Has anyone ever played on Yamaha's AC, M and K style head joints?

And does anyone know if it's optional whether you can get the AC or EC on the 500-600 yamaha flute models?

I think the EC hj is standard on the 500 and 600's. I've only tried the EC and CY. I like the EC better.

Yes, it is optional. You can check the yamaha website. There us a variety of headjoints you can choose for the 500s to 600s flute. But if you don't specify any particular preference, then you should probably expect an EC to come automatically.

I've never tried any of those headjoints, but I do have the 584 with the EC headjoint. It's great. Good projection.

However, I've never heard about a "K" cut. Does it really exist?

In a Yamaha organised flute masterclass, they told us

**1 = comes with CY headjoint
**4 = comes with EC headjoint
**3 = comes with BC headjoint(not quite sure)

so you see 584 or 674 means comes with EC high-riser headjoint.

There is also 581 or 681 or 711 or 881 or 981, there are masters using **1 CY handmade headjoints, pls don't think CY headjoints are all for students like in 221,371,481.

<Added>

I once played my uncle's 313 that comes with BC headjoint, high notes sounded stuffy and mute, I suspect that's the reason they no longer sell **3

the last number in a model number on a yamaha flute refers to the body type ( at least I'm pretty sure, correct me if I'm wrong)

Here's a spec chart from a Yamaha website that may help ...

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/winds/index.htm

Click the "Woodwinds" icon near the bottom left, then "Specifications TOP" in the upper right area, then "Flutes." (You might need to enable cookies....)

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail.html?CNTID=2186&CTID=237800

I'm back. Now that I have time...I found the website for you. Click "Accessories" and you will see that you can choose a specific headjoint that you desire.

Pyrioni might be right with the diff end-number designations...but either way, it doesn't matter. To answer your answers YES it is optional. But you would have to make that specification when you order the flute.

<Added>

*To answer your QUESTION (not "answers" that's silly lol)

http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/winds/product/wood/flute/800/index.htm

"800 series flutes are individually crafted out of sterling silver, and two basic styles are available. Type 1 series flutes are our traditional models and feature a refined, clear sound with extremely sensitive response. They are especially suited for solo and chamber music performance. Type 4 flutes are created with the orchestral player in mind and maintain a focused tone in any range, at any dynamic, in any hall."

I'm pretty sure about the end number, we asked the Japanese, they said **1 is for CY, **4 is for EC.

Also, if you are using CY, the body has to use type 1 body too, otherwise the intonation could be wrong, my teacher was a local principal flutist once told me when I used other headjoints the intonation was slightly different or wrong!! Maybe because of the CY 2-stage taper, they have to adjust the body as well. That's why I can only CY for my type 1 body flute.

If you are using EC, the body has to use type 4 body, otherwise, you may have other problems, for example scale intonation, and if you use type 1 body but you use EC headjoint, you may blow too much energy into the tube with your high-riser EC head and then your type-1 body may not be able to contain the energy - it's like playing high-bass sound on a small speaker.

<Added>

basically, CY is for solo artists, and EC is for orchestra players(with bigger volume and better projection)

I really don't mean to start a war here, but that really is the biggest load of crap that I have ever heard! Yamaha headjoints ARE interchangeable. I have never heard such a thing and have experienced many different cuts of Yamaha heads on Yamaha flutes. Now in my opinion Yamaha flutes have a wacky scale to begin with, so the tuning is a pain anyway on them.

200 -400 series come with a CY headjoint
500 on up come standard with an EC headjoint but a different cut can be substituted on them. Take a look at Flute World or call the Yamaha corporation to confirm.

**1 = type 1 body comes with CY headjoint (still using)
**2 = type 2 body comes with AC headjoint (still using)
**3 = type 3 body comes with BC headjoint (no long avail)
**4 = type 4 body comes with EC headjoint (still using)
**5 = type 5 body comes with ?? headjoint (no longer avail)

If you don't believe me check out the latest Handmade Yamaha Catalogue Book that the Japanese gave me during their masterclass (pls enlarge the photo to see they body type and headjoint type):

**1
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad112/pyrioni15/IMG_0001
**4
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad112/pyrioni15/IMG.jpg
**2
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad112/pyrioni15/IMG_0002.jpg

So you see, I am not lying, I never lie, I always come up with proofs. You can see from the catalogue that even 881H and 981H are using CY headjoint !!!

They told me it is best to use CY on type 1 body which was designed for CY, and AC type 2 for AC and type 4 for EC. Yes, you can interchange headjoint, they even have new headjoints - TYPE K and TYPE M - too many pages I will not scan and upload anymore, but if you want to continue arguing, I might scan the whole book to prove it.

My teacher a principal plays Yamaha for 30 over years played my Yamaha with different headjoints interchanged, and told me that if you change headjoint, you can hear the scale changed slight. My teacher told me "never change the stock headjoint!!"

Unlike you Kara, Kate or whatever names, you always calling people talking craps without any physically proof. I mean what kind of personality uses dirty words all the time?

<Added>

sorry, forgot to type .jpg

here is **1 ~ type 1 with CY headjoint:
http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad112/pyrioni15/IMG_0001.jpg

<Added>

I mean why would people think it's an argument? or even WAR? It's an exchange of ideas and information here on this forum. Unless you intended to start a WAR in your mind. now I have time free, my winter school holiday.

"However, I've never heard about a 'K' cut. Does it really exist?"

Hi spark12, this is in the latest Yamaha catalogue book that the Japanese gave me, becuz I told them I might buy a handmade Yamaha, type K and type M and type C are their new design:

http://i927.photobucket.com/albums/ad112/pyrioni15/IMG_0003.jpg

enlarge photo to see the details.

<Added>

don't worry, I am not a seller, salesman, vendor, nor a spokesman for any brand, I'm just a 15 yr old who loves Yamaha. :)
don't trust vendors, they lie all the time or mislead you.

<Added>

they are like dictators of forum, they are here 24/7/365 preying on victims, drive away or silence the dissidents....

Pyrioni.

The last time you came on here you caused a few respected members to leave, now your at it again.
Now they are starting to come back,(thankfully) you suddenly appear and start trouble again.

GO AWAY,,,, go bug another forum.

Just GO AWAY.

< My teacher told me "never change the stock headjoint!!" >

If that were really true, than why would we ever have any conversations about upgrading and changing headjoints? That makes no sense to me.

<If that were really true, than why would we ever have any conversations about upgrading and changing headjoints? That makes no sense to me.>

Stock headjoint means 'the best match from factory' or 'designed for', You can change headjoint of course, you change headjoint for different effects or styles you want to play, but you have compromise.


<Added>

have to compromise...

masters and old teachers they immediately adjust to new headjoints, they have good ears, but we students take long long time to adapt or never adapt.

Pyrioni, I think what you are misunderstanding is that if what you are saying is true (which I don't know) with the end number designations....it doesn't matter. To rephrase what Kara said...
Let's say you order a **3 or whatever, and you didn't specify anything, then you should expect a _____ headjoint that was desginated for that end-number. But let's say you want something else, like a headjoint with a S cut. Then you'd order a **3, but you'll specifically request for a headjoint w/ an S cut instead. And that IS allowed b/c Yamaha does give you an option of what kind of headjoint you want.

So at the end of the day...Maybe what you said was true w/ the end-number designation. But what does stand true all the time is that the headjoints ARE interchangeable so long as you actually tell the people what you want.

<Added>

I'm sure Pyrioni is not a troll, though. He likes to post back-to-back...and likes to write a lot. But he is just trying to help.