Should You Put a Professional Headjoint on an Intermediate Body? FluteTips 170

[@Caleb.flute96]

I play on a Powell Signature flute, and recently upgraded from the signature head to a Powell Venti cut with a platinum riser and it did WONDERS to my playing. I feel a lot of possibilities with this set up for now!

[@DoctorFlute]

I bet that is a fantastic set up. I think the Signature is a beautiful flute to begin with and then with that headjoint!

[@BrentCraig7]

I did the same headjoint on my Sonare. I feel that I have a much better control than with the intermediate intermediate one

[@willistaylor4077]

I bought the Altus 807, and a second-hand Miguel Arista handmade headjoint; a beautiful rich sound for me, at my current playing level. 😀❤️🎼🎵🎶

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! I bet it's beautiful.

[@lorrieprothero2175]

Sometimes when I'm working on a difficult fingering passage, i perfect it on my lower end flute so that when i change to my better flute, the difference is exponentially easier than if i just practiced only on my better flute. Kind of like when an athlete swims at practice in a suit that has more drag and then when racing they wear their slicker suit. So i would put the professional headjoint on the intermediate and practice then once I'm ready, switch to the professional body for the easier mechanisms.

[@DoctorFlute]

Interesting point. That does make sense.

[@michaelschonauer7238]

Oh this is definitely worth doing; I have done this twice. My secondary flute is a Yamaha 5 series... I put a new Haynes head joint on it and it made a huge difference. I have also done this on my Haynes Amadeus piccolo. In that case I put a Keefe head joint on it. Again, it made a significant difference.

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic!

[@FluteLoops59]

Never knew this was an option...there was a better sound for sure in the new headjoint... Great idea!!

[@DoctorFlute]

It is always nice to have options especially less expensive options! Are you considering?

[@FluteLoops59]

@@DoctorFlute I am not looking at this time, I have an intermediate open hole flute, with the solid silver head joint..Ive only played for about 3 years, but getting an upgrade headjoint is something to think for the future:)

[@woodwindsarelife]

Wow! That last side-by-side test really clinched it!

[@DoctorFlute]

Which way do you mean?

[@woodwindsarelife]

@@DoctorFlute I really liked this! It definitely showed a good difference with the side-by-side comparison. I enjoy your videos. Thank you!

[@notremarchedelafin]

I put a 2500$ headjoint on my Yamaha 222. Lol!! Well, I got what I wanted... paid 700$ for that Marumatsu headjoint (used). Was well worth it.

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! A $700 upgrade is not bad if you are getting the tone you are looking for.

[@rodneymills6477]

Another thing would be putting an intermediate headjoint on a student model flute with open holes and a low B, as some of them have now. The Pearl 505 Quantz - it even has a split E. Is it worth it to buy a Pearl silver headjoint to put on it rather than buying a 665? I say yes, since the body is pretty well the same. This is a question that is more relevant to me and my students. You do lose a back-up flute, which is a valuable thing to have. There are tradeoffs. I enjoy your content. Thank you for posting so much free stuff for us to learn from.

[@DoctorFlute]

You are welcome Rodney. I'll have to try that out - intermediate head on beginner body. Is it a big enough difference to warrant buying the intermediate head joint? I'll see if I can find out!

[@notremarchedelafin]

​@@DoctorFluteI am certain its valid on quality student flute models.

[@dcallan812]

really nice low sound the higher notes sound nice to but the low end. 👌 I would like to try one but I know I would just "need" to keep it. I would be interested in a video about the cut of the head joint and what the differences you could expect. Great video 2x👍

[@DoctorFlute]

Thanks! Yes I think a video on the different cuts of the embouchure would be great. I'll keep that in mind.

[@chuckgladfelter]

I went the opposite way with my flute. I have a Miyazawa that's hard for me to play because I'm mainly saxophones and double on the flute. I switched to a Yamaha CY and that's a lot easier for me to play and make a decent sound. Maybe if I get good on the flute I'll try the stock headjoint. Thanks for this video. I get plenty of time to practice in my downtime driving truck.

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Chuck, was the Miyazawa a professional flute?

[@chuckgladfelter]

@@DoctorFlute it has the MZ7 headjoint.

[@potapotapotapotapotapota]

The headjoint hole makes a really big difference in your playing, not just the change in model level but the shape its cut to has a big impact on your embouchure. There are some professional models that are just very hard for me to play because the shape doesn't suit my embouchure.

[@DoctorFlute]

You are so right. Sometimes there would be too much to discuss in one video. But I find that as well.

[@eastmarvista3267]

Great great great informative video. Thank you so much.

[@DoctorFlute]

You are so welcome!

[@hamb4945]

Thank you for this demo. I've been wondering if just a head joint would make a difference on a flute.

[@DoctorFlute]

Are you ready to try?

[@BrentCraig7]

It works for me

[@DoctorFlute]

So you have a professional head on an intermediate body? What type do you have on what flute?

[@dalairem]

Thank you for this! This is something I've been pondering, but with a high quality wooden headjoint for my Sonare 705. It's my spare flute, and I love to play it, but I'd love to be able to do more with it. Also, I love the sound of wood with certain styles/periods of music. (NTM, indeed, I'm not up for the $17K wooden flute I've been coveting. 😉) You've inspired me to look into this further (i.e., trials) and see if it's something worth doing on that flute.

[@DoctorFlute]

Glad I could help! A wooden head joint would probably be quite lovely on your flute.

[@annpartridge4821]

Putting a professional headjoint on an intermediate flute made a huge difference for me, and left me with enough money to buy the pro piccolo of my dreams!

[@DoctorFlute]

Fantastic! What head joint did you use on your intermediate?

[@annpartridge4821]

@@DoctorFlute A Drelinger Up-Rite.

[@suedallimore231]

Hi. Great information thank you. I am nowhere at that level. I am 60 and have just picked up my Yamaha student flute after 30 odd years and loving it ! I want to improve as much as i can and am taking lessons again. I only got as far as Grade 5. I would love a new flute and have a budget of up to about £5K. I am unsure at which level flute I should be looking - would it be silly to spend £5k just because I can ? 😊

[@DoctorFlute]

How exciting and thank-you! That is quite the question. I usually give the advice that you should get the best flute for the amount that you want to spend. That said do you need that high level of a flute for your purposes? There is no wrong answer. At the level you say you are playing at you won't get the sound out of the flute that you will in a couple years. What you should absolutely have is an open hole, B foot, off set G and a solid silver head and body. If you have those things then you will be happy with your flute through the years.

[@VoidConfessions14]

is a haynes q2 a professional flute or intermediate

[@DoctorFlute]

Hello! A Haynes Q series would be on the low side of professional flutes. It’s a great instrument.

[@percyvolnar8010]

If your flute has a c# trill on it is above intermediate. C# trills do NOT appear on cheap flutes and advanced flutists really know how to use it.

[@DoctorFlute]

I have seen a C# trill on an intermediate body so they do exist. But professionals definitely need the C# trill more!

[@percyvolnar8010]

@@DoctorFlute yes, c# trills can appear on upper-intermediate tier flutes. And those flutes are usually a 'soldered tone holes' away from being a professional instrument. Which by the way, is a bunch of bollux. XD

[@MPahana]

Do you know anything about putting a vertical (ergonomic) head joint on an intermediate flute? Spinal arthritis has kept me from playing for many years. I'm hoping this may enable me to play again. I have a yamaha 481

[@DoctorFlute]

I don't know much about it. I have heard some people have used that type of head joint. I really hope that it helps you!

[@marjoriegrace-sayers2506]

Hi Dr. Flute! I have an original handmade Haynes from the 1970s. I purchased it from a classmate when it was only 2 years old and have had it for 45 years. Is there a newer head joint in silver that would improve the sound?

[@kryzak123]

Great video. Definitely been considering upgrading a headjoint some day in the future on my pre-pro flute (Yamaha 677), instead of fully upgrading to a pro flute, since I'll never really go professional and am just learning as a hobby. :)

[@DoctorFlute]

Hi Bernie! Even as a hobby you can have more fun with the tone you are looking for! I hope that you will be able to upgrade soon. Have fun hunting.

[@draveneno7664]

My music teacher is famous

[@DoctorFlute]

I see you Draven!

[@robertorossi5469]

non sai suonare