I'm surprised --- I really thought wooden flutes would be less expensive.

If you make a mistake making a metal flute, you can always melt it down and start over. That's not the case with wooden flutes.

Let me state again that I think most flutes are made of metal because it is a lot easier to work with than wood (and a lot easier to mass produce!).

Micron:

I've seen wooden flutes wherein the embouchure hole was "cut" into the head-joint.

I've also seen wooden flutes that had (I'm guessing) silver embouchure plates?

Just wondered if (either) plays any part on what you addressed above?

Thanks. Jim

Thank you, Micron:

That answers my question and I appreciate it.

Regards, Jim

http://cgi.ebay.com/MOENNIG-BROS-SILVER-BRASS-PLATE-METAL-CLARINET-GERMANY_W0QQitemZ310004393210QQihZ021QQcategoryZ47098QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thought you'd enjoy this

http://cgi.ebay.com/LEBLANC-PARIS-METAL-CONTRA-BASS-CLARINET_W0QQitemZ180188721480QQihZ008QQcategoryZ10182QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
A metal *bass* clarinet. Quite uncommon.

Thank you for the links, Pletko!

Jim

Back to Boehm's preferences.

1846 --- He experiments with different metals, decides on silver for the best tone quality and least fatiguing to play.

According to Folkers & Powell, Boehm changed his preference from all silver, to all wood, to silver body with wood headjoint.

See Theobald Boehm headjoint description on the following web page.

http://www.headjoints.com/

Thank you for your up-date and link, dio.

Best Regards, Jim

This makes sense, when you think about it. I used to play clarinet years ago and a common problem with wood instruments is that they really only last about 10-15 years at most before they begin to suffer from the bore getting out of round and other problems. Talk to any professional clarinet or oboe player and they'll say that sometimes it's only a few years before the thing gets "played out" and needs to be replaced or have a major overhaul.

So, while wood may sound better, it's a very very poor choice for the main body of an instrument. For a headjoint, though, it's perfect. You get the sound you want and yes, it lasts a decade or so and then needs to be replaced, but the body is still as good as new most likely. Instead of replacing the worn out wood flute, you only replace the $800-$1000 or so headjoint.

Note - this is for professional level use. An older wood clarinet or flute/headjoint is still good for practice and such for well beyond its "optimal" period.

<Added>

http://www.naylors-woodwind-repair.com/Grenadilla.htm

A good article on the problems and solutions to wood care in instruments. As you can see, metal has a near total lack of any of these issues, which is why it is popular in flutes.

Nice feed-back, Pletko.

Thanks for the info and the link.

Jim