Armstrong 103

About the Armstrong 103

Built in Elkhart, Indiana with the same silver-plated nickel body and headjoint construction as Armstrong's closed-hole models, the 103 substitutes open-hole keys for the beginner-friendlier plateau design - a deliberate choice some teachers make for students they want developing correct finger placement immediately rather than transitioning to open holes later as an intermediate step-up.

Its inline G and C foot, top-adjusting mechanism, and the same crisp-response Armstrong headjoint as elsewhere in the range mean the 103 doesn't compromise on build quality to make room for the open-hole design - it simply asks more of a beginner's technique from the start, a trade-off some programs consider worth making early.

Where to buy

• Reverb 245 EUR Best price View details

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Source: https://reverb.com/item/45886624-armstrong-103-student-model-open-hole-flute-usa

Sound character of the Armstrong 103

Unusually for a beginner flute, this model has open-hole (French) keys instead of plateau keys, which vent more directly at the tone holes and let a player shade pitch and timbre with partial finger coverage once they develop the technique - something a sealed plateau flute cannot do. The silver-plated nickel tubing still keeps the underlying tone on the bright side, as on Armstrong's closed-hole models.

Technical data for the Armstrong 103

Price history for the Armstrong 103

Cheapest seen: 245 EUR  ·  Most expensive seen: 245 EUR

The history of the Armstrong 103

Armstrong builds the 103 as an open-hole alternative within its beginner range, for students and teachers who prefer developing open-hole finger technique from the outset.