Piccolo head joint cork
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Piccolo head joint cork
What is the setting for a piccolo head joint cork?
Re: Piccolo head joint cork
By that I mean, how do I position a new head cork for a piccolo? I could just use the location of the old cork. But I would also like to know where it SHOULD be positioned in relation to the embouchure hole. Am I being clear?
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frugal flutist
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2018 5:27 pm
Re: Piccolo head joint cork
Hi HMannfan,
Did you get a cleaning rod with that piccolo? I don't know much about piccolos, so I will transcribe a line from Page 116 of the Book "The Complete Guide To The Flute and Piccolo" By J. James Phelan.
"The register line on the swab stick is inserted in the headjoint to check for proper placement of the headjoint cork, just as on the flute."
So, you put the end of the "swab stick" with the line around it against the cork, then look through the embouchure hole, now adjust the crown nut until the line is centered in embouchure hole. On flutes, very small adjustments can help bring the upper register in tune with the lower notes.
I hope you have a swab stick with a register line on it. I hope this helps.
Did you get a cleaning rod with that piccolo? I don't know much about piccolos, so I will transcribe a line from Page 116 of the Book "The Complete Guide To The Flute and Piccolo" By J. James Phelan.
"The register line on the swab stick is inserted in the headjoint to check for proper placement of the headjoint cork, just as on the flute."
So, you put the end of the "swab stick" with the line around it against the cork, then look through the embouchure hole, now adjust the crown nut until the line is centered in embouchure hole. On flutes, very small adjustments can help bring the upper register in tune with the lower notes.
I hope you have a swab stick with a register line on it. I hope this helps.
Re: Piccolo head joint cork
Thank you for your response frugal flutist. I read the same line in J. James Phelan's book. Not very helpful I'm afraid.
This piccolo is probably 50 years old and doesn't have its swab stick any longer. It is a relatively rare Db piccolo by The Cleveland company. It is all metal. Probably relatively inexpensive originally.
I'll just use the setting of the existing cork.
This piccolo is probably 50 years old and doesn't have its swab stick any longer. It is a relatively rare Db piccolo by The Cleveland company. It is all metal. Probably relatively inexpensive originally.
I'll just use the setting of the existing cork.
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frugal flutist
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2018 5:27 pm
Re: Piccolo head joint cork
Hi again HMannfan,
I would buy a piccolo cleaning rod from Amazon. It should get you close. God only knows if the guy that lost the original rod, had the cork set properly.
Good luck with it.
I would buy a piccolo cleaning rod from Amazon. It should get you close. God only knows if the guy that lost the original rod, had the cork set properly.
Good luck with it.
Re: Piccolo head joint cork
If anyone is interested I found a starting place for the head joint cork placement for the piccolo.
Reg Thorp, in his book The Complete Woodwind Repair Manuel, says
"For the straight bore head with a tapered bore body, which is the common piccolo found in the country, start with the face of the end plate 8mm from the centre [sic] of the embouchure hole and play test it. Get as good a top B and middle E as possible; those are the important notes on the piccolo. You might have to move the cork either way, from 5mm - 11mm from the centre [sic] of the hole.
"For the tapered head with straight body, as found on metal piccolos, follow the same rules as the flute but they can vary a little. Start these at 11mm from the centre [sic] of the embouchure hole and work from there by play testing."
Reg Thorp, in his book The Complete Woodwind Repair Manuel, says
"For the straight bore head with a tapered bore body, which is the common piccolo found in the country, start with the face of the end plate 8mm from the centre [sic] of the embouchure hole and play test it. Get as good a top B and middle E as possible; those are the important notes on the piccolo. You might have to move the cork either way, from 5mm - 11mm from the centre [sic] of the hole.
"For the tapered head with straight body, as found on metal piccolos, follow the same rules as the flute but they can vary a little. Start these at 11mm from the centre [sic] of the embouchure hole and work from there by play testing."