Please help! I'm going to be upgrading my flute by upgrading my head-joint. I'm looking into 14K Rose-Gold lip rise plate headjoint. I have a Gemeinhardt flute but looking at a different brand headjoint because Gemeinhardt doesn't have rose-gold. How do I know if the headjoint fits or playes well with my model? Thanks!

In my opinion, you would be further ahead by buying a better flute body to put a professional headjoint on if you really wanted an upgrade. Headjoints can be fitted by a competent repair tech.

Almost anything would help your poor gemeinhardt head.

I'd suggest skipping the rose gold and get a better flute. A 200 series yamaha in good repair would probably make you sound better than a crappy gemeinhardt body with a good hj.

My problem is I have limited money, only like 2,500 and I won't be getting any more money soon. It would take many more years for me to save enough money to buy a whole new flute that I want. I have a professional model flute (sterling silver, open hole, split-E, C# trill, B-foot, etc.) that I got three years ago on a great sale but I was trying flutes at the Midwest Convention and I just fell in love with the rose-gold plate. If you guys don't think it's smart, I won't. I was just wondering...

Rose gold plating is completely cosmetic and will not affect your tone at all.

For the money you want to spend ($2500), you can purchase a REALLY GOOD used flute with a great headjoint.

Don't spend the entire amount on only a headjoint to use on a mediocre flute. Whatever Gemeinhardt says, it does not really create "professional" level flutes. Sterling silver, open holes, B foot, split E, and fancy trill keys DO NOT automatically create a quality flute comparable to instruments from other makers!

You can try out used flutes from Flute World, J.L. Smith & Company, Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company, or other quality sellers. They'll send you the instruments to try out. Used flutes in your price range to look for: Yamaha, Miyazawa, Muramatsu, Altus, and Haynes.

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And don't worry about buying a "used" flute. Most of the time, what you will receive is a shiny, overhauled, and completely perfect flute that looks nearly new. The quality will often be BETTER than what the same maker produces today. You'll see this when you receive trial flutes to test at home.

Please don't get hung up on cosmetic appearances such as a rose gold plating. It has no effect at all on the actual sound you produce.

I agree with Travel. Gemeinhardt doesn't even make a C# trill key on any of their models as far as I know. What model is this?
And think that you are referring to a gold riser? You are not talking about plated rose gold correct?

Sorry, I don't have a C# trill but that thing that makes it come out "cleaner". My flute is nice but I just liked the pearl headjoint better on my flute (I used my body). I've already researched buying new used flutes and fluteworld.com. The only flutes they have under 2,500 are actually under 1,000 which makes me very itchy to try them and every other one is 3,000 up. I was looking at a riser, sorry.
Say I just want a new headjoint because I know I get much better sound out of a certian brand (nevermind the rose-gold). Is that possible?

Here's a nice 500 series yamaha which is $2,314 http://www.fluteworld.com/index.php?action=prod&wart=51459&ppk=flut

Here's a nice Pearl for $2,119 http://www.fluteworld.com/index.php?action=prod&wart=14301&ppk=flut

Are these not good enough for you? They'd probably sound a ton better than your gemeinhardt...

Maybe she likes her Gemeinhardt body and that is what she is used to. We all have our preferences. For example, to me, that Pearl model is no better than a Gemeinhardt. The Pearl models made in Japan are good though.

Now, what thing are you reffering to that make is "cleaner" sounding? I want one too!

Sure, you can put a different headjoint on the body of your flute, if you prefer something different than the Gemeinhardt head that came on your flute. I do think it is rather a waste of money though to get an expensive professional headjoint to put on a student line flute unless the flute is really made well and will give you a good mechanism to accommodate that better sound that the headjoint may give you. Which style of Pearl headjoint are you speaking of? I know that they have one that comes on their lower end student line models that I think is horrible and would not be much of any improvement over your current Gemeinhardt headjoint. Suzie knows more about them than I do and would know which one I am talking about.
Most all professional headjont makers offer an option of a rose gold riser and/or lip plate.

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Out of curiosity, what model of flute do you own?

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Okay, I just looked up Pearl flutes at FW. Whatever headjoint type that comes on the 665 models is the one that I didn't like. I believe it is the PH6. Their other headjoints are pretty good though. They might have improved them though since the last time I played on one which was a couple of years ago. And I can never remember which models are made in Japan. Maybe that 700 series that Canadian showed you is. If that is the case, then it would be good.
I think Suzie's Pearl flute is nice, but I can never remember which one she has. She had a great Pearl headjoint on in too.

I bought a Nagahara DA cut .950 silver with 18 white gold riser headjoint, new, for less than 2,400$(in Europe). They are cheaper in USA, about 1,900$, last notice I had a couple of months ago.

You can check directly with the factory and even have a few of them on trial if you live in USA. They will fit he HJ to the body for free if you take or send the instrument there.

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Sorry the price I gave for buying in USA was for a 14K gold riser, not 18K white gold.

For starters, ditch the Gemeinhardt. Why would you even bother putting a more expensive headjoint on a crappy body? There is nothing professional about Gemeinhardt. Sorry, but it sound as though you haven't even got a clue about what features are on your flute or any flute to begin with. I suggest that you get to know your flute and it's parts better before adding more parts to it that you don't know about.

Thank you to everyone's replies. I will keep everyone's considerations in mind "when" the time comes. I just got carried away with some of the models I tried out at the Midwest Clinic! I'll wait until I have enough money to buy a whole flute, which does sound smarter. My body isn't the best of shape so I guess it doesn't make sense to just get a headjoint. I know though it'll be a ways off till I get an upgrade.
My parents rented me the Gemeinhardt and it was a "rent till you pay it off then its yours" deal and I've had it since.
I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about. I'm doing research before rushing into anything dramatic. Thank you to everyone else though for talking me out of it. I'll wait many more years till I have enough money to upgrade.

Oh...sorry. I just finished reading all the comments.
My body is 3SHB and my headjoint is J1.

I have a professional model flute (sterling silver, open hole, split-E, C# trill, B-foot, etc.)

You say you are pretty sure that you know what you are talking about yet a Gemeinhardt 3SHB is NOT a professional model, it is a student model and it does NOT have a C# trill OR a split E on that model.
Go ahead, mark my posts down, I speak the truth.

Excuse me Binx could you stop attacking Flutie please? I understand flutie may be wrong about some things, but you can post your opinions in a more respectful manner.



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Hope you'll find the flute that's just for you. Best of luck!