Hey all,

I just wanted to ask:

Since I have always played on a student silver plated Yamaha with a silver head, will upgrading the head to something like a Burkart, Nagahara or Powell do anything to the sound? Also, does the quality of the body change anything in terms of sound production/projection?

Thanks

Sure, it will help some with articulation etc... but I have never found a huge difference by putting a handmade headjoint on a student body. And yes, the body of the flute will still impact on how the headjoint sounds and plays. A headjoint will never sound or react the same on every body of flute. These are just my findings.

How are the Sonare line of flutes? I see an SF-5 series on winds101.com for $999.

Well,4 the 5 series brand new at FW with pointed arms are $1099, so unless hers is a brand new one or it is not the model I am thinking of, then it is not a deal. I like the new Sonares but not the older models. Make sure to find out what model it is exactly first. I think that the Azumis are the best in that price range personally. You might want to check with Ann at the Flute Market who posts on here as I know she is always getting in high quality used flutes a gives good deals.

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Okay, I am not sure why my for posted as a 4??? I know I didn't write it like that. I hate abbreviations like that. Weird! Sorry about that.

Kara,

I know you've like tried as many headjoints one could imagine...so which would you consider more worthwhile. Right now, I plan on attempting what's called a diploma level grade (it's called an "Associate Musician of Australia" in the AMEB)and I was looking for a sound nicer than a student Yamaha flute.

This week some time, I've got a few Nagahara, Dana Sheridan and I think some Powell Signature headjoints coming up from Sydney. Only the Signature is within my price range, I would imagine. I don't think I would spend $AU2500 on a Nagahara headjoint just yet.

So, in your honest opinion, is it worth purchasing a new headjoint for a silver plated Yamaha? Or should I wait and maybe get a Sonare, maybe 6 or 7 series, with a Signature?

Thanks for your help

In all honesty, no I don't think it is worth it to spend that much money for a handmade headjoint to put on your current flute. If you spend a good amount of time working with your embouchure then you should be able to get a very nice sound just out of the student Yamaha headjoint. They are pretty good headjoints after all. I had to use one on my flute for a week or so while my Nagahara was out getting engraved and no one would have known the wiser. I think that the biggest change with headjoints is how we the player respond to them. We are going to hear more of a difference than our audience will. Granted, articulation will most likely be the most noticeable on a handmade headjoint though. That is IF you have the right one for you and your personal style.

As far as headjoints go, I do have my favorite BUT, what works great for me may not for you so that is a very highly subjective thing. It is like a pair of shoes. A size 8 may fit my feet perfectly but not yours. Same thing goes for your embouchure and how you play. I am sorry that I can't give you a more definite answer, but I think that it is still good that you are at least trying some headjoints out for yourself. Good luck with it and keep us updated. If you need any more help, let us know.

if a hand made headjoints not going to make much difference on your current yamaha body why not purchase something like a yamaha 6 or 7 series(or a better speced pearl) then save for a new headjoint if it is still needed that why you do get the better headjoint (well for alot of people the cut on the higher series headjoints is better) and still get a better mechanism.

Hey all,

damn, those heads I asked for weren't brought up and the agent who was supposed to bring them up said she was looking through available stock that she could let me try. Maybe another week though...

Anyways, if I was to buy a new flute with a better head, I'd have to sell my Yamaha 371, and I'm not sure how much I could get with that. Out of brands like Sonare, Azumi, Resona and Muramatsu, which would you guys recommend for the lowest end model? Actually, would it matter, for those four makers, if i got all silver or just a silver head? I'm sorta weighing a heap of things up here... so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Haha...I just noticed how messy everything looked up there so I'll make dot points for my questions:

1. How much, in Australian dollars, could I sell a Yamaha 371 for (less than a year old)
2. Which brand makes the most affordable, good quality flute out of Sonare (5 Series), Azumi (2000 Series), Resona (no idea which series, but the lowest end) and Muramatsu (EX)
3. Does it matter if the body of the flute is silver or just silver plated? If it does then, Sonare (6 series), Azumi (3000 series), Resona (whichever series has silver bodies) and Muramatsu (GX)

Thanks!

Two years ago, my uncle - a local repair tech, like many others, so eager to want me to change to a better flute, I refused, I love my Yamaha 211, then he gave me all his NEW headjoints and fit them into my 211 body...

http://x53.xanga.com/bf8f146551635209697169/o163412404.jpg

from top to bottom:
I have Wooden Head (I even have a bamboo head)
then Sonare's Powell Signature silver headjoint (I tried P-cut too)
then Jack Moore handmade silver headjoint
then my grandma's gift - Sankyo Artist's stock NRS-1 silver headjoint
then Muramatsu GX silver headjoint
then Yamaha 371 CY silver headjoint (I tried EC and BC too)

I tried almost every headjoint, and yes I still own those headjoints in the picture (before some vendor come out again and accuse me of stealing other vendors photos)

My teachers tried them too, and they are principals or ex-principals, they all tell me the intonations are bad if you tried to fit into a Yamaha. Becoz most flute body are designed differently, they only match correctly with their STOCK headjoints!! If two different brands combine together, you will get unexpected problems!! My teachers forbidden me to use them(headjoints).

So, I never use those headjoints again, I stick with my Yamaha 211 for 4 years, never changed, I want to make the most of it before change to a new pro-flute.

So my advice as a 14 and a half yo little boy(you can take it lightly): if you have REALLY maximized your 371, then get a new very expensive Powell (conservatory or more expensive ones, 9K aurumite or 12K aurumite is the best), instead of buying middle cheap range pro-flutes.

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BTW, here's my sucky playing with my Yamaha 211:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW7cmd3HJeE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43tB4xEu4eA

Will a new headjoint do anything for the sound?
Well, yes and no.
No, because it is the player that creates the tone. Unless your ear (listen to LOTS of very good flutists) and your embouchure (practice tone...lots!) can create a good sound, a different headjoint will not magically make you sound better.
But... I do also have to say that yes, a new headjoint CAN affect your sound. You may find that a particular headjoint makes it easier to get the notes to speak, (or articulate) so you can concentrate more on, say, tone color and intonation and dynamics, without focusing so much on whether or not that high (or low) note is going to come out at all. So at that point, you can DEVELOP your tone/sound more easily.

The question will be whether a different headjoint will suit you. For lots and lots of excellent advancing flutists, the stock Yamaha CY will suit perfectly well. For others, another headjoint cut might be preferable.

If I personally had a limited budget, (say my flute was stolen, and I had to replace it out of my own pocket right now...) I would probably have a handmade headjoint on a student flute.

The taper of the head is definitely designed for a particular flute, but to say that only the stock headjoint is designed to work on a particular flute is going a bit too far. Some different HJs will indeed screw up the scale, and have you spending too much effort on intonation, but others will work fine. Once again, and Kara is RIGHT on the mark about this, you just have to try them out and see what happens.

The EX would be my top choice. I found it to be the best made and sounding out of any on your list. And no, it silver content does not matter. It is the design of the flute that is going to make it matter. You may also consider looking into the low end line of Miyazawa. I just changed to a Miyazawa after playing on a Powell for almost five years and I LOVE IT! A lot of people that don't know much about brand will name a Powell or Haynes to get only because that it all they are familiar with and have heard the most about them. There are so many more brands of handmade flute out there if you go and choose that route.