Hey everyone, I am new here. What do you think about having a Solid Gold lip plate on a flute? I have a Pearl Flute with a Solid 10K Gold lip and I think I have a darker sound now than on my all silver headjoint. I am just interested in you opinions.
Thanks! your friend, Shawn

According to quite rigorous research, the material of your lip plate (and flute) has no perceivable difference in tone. As far as I know, research is not so thorough as regards response as you start a note.

There are many design factors OTHER than material that have a huge effect on tone. It is almost certain that if your flutes sound different, it is because of one of these other factors.

Solid gold lip plates may give a player fewer skin problems IF that player is allergic to certain metals.

Otherwise, the solid gold lip plate is almost certainly nothing more than a tool of marketing.

However, the human mind easily deceives itself, so if you have BELIEVE that a solid gold lip plate produces a better sound, you will very likely rise to the occasion and produce a better sound with such a feature.

Ah yes, we have been through this topic before. I still beleive as do a lot of others that the riser material does in fact change the sound.
It is likely that the person playing it is the only one that would truly notice any change in the sound though.

I also remember this all too well!!!
I have a gold lip plate, and I did notice a darker tone, but just bearly-maybe it was all in my head...
Gold is supposed to give clearer quality of tone, but it is more cosmetic than anything...