Fitting a new headjoint

[asmusical]

I have an Emerson 88Bof flute that I want to have fitted to a new headjoint. Right now my new headjoint (Mateki) is too big for this flute. When I first got this Mateki headjoint, I had a Gemeinhardt 3SB and I had the headjoint fitted to it. My question is this: Is there such a thing as incompatible flutes and headjoints? I don't mind sending this instrument in for a repair but our local shop said that there was no way this headjoint would fit the Emerson and if this is an accurate statement, I don't want to waste anyone's time. Please advise....

[Zevang]

...our local shop said that there was no way this headjoint would fit the Emerson

Maybe they are right. They really don't KNOW how to do it...

I had many headjoints adjusted to my flutes in the last 20 years. No matter the heajoint was smaller or bigger, there is always a way a GOD technician can accomplish this. I'm not telling you this is a peace of cake, but using the proper technics one can do the adjustment in a matter of 20 to 30 minutes, maybe less, depending on how much work (how big or small is the headjoint) is needed.

Don't give up, look for an experienced tech.

[asmusical]

Thank you! Do you have any recommendations of places to send my flute?

[pied_piper]

Most modern head joints can be fitted to most modern flutes. However, there are a few exceptions. As long as the difference in size between the headjoint and the receiver on the body is only a few thousandths of an inch, the headjoint can usually be expanded or shrunk as required. If the difference is more than 10-15 thousandths of an inch, then shrinking or expanding may not be possible. In the case of an extreme difference, if the headjoint is too small, a sleeve may be fitted to the headjoint to make the tenon larger. If the headjoint is far too large, then the only option is to change the receiver not the flute body to a larger size but this is more involved.

You might find this document interesting because it has a chart showing the sizes of few dozen flutes. Not every brand is included, but you will see that most headjoint tenons fall in the range from .775-.785 inches. If your headjoint and the receiver are within these sizes, it should be possible to resize it.

http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/QAJCTmv91j ... bchart.pdf

[JButky]

I have an Emerson 88Bof flute that I want to have fitted to a new headjoint. Right now my new headjoint (Mateki) is too big for this flute. When I first got this Mateki headjoint, I had a Gemeinhardt 3SB and I had the headjoint fitted to it. My question is this: Is there such a thing as incompatible flutes and headjoints? I don't mind sending this instrument in for a repair but our local shop said that there was no way this headjoint would fit the Emerson and if this is an accurate statement, I don't want to waste anyone's time. Please advise....

Shrinking a head joint a large amount can create some severe problems as the reduction changes the taper locally, and not in a good way. This is of course for extreme amounts. There are many things to consider and some possible ways of doing this, however, extreme amounts of adjustments should be avoided if only a shrinking die is used to accomplish a large change. There are other ways, but compromising the integrity of the headjoint is a huge risk regardless of methods.

Modest amounts are best for sizing as there are other factors affecting performance that a large adjustment can affect. If you cannot even begin to put this headjoint in the body you are asking for extreme changes. If it were me, and you insisted it be done, you would need to understand and acknowledge that once done, the headjoint probably cannot be changed back and you will have to live with the results.

Your best bet to do this if you insist, is to have a flute maker make a new barrel for the old flute. If there is enough room on the old barrel, removing it and sizing it to the headjoint is also a much better alternative if the bores line up as they should. This is of course much more costly and time consuming. The cost of a replacement barrel though is much less than ruing a good headjoint if you don't like the result.