I am so excited. Tomorrow I have 4 headjoints coming to me for trial from JL Smith. By the way I just LOVE that company. Liz is such an awesome person!
She took the time to learn what I wanted and my embouchure style and then knew what to pick out for me.

Let's see... I have 2 Lopatin headjoints coming, an Miyazawa MZ7 (they sold the last MZ 8) and a Williams.

I love headjoint shopping. I sold my Sankyo (even though I really like it a lot) only because it is half way between a wave and a regular style and I found out that anything with a wave just messes with my embouchure. I seem to want to roll in too much and tend to go flat.

I played on my Powell headjoint tonight at rehearsal I didn't realize the tunning issues that I was making up for when using the Sankyo head on my Powell. It must be that whole Japansese thing going with me again. I love Japanese made flutes, but for some reason, I just don't agree with me.

I wish I could play my Powell headjoint more regularly as it is awesome, but a lot of times, I just don't have enough air to play it.

Any thoughts on headjoint styles, I would love to hear as I would like to hear what others like also.

<Added>

"I just don't agree with me."

Sorry, it should read:

THEY just don't agree with me.

Kara, I think Williams makes one with gold lip plate and platinum riser, if you try that, let me know what you think of it

Hi Patrick,

I did get the headjoints early this morning and have been playing on them for the past two hours.

I only have an all silver Wiliams in the bunch right now and so far it is my favorite. I would love to try the one with the gold lip and platinum riser, but it is out of my price range at the moment. The Williams is just beautiful and so melodic. I can shade my tones and colors very nicely on it.
Have you tried the gold lip with the platinum riser on one yet?
If so, what did you think? Maybe I should wait and let my nest egg mature a bit more and try that, it might be worth it.

I still adore my Powell headjoint, but again, it just take way too much air for me to play on everyday where as the Williams has a smaller embouchure hole and take less air for me.

I think that the Miyazawa MZ 7 might be just a tad bit to edgy and aggressive sounding for my taste, but it is very nice, so I am not ruling it out just yet.

The two Lopatins are also nice, but a bit darker sounding where as I prefer a bit lighter and brighter sound.

That is my conclusion for now, but I have a whole week to test them and drive my husband nuts with, so we will see. So far the Williams (Of course the most expensive new one) is in the lead.

no I didnt try that one, that's why I was wondering, I imagine it is something else. I did try one of his gold headjoints on another Haynes once and it was great, I only didn't get one when I got this old Haynes because I got such an amazing deal on this Jack Moore

get a yamaha

A Yamaha headjoint? Thanks but no thanks. Are you even familiar with professional style headjoints and what is out there? I only ask because of what you recommend to put on my Powell flute. I find it kind of odd.

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Sorry, I didn't realize that you were just pulling muy leg. Lol!

Yeah Kara, come on. Lopatin? Williams? Miyazawa? That's kid stuff. The headjoint you need for your Powell is a Gemeinhardt, Emerson or Armstrong. Then you'll be playing with the big dogs.

Lol, Tim!!! Mabye I should try that Armstong 'Hot Head' that is on ebay right now.

I just remeber when I was 13, I thought that my Selmer Signet was the bomb and a really french professional model at the time. Then I stepped out into the real world where they make gold and platinum flutes. I didn't even know they made solid silver flutes at that age, but I sure thought I knew it all. Lol!!

<Added>

Here it the update on the headjoint trial.
I used my husbands good ear to tell me what he thought. He knows his flutes, but doesn't play one. I wish I could get him to!

This is kind of funny. He actually like my Powell headjoint the best, then the Williams. He despised the Miyazawa it sounded to scraching and harsh. The lopatins he thought were okay, but just liked the Williams better.

I like my Powell too and now I don't know what to do. I really like the Williams a lot too. My husband is trying to tell me that I would be waisting money by buying another headjoint when my Powell one sounds wonderful. It does...but it just takes so much work and too much air for me to play. He tells me to exercise more and I will get the hang or it. What do you think?

The Williams is easier to play for me and sounds equaily as nice as my Powell.

What do you guys think? Will I ever get used to the Powell with more exercise or should I take the eaier rought and cheat and get the Williams which is a more free blowing heajoint that takes less air?

So many options!! Help.. the headjoints are sucking me in!!!!!

it seems, from my experience, that the headjoints that deliver the most range of color are those that require a little more work and control. The lure of the really modern headjoints is the ease of tone production, but it seems with many of them that the tone is all frosting and no cake.
I like Williams and Jack Moore because they are easier to play yet are traditional cut, fuller, cleaner tone

Yes, I agree with you Patrick. After taking a break last night and then going back to the flute, I played on the Williams head and just absolutely loved it. The sound is sweeter then the Powell and easier to play, yet I can get all sorts of tones and colors on it and it is very easy to control. The amount of resistance is just perfect for me. It is not lacking in the any register like some. It doesn't have a lot of that buzzing sound that you do get from the more modern headjoints, that I really like. It is just a pure sweet sound.

I am just going to bite the bullet and buy this one and maybe even sell my Powell since I am never really going to use it. I figure, why make the flute any harder then it has to be. I am tired of loosing all my air and contently struggling on the Powell. Some days are fine, but when my asthmas acts up it is a nightmare to try and play. The Williams has a much sweeter fluid like sound that I prefer anyway.

I am going to play on it all this week and still some of the others before jumping into a final decision, but for now, I really have my heart set on the Williams.

Thanks for your help Patrick.

no problem, sounds like a good choice, remember, I believe Williams worked at Powell, so it is all part of the Boston sound you, and I , prefer...

Hey Kara, what cut is your Powell headjoint? I might be intersted if you decide to sell it. I just got my Signature in today, and so far I like it better than my old Muramatsu. The sound is lighter, and the mechanism is noiseless. It is heavier than the Muramatsu, however.

The headjoint is quite freeblowing and has little resistance, so the sound is somewhat thin. I'm sure once I get used to it, I can coax some larger sounds. I'll probably end up buying a different headjoint though. Powell also made some changes to the case, it's now velvet lined rather than those brown blocks. I like it better.

Patrick, I didn't know that he worked for Powell. Well, no wonder I like the headjoint so much! I just love my powell headjoint.

Tim,
My Powell headjoint is a Philharmonic cut (the most popular) and it has a 14K riser, engraved lip (no I am not the one who engraved it) and a blue topaz gemstone crown on it. I picked it out of over 40 different headjoints at the Powell factory and even the people that heard it at Powell said it was a real gem. I am undecided as if I am going to sell it yet. I would be happy to send it off to you so you could try it though, if you are really interested in buying it. I would need to replace it because I was using it on my backup Yamaha flute and I don't have the original silver plated head that goes with it, so I might even be interested in using your Signature head as a trade in, if you were going to sell it.

Micron,
I really wanted to try on so badly. I was hoping to get one with a tin riser. Lol!! I might melt down the hub caps on my car and make a spiffy headjoint.

Kara, did you end up getting the Williams? Did you get the one with the controversial Adler Wings? How do you like it?

Also, I believe I'm going to have to join you on the Powell crusade. My new Powell is amazing. The headjoint (which I've decided to keep btw) is more freeblowing than my Muramatsu, so it takes a little more work to get a focused sound and tonal flexibility, but the overtones are so worth it. It's made practicing much easier and more enjoyable. The biggest compliment is that my cat will now emerge from under the bed since I've started playing the Powell.