A Step-Up Flute That Actually Earns the Upgrade
You've put in the work — scales, long tones, ensemble rehearsals — and now your student model is starting to feel like it's holding you back. That's exactly the kind of flutist the Azumi AZ3SRBO was built for. Designed by Altus founder Shuichi Tanaka, the AZ3SRBO brings serious craftsmanship to the step-up tier: a fully sterling silver body and the same handmade Altus Z-Cut™ headjoint found on flutes at much higher price points.
The result is a flute that responds more freely, plays more evenly across all three registers, and gives you more to work with as your technique keeps developing. Open-hole keys, an offset G, and a B footjoint round out a feature set that matches what advancing and pre-college players expect — and what music educators consistently recommend at this stage.
If you're moving up from a silver-plated student instrument and want to feel a genuine difference, the AZ3SRBO delivers it in a package that's well-built enough to carry you through high school, college auditions, and beyond.
The Altus Z-Cut Headjoint: Where It All Starts
Every Azumi flute ships with the Altus Z-Cut™ professional headjoint — handmade by Altus craftspeople and included as a standard feature, not an upgrade. The embouchure hole has a notably rectangular shape, which gives it a quick, free response and clear articulation across all registers. Many players find the Z-Cut especially cooperative in the upper octave, where student headjoints can feel stuffy or resistant.
On the AZ3SRBO, both the headjoint and body are crafted from .925 sterling silver, with a .925 sterling silver lip plate and riser as well. This all-sterling construction gives the instrument a richer, darker character compared to silver-plated alternatives — and the difference is audible, especially as you develop more control over your air column.
Open Holes, Offset G, and a B Footjoint — The Full Package
The AZ3SRBO's open-hole (French-style) keys aren't just a rite of passage — they develop precise finger placement and open up extended techniques like pitch bending and shading that aren't accessible on plateau keys. The offset G places the left-hand ring finger key in a slightly more natural position, which many players find reduces hand tension over long practice sessions.
The B footjoint extends the instrument's range down one half-step to low B and adds a Gizmo key, which helps facilitate the fourth-octave C. The added length and mass of the B foot also contributes a slightly darker overall tone character compared to a C footjoint — a quality players in orchestral and chamber settings often appreciate.
Pointed Key Arms, Wide Rib Construction, and the Altus-Bennett Scale
Azumi includes French-style pointed key arms on every AZ3 — a feature you'd normally expect only on instruments costing considerably more. Pointed arms improve key strength and promote more even pad wear over time, which means the action stays consistent longer. The wide rib construction adds structural durability, and stainless steel springs keep the key action reliable without requiring constant regulation.
The Altus-Bennett scale — a collaboration between Shuichi Tanaka and renowned British flutist William Bennett — underpins the instrument's intonation. It's designed for accurate tuning, carefully calibrated harmonics, and balanced registers, giving players a foundation that rewards good technique rather than fighting against it.
Product Features:
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Body: .925 sterling silver with wide rib construction
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Headjoint: Handmade Altus Z-Cut™ professional .925 sterling silver headjoint with .925 sterling silver lip plate and riser
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Key system: Open hole (French-style), offset G
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Footjoint: B footjoint with Gizmo key for extended range to low B
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Scale: Altus-Bennett Scale for accurate intonation and balanced registers
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Key arms: French-style pointed key arms for improved strength and even pad wear
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Keys and mechanism: Silver-plated keys and mechanism with stainless steel springs
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Pitch: C concert flute
Brand: Azumi
Model: AZ3SRBO
SKU: AZ3SRBO
Condition: New
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