I have a Sankyo Silversonic, about 7 years old. The embouchure hole is oval shaped. I bought it because I liked the ability to control the timbre, but lately I've been trying to get a more classical, cleaner, 'singing' tone (ala James Galway) and find it difficult, also the intonation can be difficult to control. I played a Muramatsu EX, with a rectangular hole, and found it much easier to control, especially in the lower range.

I would like to upgrade the headjoint of my silversonic to get cleaner tone, better intonation, and easier lower range.

1) Any recommendations?

2) Are there any issues in mixing and matching headjoints and bodies?

3) I have found a couple of headjoints online - both Sankyo as it happens - a 'waves' headjoint and an FT. I was wondering if anybody knew how these might compare to my silversonic and the muramatsu headjoints?

4) my local music shop has a Powell Auremite that I plan on testing - not sure of the specs - any opinions on their headjoints?

Thanks...

Headjoints are a very personal choice. What works for one person may not work for another. When I did my 14K headjoint trials with Carolyn Nussbaum back in 2006, I tried Sheridan, Willimas, and Goosman. I ended up buying the 14K Williams. A friend of mine visited her store, tried about 12 different Willims headjoints and absolutely hated them. He bought a Brannen headjoint instead.

A good flute tech can fit a headjoint to another body depending on the differences in diameter. My new .012 headjoint was expanded by burnishing to fit my .014 Haynes.

Flutists mix and match headjoints/bodies all the time. Here's a list of what the professionals play:

Andras Adorjan/Brannen/LaFin headjoint
Robert Aitken/Powell
Jeanne Baxstresser/1961 Haynes/LaFin headjoint
Willliam Bennet/Louis Lot, Altus
Philipe Bernold/Yamaha
Mathieu Dufour/Powell/LaFin headjoint
Bart Feller/Brannen
Dieter Flury/Yamaha
Benoit Fromanger/Pearl/Pearl ST-4 headjoint
Patrick Gallois/Haynes -> Yamaha -> Abell
James Galway/Muramatsu*
Severino Gazzelloni(d)/ J. Hammig
Irena Grafenauer/Yamaha
Gottfried Hechtl/Haynes -> Sankyo
Timothy Hutchins/Brannen
Trudy Kane/Muramatsu
Jeffrey Khaner/Yamaha/LaFin headjoint
William Kincaid(d)/Powell
Shigenori Kudo/Haynes -> Yamaha
Robert Langevin/Powell/Albert Cooper headjoint
Christian Larde/Yamaha
Maxence Larrieu/Powell/LaFin headjoint
Alain Marion(d)/Sankyo
Massimo Mercelli/Yamaha
Aurele Nicolet/Muramatsu/LaFin headjoint
Emmanuel Pahud/Brannen/Dana Sheridan headjoint
Michael Parloff/Brannen/David Williams headjoint
James Pellerite/Powell
Marina Piccinini/Brannen/Cooper headjoint and LaFin headjoint
Amy Porter/Muramatsu
Jean Pierre Rampal(d)/1958 Haynes->Deveau-scale Haynes
Paula Robison/Brannen
Elaine Shaeffer (d)/Powell
Christina Smith/Powell
Joshua Smith/Yamaha
Mark Sparks/Brannen
Alexa Still/Brannen/Drelinger headjoint
Sheridan Stokes/Pearl
Keith Underwood/Powell
Carol Wincenc/Burkart
Anne Zentner/Brannen/Oleg headjoint

Stores like Carolyn Nussbaum, Flute World, JL Smith etc. send multiple headjoints out on trial all the time. Can't speak for the later two, but with Carolyn she sent 3 at a time, holding the amount with a credit card. A visit to their website will tell you what is available. Also, with Carolyn, she will make recommendations based on what you are looking for as far as tone quality, articulation, etc.

I've dealt with J.L. Smith for headjoints and they will send out up to four headjoints at a time. They have a similar policy requiring a credit card to secure the value of the headjoints, but they only charge the shipping and insurance fee to your card. Your card is not charged the value of the headjoints unless you decide to keep one.

Also, one small update to cflutist's list above:
Sir James Galway now plays a Nagahara flute.

mm aka pp,

You are correct, Galway talks about his Nagahara and the wonderful service he gets in his latest book. That list was simply a copy/paste. I'll need to update it now, thanks. Galway still has his Muramatsu's though and a whole bunch of other flutes too.

Now I can't remember if Carolyn "autho'ed" the amount and didn't charge the credit card until I bought the Williams or not. Bottom line, I only got charged for 1 headjoint.

I believe that Joshua Smith, principal flutist with the Cleveland Orchestra, currently plays a Powell flute with a Folkers & Powell (no relationship!) wood headjoint in his orchestral playing.

<Added>

Oh... And it's "Lafin" headjoint rather than "LaFin." He is German rather than French. ;)

The Lafin headjoint is now made and sold by Brannen.