Brass vs Silver Lined Heads

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 3:36 pm

Cathy Wilde wrote:And would you be havin' th' sterling in your head joint, Mr. L.?
(I know it was a requirement for someone else we know.)

Of course. Let's just hope I don't develop a carrot allergy!

Loren

bradhurley · Post by **bradhurley** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 3:37 pm

Loren wrote:I'm calling Aran Olwell right now and asking him to make me a sterling lined carrot flute.
Loren

That will make it MUCH harder to eat.

David Levine · Post by **David Levine** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 3:43 pm

And lousy cole-slaw.

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 3:43 pm

.... But so rich in trace minerals and, of course, vitamin Ag.

Ravelyn · Post by **Ravelyn** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 4:12 pm

I don't have any experience experimenting with different linings for wooden flute headjoints, but I did recently go through a selection process for a new headjoint for my Haynes silver flute. After auditioning more than a dozen different headjoints, I was surprised at how different they can sound, and the effect they can have on both the color of the tone and the relative facility of reaching high vs. low notes on a given flute. Some were much better matches for my instrument than others. I wound up selecting a silver headjoint with a 14k gold riser (the area just below the lip plate that connects to the body tube. The more dense gold made a distinct difference in sound to my ear - warmer, more resonent, better projection.

Given that experience, I'd have to guess that different materials in a wooden headjoint could also make a difference, though perhaps not as much as the cut of the embouchure hole itself.

I'm no expert on this, but those are my thoughts.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 6:04 pm

Mine too. I confess a deep affection for silver things.

Dana · Post by **Dana** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 6:12 pm

I love gold flutes. Sadly, my pocketbook doesn't agree with me. I have a gold embouchure and riser on my silver flute, which gives me just a touch of the gold sound I love.

Dana

Ravelyn · Post by **Ravelyn** » Tue Dec 09, 2003 10:13 pm

Mmm. The gold flute has such a wonderfully dark, rich tone. Perhaps I could justify one as a hedge against the next great depression. But, then I'd probably rather starve than sell it.

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 10:05 am

I always wanted a gold flute. Do you think Jeanne-Pierre Rampal & James Galway ever have garage sales?

That's neat about the gold risers. I'd never heard about those before. And it makes more sense to me than just a gold lip-plate, since the riser's what connects to the actual tube .....
Speaking of, I'm off to a gig on the lowly sterling model.....have a great day!

cat.

JessieK · Post by **JessieK** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 10:12 am

If anyone wants a platinum (Burkart) flute with a rose gold embouchure and silver mechanism, I'll let it go for $19,500 (about $6,000 less than retail).

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 1:59 pm

Hey, Jessie --

I'll trade you a Subaru for it.

No, wait. I need that. How about an 18-year-old horse? She's great at teaching little ones to ride ....
Oh, bummer. Guess I'm out of luck.
Nice flute, though! Not that I'd live up to it anyway ....

Guess I'll just have to hang with Hi Yo Silver.
<sigh>
cat.

Dana · Post by **Dana** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:14 am

Cathy, don't be too sad. Silver is still considered the traditional, optimum metal for Boehm flutes. Many players see it as being superior to gold, because of its brilliance and ease of projection.

Dana

Cathy Wilde · Post by **Cathy Wilde** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 8:55 am

Thanks, Dana. And after all, I'm spending all my money on Irish flutes & stuff these days anyway, so it's not like I'd use it, really, except for the sheer joy of playing an ultra fabulous handcrafted every detail thought of smdkggielsk ....

Oops. Sorry. Got lost in a reverie, there.

Wow, this obsession never really does go away, does it?

Ravelyn · Post by **Ravelyn** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 1:04 pm

Actually, I agree about the silver flute. That bit of gold in the headjoint did make a difference to me, but then the riser is really where the tone is produced. I don't think I'd spend the money on a gold instrument, even if I had the extra cash lying around. Fortunately, I don't have to make that decision.

What I'm trying to decide on is an Irish flute.

glauber · Post by **glauber** » Thu Dec 11, 2003 1:09 pm

For me the magic combination is a metal body and a wooden head. I don't care what metal it's made of, as long as the mechanism moves nicely and without fuss, and doesn't get knocked out of adjustment easily.

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Brass vs Silver Lined Heads

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