Of course the look, feel, and sound (the timbre or voice of the instrument) are important, something has to click, right? But just as important are the key and range of the instrument, the necessary playing embouchure, even the reach of your arms, hands, and fingers. Will you need it to play, left hand, right hand, or both? What about sensitivity, control, and dynamic range or volume? All the these things effect the playability of the instrument, and how well you get along, especially for beginning players.

The flutes you find here may be new and still available, or may have sold and remain on the website as part of our portfolio. While all of our flutes can be “Made to Order”, there are certain limitations. Get in touch, we’ll be more than happy to answer any questions, or concerns you might have.

If a flute is listed as “Available”, let us know you’re interested. Include any specific questions you might have using the form on the flute detail page, and we’ll get back with more information on that particular flute. Please make sure to provide any shipping and handling information.

If a flute is listed as “Made to Order”, and you would like to know more, first take a look at the following information on materials we work with, available finishes, and tuning, and then use the form on this page. Please include any specific questions or requests. We’ll get back in touch with more information on the process, and to get a few details from you. Orders generally take four to six weeks and are subject to the availability of the materials. It takes a bit more time and patience, but it’s a great way to purchase a flute. In the end, the instrument is truly yours. See “Made to Order” below.

Most of the materials we use are sourced locally. We try to work as much as possible within the community, and with care and stewardship towards the environment, land, and other resources we all depend on.

We want every instrument to be unique yet genuine, and the materials we choose help make this possible. The traditional use a particular material is important to us. So we are partial to Bone, Tobacco, Sunflower, Agave, TocoToco (Furcraea andina) is a species of succulent belonging to the family Asparagaceae. Frequently confused with the Agave genus, it is a species of flowering plant native to the South American Andes, and is widespread from Colombia to Argentina. The outer shell of the flower stalk, ranging from 3 to 10mm in thickness, has a long lignified, woody grain the full length of the stalk. It can be quite strong, and resonant in its tubular form. , and Carizzo (A. donax), but also work with two or three sustainable hardwoods. Here in Peru, these include TornilloTornillo (Cedrelinga cateniformis) is an even-textured light golden brown to redish-brown hardwood with a course, open pored, and pronounced grain, with a veined appearance the lends itself to face-grain surfaces. It finishes with a beautiful smooth textured finish. It is not well know outside of the tropics, but is comparable in density and hardness to American elm., CopaibaCopaiba (Copaifera officinalis) or “copal-bearer”, has a rich tonal assortment of reddish-browns with coppery veins in the heartwood, leaving it distinguishable from lighter bands of sapwood and giving it over-all golden lustre. Sometimes called Peruvian Teak, Copaiba is also used in the production of an essential oil. It’s very durable with a high density and hardness comparable to Red Oak., and NogalNogal (Juglans neotropica) or “Peruvian Walnut”, is a striking hardwood from central and South America. It’s often full of dark brown tones and purplish tints, accentuated by the wood’s high lustre. It is more uniformly coloured than North American Walnut, but still a great choice for an exotic look or distinctive graining. (or walnut).

The tobacco, toco (Furcraea andina), and other plant stalks we use all grow naturally in the surrounding area, and are harvested naturally. We let every plant go through its full life cycle to seed. The agaves, and toco flower and are left in the mountains for the full season, to be sure they have dropped all their seed. They’re then harvested and brought down before the next rainy season starts.

We use various leathers, natural fibres, ceramics, silver and copper; in dressing, weathering and finishing our flutes, cases and bags. We try to source as many materials as possible locally. Most are native to the Central Andes and Pacific coast of Peru.

EnviroTex®, Crystalline Resins provide durability and stability, while augmenting sound quality and improving playability. All of the resins and coatings we use are food safe. They are generally acrylic compounds, water and alcohol resistant, and provide some degree of UV protection.

You can special order a flute using only natural products including, glues, sealers, tints, waxes and oils (all subject to availability). There is however a commitment to care and maintenance that comes along with all natural products. Please be aware, water, heat and chemical resistance (including alcohol), are much lower, or lacking all together when using only natural products. This can effect the life of the instrument.

There is a lot of information available about density and hardness; and how this effects sound, playability, and durability in flutes. The argument over materials, has been around as long as the flute. From a practical standpoint, and from makers that appreciate primitive instruments and traditional materials, here’s our take.

Harder or softer materials effect “timbre” — the voice of the flute, as distinct from pitch and intensity, and pretty dramatically. This is fairly subjective, especially in primitive flutes. Do you want it to sound a bit deeper, or brighter? Hollow, or more distant? Here are are some things to think about when considering our flutes.

CopaibaCopaiba (Copaifera officinalis) or “copal-bearer”, has a rich tonal assortment of reddish-browns with coppery veins in the heartwood, leaving it distinguishable from lighter bands of sapwood and giving it over-all golden lustre. Sometimes called Peruvian Teak, Copaiba is also used in the production of an essential oil. It’s very durable with a high density and hardness comparable to Red Oak., NogalNogal (Juglans neotropica) or “Peruvian Walnut”, is a striking hardwood from central and South America. It’s often full of dark brown tones and purplish tints, accentuated by the wood’s high lustre. It is more uniformly coloured than North American Walnut, but still a great choice for an exotic look or distinctive graining., and Bone – offer a bolder, brighter sound. These materials are durable, but heavier to handle especially in larger flutes that require an extended reach, important if you play or practice a lot. *They also tend to be more effected by temperature and humidity.

TornilloTornillo (Cedrelinga cateniformis) is an even-textured light golden brown to redish-brown hardwood with a course, open pored, and pronounced grain, with a veined appearance the lends itself to face-grain surfaces. It finishes with a beautiful smooth textured finish. It is not well know outside of the tropics, but is comparable in density and hardness to American elm., and all stalks, reeds and bamboos offer a warmer, more resonant sound. They’re lighter in hand, but slightly less durable, and if left untreated require more care in handling.

Using resins we are able adjust density and therefore timbre, keeping our flutes light while improving strength and durability. This is especially important for our stalk flutes, leaving them as strong as hard woods of the same wall thickness. Resins improve durability, and reduce care and maintenance. They are food safe, and water and alcohol resistant.

*A note on hardness, resins and humidity. Even rim-blown flutes can effected byA note on hardwoods, resins and humidity. Even rim-blown flutes can be effected by humidity that condenses in the bore, slightly altering sound quality and ease of playing. This is especially true in cooler temperatures, with harder, highly finished woods, and resin teated materials. The issue easily solved by passing an absorbent material through the flute to remove excess condensation. by humidity and condensation in the bore, altering sound quality and ease of playing. This is especially true in cooler temperatures, with harder, highly finished woods, and resin teated materials. The issue is easily solved by simply passing a swab through the flute to remove excess condensation.

Our flutes are generally tuned to A at 440 Hz. Although, working with traditional materials, perfect pitch is not always possible or even practical, especially across two octaves. This is, more than anything else relevant to what you will use the flute for. Concert tuned instruments are usually recommended for people who want to play along with other tuned instruments.

Having said this, it generally applies to other fixed pitch instruments, like another simple flute, but not necessarily to other “tuneable instruments”. For example, a friends guitar and many other instruments, can of course always tune to your flute. In this case, even if your flute is not tuned to concert pitch, your flute is ‘tuned to itself’ and will sound fine.

With rim-blown flutes, blowing style makes a substantial difference to pitch. Blowing obliquely, you can easily have over a semitone of flexibility depending on embouchure. So, fine tuning is not something to worry too much about. Practice and knowing your instrument, makes for perfect pitch.

We always have flutes in stock or in progress that are not listed here on the website. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please contact us for more information on what’s actually available. You can also join KunKuMan to be notified when new flutes of interest to you go online.

All Made to Order, or custom instruments, are designed to fit your exact needs. Making a deposit or pre-payment is generally not required. However, this depends on the specific request. Custom orders are followed by various exchanges on design, detailing, weathering, photos of work in progress, and finally audio samples. It generally takes four to six weeks. Actual delivery times subject to availability of materials.