I don't want to strike up any controverses as to which is better, but I do have a question on headjoints. I have a Gem. 2SP which isn't the greatest flute that I bought 2 or 3 years ago for $75 out of a newspaper, and had it overhauled a month ago for alittle over $100 by my tech. I also have a Yamaha headjoint( I wanna say CY cut, not sure though) that came w/ a screwed up 225II a friend gave me. Obviously, I find the Yam. headj. gives a better response( not airy) than the Gem. headj.(airy) Is this because of undercutting or do other factors come into play. Also, the yamaha headj. is a tad bit loose, but is it possible these days to take it and get the part where the head goes to the body plated or something like that to fix the looseness? Sorry this is so long!

There are indeed diferences between headjoint cuts that cause us to adapt more to this one or to that one particular brand. But this is rather a personal choise, instead of simply a metter of a better brand and a worse brand. It's your playing that makes one or another headjoint sound better or worse.
And yes, It's possible to adjust a headjoint to fit the body. BTW, as commented recently in this forum, it's said that it's easier (not impossible though) to adjust a headjoint that is loose than another one that doesn't come in.

Zevang

P.S. Welcome to our forum :-)

Obviously, I find the Yam. headj. gives a better response( not airy) than the Gem. headj.(airy) Is this because of undercutting or do other factors come into play. Also, the yamaha headj. is a tad bit loose, but is it possible these days to take it and get the part where the head goes to the body plated or something like that to fix the looseness? Sorry this is so long!

The airiness may partially be a result of undercutting deficiencies or a raised burr on the North wall...(very common, very easy to fix) The Yamaha and Gemeinhardt are two radically different tapers..The hole geometry is also radically different.

Luckily, there is enough material on the Gemeinhardt to make it play a lot better with some knowledgeable hole fixing..

But you need to take it to someone who knows what they are doing.

Making the headjoint fit if a little loose is a piece of cake. Almost any reputable technician can do that for you.

$100 for a repad? Sheesh...

Joe B