Just made a new stopper

[bigbandaxes]

I'm lucky to be a repairman and have a lathe. I read about these and decided to make myself one. I really thought it was just BS. I didn't think that just changing the way you block the tube at the top end could effect tone, but I was surprised to find it made a big difference in my 1940's vintage Conn Model 20. I made mine out of Brass and will make another out of copper just to compare. I wish I could get a hold of some zirconium!!!

http://www.flutes4sale.com/bigio.html

[mirwa]

Very debateable

[bigbandaxes]

Very debateable

I guess that's the nature of "performance enhancing" accessories and musical instruments. I understand it's VERY subjective. To make sure my brain wasn't playing tricks on me I went back and forth between the OEM cork plate assembly and this new stopper several times over a two day period. With the new stopper I felt the tone was more centered and the bottom end was more robust. The third octave seemed un-affected. I'll keep it in place for now. It's fun to experiment.

[fluteguy18]

I too used to think the head crown didn't make that much of a difference until I was left alone in a room with a box of gemstone crowns. Didn't think too much of them until I got 5-6 deep. After having tried that many I thought it was a gimmick. But then I came across one that actually made a difference. My tone focused like a laser and my articulation was like it was out of a BB gun. I was very surprised. Out of the whole box the majority only made subtle subjective differences. A few however were distinctly different. The only other one that I remember completely closed up the top octave on my flute and I could NOT play a high C regardless of what I did.

Very peculiar.

So if you find something you like... go for it! We're flute players. We like shiny things. So why not?

[flutego12]

Really???!!!
Another variable to the tone?