We debuted our newest Aurumite® flute, Ruby Aurumite, at the August 2014 NFA Convention and realized that we hadn't written about it here on the Flute Builder blog, so we wanted to share more about it!
Since we've taken the Ruby Aurumite to shows and flute fairs across the country, it has certainly gotten a lot of attention and a great response from those who have tried it. Flutists have found Ruby Aurumite to be a flute that is very responsive and easy to play. One of the questions we hear quite a bit is, "So, what's different about the Ruby Aurumite?"
Aside from the ruby in the crown, there are a couple of differences between Ruby Aurumite and the other two Aurumite flutes -- Aurumite 9k Conservatory, and the Aurumite 14k Custom. The Aurumite 9k Conservatory has 9k rose gold on the outside and silver on the inside. Ruby Aurumite is similar in that the gold is on the outside, but it is 14k rose gold. Our Director of Service and Quality, Rebecca Eckles, says that she finds Ruby Aurumite to have a darker sound than the Aurumite 9k Conservatory. Ruby Aurumite flutes also have soldered tone holes, and the Aurumite 9k Conservatory has drawn tone holes. So, Rebecca feels that Ruby's soldered tone holes give it more depth of sound. She agrees with what our customers have found in terms of response -- Ruby is definitely responsive right off the bat and very easy to play. In comparison with the Aurumite 14k Custom, the Ruby Aurumite is the "opposite" configuration. Aurumite 14k Custom flutes have silver on the outside and 14k rose gold on the inside, whereas the Ruby Aurumite is the reverse.
Lindsey McChord, one of our flute finishers who also cuts headjoints, shared her thoughts on the Ruby Aurumite. Lindsey works mostly with Ruby Aurumite when she is cutting headjoints. She does not always have a complete Ruby set-up, which actually gives her a chance to see how Ruby Aurumite flutes respond and sound with headjoints of different materials. In general, Lindsey feels that the Ruby Aurumite is a little warmer and darker that Aurumite 14k. In terms of working with Ruby Aurumite headjoints, she tells us they are more like working with gold. When she has tested the silver headjoints with a Ruby Aurumite flute, she feels that the silver headjoint brings Ruby back to the brighter side, closer to the Aurumite 14k.
Rebecca's perspective is that Ruby is darker than Aurumite 9k but not as dark as the Aurumite 14k. Lindsey feels the Ruby Aurumite is darker and warmer than an Aurumite 14k. So, as you can see, differences in sound are really quite subjective. From a technical perspective, the type of tone holes on a Ruby Aurumite is the same as an Aurumite 14k (soldered) but different from the Aurumite 9k (drawn). So, if you have the chance to try a Ruby Aurumite, see what you think -- there is definitely no right or wrong answer!
