In addition to developing some of the finest silver flutes of that time, they also “worked together to improve the quality and design of student flutes and to develop the complete flute family.” DeFord believed strongly that all instruments, regardless of their level or price point, should be made with the same care and attention to detail. Some of the biggest names in modern flute making, such as Bickford Brannen and Jack Moore, worked under DeFord at that time. From there, he founded the Heritage Division of flutes which produced higher-end silver instruments. He quickly rose through the ranks there and became the vice president of production in 1962. Armstrong Flute Company in Elkhart, Indiana. After an unsuccessful start as an aircraft inspector after the Korean War, he quickly found his calling in the flute world, and we are so grateful he did.Įmerson Ford started his time in the flute business in the mid-1950s when he applied for a position as a flutemaker at the W.T. Many aspects of the flute that we take for granted today, particularly on student instruments, can be traced back to DeFord’s ideas, and some instruments still bear his name. Here's one that would hit all of your marks.At the National Flute Association convention in Salt Lake City this past August, the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to master flute maker and entrepreneur Emerson DeFord. They don't make them anymore, but I really love my DiMedici too - you can get them on eBay still. I actually really like Pearl flutes - a girl I played with had one, it was a super nice flute for the cost, it was really nice to play too. It was a fantastic flute, I would have kept playing that through college if it hadn't suffered a very unfortunate accident due to cold, dry hands in the wintertime.

My first intermediate flute was an Emerson EF8 - it was all sterling except the keys, and you can pick up a used one for less than a grand. I'm actually trying to sell that flute right now, I wouldn't recommend buying a Gemeinhardt. It didn't - I think it's a looks thing more than anything else unless you're getting an actual gold lip plate instead of a plated one. My first 'professional' flute was a Gemeinhardt 33SB - I got it with a gold-plated lip plated because I thought it would help with breakouts.

Emerson flute ef8