/a

Flute Options
Footjoint:	B Footjoint with Gizmo	B Footjoint without Gizmo	C Footjoint
G keys:	Offset	Inline
Pitch:	A-440	A-442	A-444
Cups:	American (closed)	French (open)


C# trill	10k tone holes	Lip plate engraving
D# roller	14k tone holes	Key Engraving
Split-E	14k tone holes, posts,ribs, rings
G disc