Well, I decided to get myself a red doubler for busking and taking to the pub. I went for a lindo one as they are nickel, as opposed to the others on offer that are made of brass.

At first it sounded really airy but it turned out that was the very square hole that I'm not used to. Once i was used to it, i really liked the sound in the lower range, very different from that achieved by my miyazawa 102, with it's oval hole. I mean, I actually prefer it... not what I was expecting. I have also a yamaha 211 here (borrowed and needs returning shortly...) which is sort of in between the embouchure holes, squarer than the miya, not as the lindo.

The lindo achieves the high notes as well and as easily as the 211, obviously the miya is miles ahead in the top range. The mid range is ok as well.

Jumping between the octaves slurring is about on par with the 211. This flute is not based on the 211 at all. I have never seen the position of the adjusters on another flute, nor the hole shape.

The down sides:

A3 is flat. very flat. i have to pout for Scotland to play it in tune.

The lacquer is not perfect. There are minor imperfections in a few places. Nothing that affects the play, nor can be seen apart from close up.

The low C lever is quite high compared to the C#, difficult for my little finger to slide. I'm going to dismantle the foot and shave some off it. (note: I have tiny hands!)

...

Well, I'm glad i got it, especially since it has opened my eyes about the square hole. It remains to be seen the ratio of playing it to fixing it, so we wait with baited breath!

i'm now looking up places i can try better headjoints with the square cut

I checked out pics of some of the new Lindos on ebay UK. Hard to see the 'square-ness' of the embouchure hole tho', prolly cause pics at an angle.

We have plenty of colored flutes to choose from in the US (ebay stuff). Mendini by Cecilio, Lazzaro, and Venus. I think the Lindos are the same as one of these just with a different name for a different market. The Mendinis seem to have very square cuts; the Venuses seem close to the Lindo. I suspect the Venuses (Venii?) are better-made than the Mendinis. There's also a brand called DC Pro; these seem to be the exact same cheapo stuff billed at five-six times the price...

Thanks for your post; gives me yet another reason to throw money at one of these, maybe if only to have the headjoint. I really like the look of one of the Mendinis in gold sandblast!

Be very careful to ensure you know what the flute is made of before you buy. If it is brass (like my old buffet flute) it will take you a jar of vaseline to get the joints together once the plating wipes off, also the brass will come through in other places and look generally awful.

Yes, I think bending the key is an excellent idea, thanks!

There is a guy who makes square embouchures, he's called Lopatin but his flutes are a 'little' out of my price range. And to be honest so are his head joints, especially when UK import duty is put on it, as they only sell in america. Besides, I don't think paying alot of money for a headjoint I have never tried is the best idea! But still, I have my little red flute!

Putting cork grease or vaseline on uncorked tenons is not advisable. It gums up and collects grit, which makes it harder to assemble and disassemble in the long run. Careful use of an abrasive polish (only on the tenons!) makes the flute go together much easier.

I don't know about Lopatin's embouchure holes (Why do a lot of people say embrochure?) but he makes flutes with square tone holes.

Maybe the "embouchure hole" is just posh (or the opposite, one could sumise...)

The embouchure hole is the thing you blow across & the tone holes are the holes closed when you press the keys.

The embouchure hole on the Lopatin headjoints don't look any more square than my Boosey and Hawkes Emperor flute!!! That square tone holed flute looks weird though! Imagine turning up at an audition with that!!!!

I know a player who has an early square hole Lopatin - it makes a super sound. Although I expect that person would produce a great sound out of the cheapest & nastiest Far Eastern heap of rubbish!

Embrasure, Webster's dictionary: n. the splay or bevel of a door or window where the sides slant on the inside; opening in a parapet of a fort to allow cannon fire [Fr.]

So, if you want to shape your mouth (bouche) to make a nice sound with your instrument, or the hole in the flute where you blow to make said nice sound, talk about embouchure.

If you want to make sounds like wind blowing through the window, or cannon fire, use embrasure!!

My small, paperback Webster's dictionary has embrasure, but not embouchure, so it's quite possible that someone looking it up, trying to spell it properly or finding its meaning, runs into embrasure and goes with that word instead of the proper embouchure.

LOL!!! Education at it's best!

ok I give up. I can't find it. There was a photo on the internet somewhere of a nicely square hole and it said it was a lopatin. And yes I've had arguments with people over the name of the hole you blow into.

I'm struggling to see the hole shape clearly in pictures of the different heads as they always seem to tip the flute to show the lip plate. The american flutes definately seem to have a squarer cut though, particularly the nagahara ones.

Living 500 miles from the nearest decent flute shop sucks.