How to Choose a New Headjoint For Your Flute - FluteTips 100

[@kryzak123]

Love how you break down all the parts of a headjoint. Super informative. Sadly I got into the flute during the pandemic so I won't get to do a flute convention any time soon. :(

[@DoctorFlute]

Sad! I know that there is the Mid-Atlantic convention coming up in February but I don't know if they will have instruments to try in these very strange days.

[@johnkotches8320]

Thanks for this very informative video. The only thing I could possibly add is to record yourself with each headjoint. It’s an impartial observer and how we hear ourselves while playing is not the same as how the audience hears us.

[@DoctorFlute]

Perfect advice!

[@Titanandenceladus]

Nice video. Glad you talked about crowns. I recently tried some Iris Custom Crowns, and was so impressed I ended up buying a heavyweight crown for my headjoint. It offers a bit darker warmer and more core heavy tone, but retains clarity of sound.

[@DoctorFlute]

Very interesting. I know a little of the science behind crowns. I really want to do a video on crowns to show what they can do. I'm glad you found that they made a difference for you. Is it solid silver or a different metal?

[@Titanandenceladus]

@@DoctorFlute they are actually made from either brass or bronze, which keeps price down. They are made by a professional flutist from florida

[@DoctorFlute]

Can you let me know who makes these? I would love to try them.

[@Titanandenceladus]

@@DoctorFlutethe makers name is Bill Larsen. He'll make crowns from piccolo up to contrabass flute

[@jorgeabatocab]

Thanks Angela ... Wow! ... didn't know Head Joints really ARE a big deal when it comes to sound, volume, response, projection, timbre etc ... Awesome video as usual. Do take care, be safe and may God bless you and your loved ones

[@DoctorFlute]

Wait until next week where I will try 5 different headjoints. It was a lot of fun but now I want them all!!! You and your family stay safe and healthy as well.

[@jorgeabatocab]

Will be awesome to hear the difference as you change head joints!

[@meriharary]

Excellent and informative video. So much valuable information here. Thank you.

[@DoctorFlute]

Your welcome Meri!

[@stevenkrier7225]

I liked the 1st Burkhart, thank you for the demo.

[@DoctorFlute]

Thanks, it was a beautiful head joint!

[@mangogrower5426]

Thank you so much 🙏. That was an extremely valuable flute tip. I have a 100-year old Haynes that I am really struggling with my sound and I would like to try some different head joints but I would like to keep the cost below $2000.

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Mango grower! I think that you can find silver head joints to try that are under 2,000. You might really see a big change since there have been developments in head joint construction over the last 100 years! Go for it. Contact the Flute Center of New York and tell them what you are looking for and they can help you out. (use code: DrFlute for perks).

[@Toipno]

Hello! I carefully followed the whole video, very interesting. I would say there are all the answers to my questions. Thanks as always.

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Mauro! Fantastic! Are you looking for a headjoint right now? If so keep me posted on your progress.

[@Toipno]

@@DoctorFlute Hi Angela! I sent you an email on your site, then I found a video where you talk about the newspapers and how to choose the most suitable one. I am a beginner, and I am learning, I am not yet able to know what I am looking for in my sound. But given my age, my thoughts were aimed, in addition to improving the sound, it was a small investment. From your video, highlight important points, which I will carefully evaluate. Of course, when I have the chance, I will avail myself of the help of my teacher. Thanks for the very valuable suggestions.

[@DoctorFlute]

Oh man, I haven't checked that email in a while! Sorry about that. With time you will know what to look for but I would make sure the embouchure is fully formed before getting a new headjoint. You want to make sure you do get the head that will refine your sound with your embouchure. Keep me posted and I promise I will check my web site email!

[@midnightmoth1]

Thank you for all the helpful information! So sad, that because of the pandemic we can't attend many flute festivals/conventions.

[@DoctorFlute]

Your welcome! Yes so sad, I love going to the conventions!

[@TheCoffree]

Thank you for your explanation! So thorough and clear, it makes totally sense if I think of the flutes that I have tried! I was considering a change of headjoint but you made me realize that I already have what I was looking for. I just have to be more patient (and practice! ;) ). Thanks!!

[@DoctorFlute]

You are welcome! What do you currently play on?

[@TheCoffree]

@@DoctorFlute I have a muramatsu Ad (1990s) but I purchased it only recently. At the time I noticed how "younger" flutes speak so readily but also very loud, it's more difficult to control colors if you want to. I love the control I get with the muramatsu head joint, but sometimes it is stressful because I haven't found a balance yet in terms of consistency. But evidently this depends on me, needing to adjust to my head joint, with practice and patience, right? 😊

[@DoctorFlute]

Yes, you are right. Your observations of your headjoint vs today's hj's is probably true as well. In order to give the flute world what they want in a head joint sometimes there are some sacrifices. Many people think that while intonation in older flutes is trickier they have the better control and tone colors. Keep working with you will adjust.

[@dogsterooni]

Along with the design of the head joint which can make a big difference in your sound and the resistance

[@DoctorFlute]

Absolutely!

[@KarinaEijo]

This is great! I think it also depends on the person's "default" sound. For me, I find that I have a pretty edgy sound naturally and I tend to over blow more free blowing, more responsive head joints. I had an interesting time testing out flutes at the Mid-South flute convention and I found that 14K gold makes me sound too mellow. I tried a Burkart 998 flute with 14K gold soldered tone holes, ribs, and posts with a silver Mancke head with an 18K riser and it was amazing! I look for flutes that have lots of resonance but with a little bit of resistance since I can put a lot in my flute. Last year, I tried a 14K body with silver keys and then the same body with an 18K head and it sounded like a completely different flute. I also tried a 19.5K flute, but I find that it's too dark of a sound for me.

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Karina! It is good to know your own tendencies before picking out flutes. It's great that you know what you need. Conventions are such great places to experiment. I would think from you analysis of your playing that a silver flute with gold or platinum added on might be the best pick. Have you tried a silver flute with platinum riser or lip plate? Are you in the market or just experimenting?

[@KarinaEijo]

DoctorFlute Right now, I am not in the market for an instrument, but I know that eventually, I will need soldered tone holes. I have tried platinum risers and platinum clad instruments, but I find that it makes my sound cut through too much which would make it hard to play with people. It gives nice resistance though and it really wakes up the sound of a gold instrument. I was thinking of switching out my silver crown for a gold one to give me more resistance for now or saving up for a headjoint with a different riser or lip plate or both. I’ve only had my instrument for three years and I still feel like I can grow in it.

[@DoctorFlute]

The grass is always greener and we always want something different in our flute but the one we own always plays best. If you can upgrade sometime in the future then great. Great flutists get fantastic sounds on any flute. So you wonder if the thousands are really worth it!

[@KarinaEijo]

DoctorFlute I definitely agree! I guess part of me is still stuck with the old school thinking that in order to be a pro, you have to play on gold. I really like how flexible silver is.

[@KarinaEijo]

DoctorFlute I did my whole undergrad on intermediate Gemeinhardt. I didn’t switch to my Powell Signature until the year before grad school

[@steve3150]

Thank you for the info.

[@DoctorFlute]

My pleasure. Are you looking for a new head joint?

[@eakirkley]

Do you have any experience with winged headjoints? I have a Mura AD and would like to try a Tsubasa HJ.

[@DoctorFlute]

I've tried some and have thought they were really nice but I'm wary about spending money on one of those head joints. Maybe I could do a video with that type of head. It would be interesting.

[@galvao4913]

Olá Angela, tudo bem, sempre acompanhado seus vídeos, parabéns,vc poderia me ajudar, estou com dificuldade na embocadura,como fasso para vc me ajudar. Abraço aguardo seu retorno.

[@jorgemartin5093]

Excellent video!!!! Congratulations. I want to ask you something: if we don't get the chance to test our new "about to buy"...headjoint (because our country doesn't have almost any locals to test them or because it rarely imports them: so we would have to buy it by internet, or maybe if we are lucky enough to tell someone who travels and bring it to us,. How can we know if it will fit in the body of our flute? I think the lenght of the tube must be the same of our original headjoint too isn't it? To keep the same original A 440 or 442 or whatever the tune of our flute used to be. The thickness must be an important thing to consider too I guess. I was thinking of buying a "heavy wall" headjoint...but I 'm scared it won't fit with the rest of the flute😢😢. For example, my Yamaha 225 SII it has a longer headjoint than my Yamaha 361 b footjoint flute. If I try to keep the 225 headjoint into the case of my Yamaha 361, the 225 headjoint doesn't fit because its longer tube. It is a complex thing....

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Jorge, Thank-you! Those are tricky questions. You don't need to worry about 440 or 442 people switch headjoints that change that with regularity. You would just need to practice with a tuner to find the tuning for that headjoint. The bigger question is fit. My flute is a .16 so a heavy walled head would not fit. I have definitely found that there are a number of headjoints that won't fit. I'm sure you can find out what wall thickness of a 361 and then make sure whatever head you are looking at would fit. Now generally professional headjoints are going to be the same length. I think they do try to keep that the same. If you were gong to order a headjoint I would email whomever you were getting it from and check with them if it would fit in your flute and your case. I hope you can figure out how to try one before buying it. There are so many variables.

[@jorgemartin5093]

Oh yes thank you. I was thinking on a Salvatore Faulisi headjoint. Good that you explained that a 0.18 heavy wall headjoint won't fit into a 0.16 body tube. (I guessed maybe it'd fit.) We call "barrilote" in spanish to the very first part of the flute body where we read Yamaha, Established in Japan, etc. Congratulations again for your channel and your great apport.

[@DoctorFlute]

I do not know this headjoint maker he sounds interesting. I hope that this head is going to be great for you!

[@notremarchedelafin]

I have a Yamaha YFL-222. I tried a Matsumaru headjoint recently which has a slightly bigger hole than my Yamaha. It was easier to play, and my sound had less air in it. I have a tiny little bit of airy sound I'd like to finish clearing up. It's not much, but the Matsumaru cleared that instantly. I am a beginner, kinda. I've been playing 5 hours/week for 18 months. I'm wondering if that would do me any good, going that route. My main instrument is clarinet, and I have been neglecting my clarinet playing for 18 months to grab this flute skill... I think it might be a quick fix...but then, grabbbing the piccolo will be harder later on... I'm not sure what to do...

[@DoctorFlute]

Yes, it will make you sound better but I’m inclined to say wait. I think you need to improve your flute skills and then try some head joints. Because what you might like a year from now will probably be quite different. There is no harm and only benefit if you wish to get it now.

[@notremarchedelafin]

@@DoctorFlute ok tnx! I will buy that Matsumaru headjoint. I don't see myself neglecting my clarinet play any longer. I'll go for the quick fix. That is goingto be an encouragement, which I need right now. 🙂

[@notremarchedelafin]

@@DoctorFlute , Update! I bought the Muramatsu headjoint with a bigger oval hole. While trying out many bigger hole headjoints, I noticed something useful about my air flow on the lip plate aha!! Cool, now I know exactly why I had a little bit of airy sound left, on top of having Muramatsu, and the airy sound is gone, and I am happy. Even the altissimo is wayyyyyyyy easier now. That's amazing! Tnx for your help! :)

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! That is really exciting.

[@teymurabdullayev2665]

Hi which is the best for jazz player ?.Altus Z cut V cut?

[@DoctorFlute]

I don't think you can go wrong with either. Which ever gives you the best tone is the right one.

[@kevinschirmer5394]

Did you get my email?

[@DoctorFlute]

I will go check right now!