The story of William S. Haynes is one of relentless pursuit of perfection and the foundation of American flute-making. In 1888, William Sherman Haynes and his brother, George, crafted their first flute—a replica of a Boehm-Mendler—at the request of a Boston Symphony member. Around the same time, George revolutionized flute-making by inventing the "drawn tone hole" for an alto flute.

The first publicly available Haynes flute, numbered 507, was shaped by insights gained from crafting over 500 prototypes, establishing a legacy of innovation and excellence. In the 1920s, Haynes partnered with Georges Barrère, principal flutist of the New York Symphony, to create the American version of the French model flute—an open-hole, soldered tone hole design. In 1935, Haynes crafted the first American platinum flute, #14,000, for Barrère.

Throughout the years, Haynes flutes have been the choice of legendary artists like William Kincaid, Georges Laurent, John Wummer, and Jean-Pierre Rampal (who played Haynes #29333, a 14K gold flute). Today, the craftsmanship and passion that William S. Haynes instilled in his team remain the driving forces behind every flute produced. Playing a Haynes flute means playing an instrument with over 125 years of history and a standard of quality that is second to none.

At Haynes, your sound, technique, and unique preferences guide the creation of your flute. Every instrument can be fully customized, from tubing materials and mechanisms to engraving and special features. Discover why celebrated artists like James Galway, Emmanuel Pahud, Jeanne Baxtresser, and Amy Porter choose Haynes flutes—crafted for the most discerning musicians.

  
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