Has anyone here tried a Lopatin headjoint or the newer Miyazawa MZ-8 yet? If so, what were your thoughts on them? Thanks!

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Oh, and one more..what about a Goosman butterfly headjoint?

I've played the Butterfly and a Lopatin "Scherzo." I haven't played the Miyazawa you mentioned. The butterfly was interesting, but I definitely wouldn't want it as a standard headjoint. Maybe if money is no object you might get it for special effects or a certain modern piece. It definitely produced a loud, clear sound as advertised, but there's wasn't much variety or subtleness.

The Lopatin I liked better. The particular cut I played was also very responsive and freeblowing, but it had a more expressive tonal spectrum. This would be my 2nd choice for a headjoint upgrade below the Nagahara "Ardore."

But then again, what works for me probably won't be what works for you. This was just my experience with them.

Thanks Tim! I am not able to try the Goosman anyway because it is too big for my flute. I will be getting the Miya and the Lopatin on Friday. I will let you know what I think. It sounds like the Goosman butterfly would be too bold for me anyway.

I moved my computer into my music room so that I could make some recording in peace and quite. No more silly rabbit noises will be in my recording anymore. Lol! Everytime I tried to record, one would thump, snort or drink out of the noisy water bottle. Ugh! So I think I might make a few more and I will post them on here.

Yes, I'd love to hear your thoughts on those headjoints. Have you tried the Burkart M2 or the Sankyo FT? I'd like to try those.

And thank you for making sure there are no rabbit noises in your recordings. I'm fine with snakes and spiders and bats, but rabbits freak me out. Strange phobia, I know, but just the sight of a rabbit gets my heart racing. I run cross country, and the other runners have to tell me if a rabbit's in the path so I can look the other way.

And by the way, I ordered my Powell on Saturday from Dave Kessler. I'm stupidly excited, I took Thursday off work just to stay home and play it.

Ooh..fun!!! They are great at Kessler's, aren't they!?
I talk to Dave quite often to get the scoop on new flutes and headjoints.

I did try the FT and it was nice. It had the perfect amount of resistance for me. It had a very well focused sound, but I think it was a little bit too straight forward for me. I still like the NRS1, I can produce a lot of tones and colors on it where the FT didn't.

I have only tried two Burkarts headjoints and did not care for either one. I have no idea which ones they were, sorry.

So did you get the Powell Signature? Do you love it? I really liked it and used to own one. The only thing I didn't like that much was the headjoint that it came with. It was really airy sounding to me. I put a Brannen head on it and it was wonderful!

I hope your joking about bunnies. Lol! My bunnies do get pretty scary at times if you have an open jar of peanut butter though. They will chase you around the house and lunge at you till you give them some. My bunnies are just not normal!

I initially played on a miyazawa MZ-7 when i bought my miyazawa but have recently also bought a MZ-8. Its has a great huge powerfull sound but lacks the extreme flexibilty of colour and that I can get on the MZ-7 its great to have both as they out perform each other in various situations.

Yes, I did get the Signature. It hasn't arrived yet, I'm still waiting on it to come in the mail. Maybe I'll make a recording of it when it does come in, and we've gotten acquainted with each other. I think my girlfriend's going to be jealous.

I agree with you about the Signature headjoint, I plan on going to the Texas Flute Society Convention in May and playing tons of headjoints and piccolos. A new headjoint and a piccolo will be my next items added to my flute !*****!nal.

And sadly, I'm NOT joking about the rabbits - they're evil. Little hopping demons.

Ha, the censored word is a.r.s.e.n.a.l.... That's funny

if you are looking for a headjoint, try a David Williams, they have a haunting tone sometimes

And sadly, I'm NOT joking about the rabbits - they're evil. Little hopping demons.

Now that is NOT nice!! Lol!! My bunnies give me kisses and lots of love. They are full of affection.

Patrick, thanks of the tip. I tried a williams a while back, but that was on my Muramatsu flute and unfortunetly, I just didn't like any head much on that particular flute.

Graham, thnks. I am looking for a big sound. I really need something that is going to project. I am in a band where the dang brass over powers everything.

How come it will let you type it? It filled mine in with asterisks. Not fair.

Why wouldn't we be able to write the word !*****!nal on here? Weid.


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Hey! It did it to me too. Micron must have the magic touch or the mods just like him. Lol!!

I have had my Goosman butterfly headjoint for more than 12 years now and LOVE it. Mine is solid silver with a gold riser. I play it on a Powell thin wall that was built in the mid 70s. I am surprised you wouldn't be able to fit one on your flute, Kara! I had to have the tenon adjusted larger to fit my flute.

I don't find the sound overpowering at all - it has a very sweet sound that projects, is very flexible and has great dynamic range. I honestly don't plan to ever trade it for anything!

I haven't tried any other headjoints since I bought mine, but when I was trying mine (at an NFA convention) I tried everything that would fit into my flute and the only one that stood out was the Goosman.

Maybe this wa a newer one I was trying and the bore sizes have changed on them? I was told that the ones that were made 10 + years ago were the best when they were still being made by the Mr. Goosman himself. I guess his he passed his trade onto his wife and she is making them now.

I didn't get to try it on my flute, but the staff at Flute World tried it on a Powell that they had at their store and said it didn't fit, that it was too big. The headjoint is the used one that they are selling on thier site.

Since you have a thin wall that was made earlier then mine, then that may be why. I have a newer model and I ordered it to be .016 wall, so I really don't think that it would fit mine. It may have been resized by the original owner at one time also.

Dang! I wish I could try that one now.

Mine was made by Mr. Goosman himself. That year at the convention, I think they pretty much sold out of their headjoints - I really love mine and have not been surprised to see that they are rarely listed for sale used.

Maybe the used one at Flute World had been resized to fit another flute?