engraving a flute

[esmithmartin]

Hi everyone
I am looking to engrave my flute but I can't seem to find anyone in the UK that does this, does anyone know of anyone who does this?

Thanks

[Gandalfe]

I am really on the wrong side of the pond to advise you but I know that it can be done. Check out the one I purchased here in the US:

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You might ask at a couple of music stores. Sometimes they can find an artist that does musical instrument engraving.

Good luck!

[Zevang]

maybe the guys at http://www.allflutesplus.co.uk/ may help you

[fluteguy18]

And if they can't advise you, then I'd start hunting down some top notch jewelers and see if they know anyone that does high quality engraving by hand (not laser engraving). There are several flutemakers in your area. I'd check with them as well.

[Classitar]

http://www.fluteland.com/board/viewtopi ... 492#p32492

Check out Brian's posts, he may be able to advise

[wall flood]

This is improving your flute?

Why not a high performance jewel quality crown? I've heard this can improve resonance etc and is very decorative....

Or maybe gold or platinum springs if you don't already have them.

Or a high end head joint of exotic material? That will def stand out and improve performance!

[pied_piper]

This is improving your flute?

The OP never said he wanted to improve his flute, only that he wanted to get it engraved.

Why not a high performance jewel quality crown? I've heard this can improve resonance etc and is very decorative....

Or maybe gold or platinum springs if you don't already have them.

Or a high end head joint of exotic material? That will def stand out and improve performance!

On what factual basis do you believe that these will improve the performance of a flute?

Scientific studies have shown that the material a flute is made from has little to no affect on its sound. I have a 14K gold headjoint on my flute, but I bought it because of its design and playability not because it is gold. The shape and cut of the embouchure and riser have a far greater affect on the sound and performance than does the material.

I also make and sell Royalty Flute Crowns which have custom art figures but I make no claim that they will enhance the performance of a flute, only that it will enhance the beauty of a flute and personalize it to the flutist's taste. Engraving falls into this same category.

[wall flood]

Piper
You're right......somehow I misread. My fault.

Regarding whether crowns, corks, materials improve sound (feeling really) or not: I challenge you to disprove it.

Discerning ears actually can tell differences in wall thickness, plated vs sterling etc and that's my belief like it or not.

Doctoral studies, professional careers, etc largely lead me to believe them if they say its so. This doesnt mean I necessarily believe everything they, or anyone including you say re flute materials.

And my own experience. "Scientific studies" aside I trust my own ear as well. Sometimes that may be my inner ear. Maybe the instrument just feels/sounds different to me. I think we can mostly agree the vast majority of listening audience cannot.

Do not attempt to impress me with science. I've read far more scientific scholarly work than most and I am not impressed with your gambit.

My experiences are factual to me anyway. Not to you, or anyone else. But to me. And I don't mind sharing that on a forum that has very little movement. If discussion or discourse are unpalatable to you you can always ban me.

To the OP I apologize. I truly misread your topic. Engraving for beauty sake is beauty sake and purely the object of the beholder.

Good day

[pied_piper]

@Wall Flood

This is not a gambit from me. There have been a number of forum posts where various statements have been made about flute material. I simply want to be sure that anyone reading the forum sees that there are differing opinions about the materials from which flutes are made. I also have seen a number of claims by very reputable flute makers that consist of marketing hype which is dubious in nature. I simply wish that all flutists understand that there are many reasons why some flutes have a different sound or response.

Your are certainly entitled to your beliefs and I won't try to convince you otherwise myself. However, I will offer the links below which refer to the publication archive of Dr. John Coltman who is both a flutist and a physicist. Several of his published papers are specific to the topic of flute materials. Since the early 70s, he has conducted research on flute acoustics and published his results in professional journals and papers.

The John W. Coltman Archive at Stanford Univ.: https://ccrma.stanford.edu/marl/Coltman ... nHome.html
Effect of material on flute tone quality: https://ccrma.stanford.edu/marl/Coltman ... n-1.06.pdf
Material used in flute construction: https://ccrma.stanford.edu/marl/Coltman ... n-1.08.pdf

Like you, I do not necessarily believe every "scientific" claim unless it is proven beyond doubt. To my knowledge, however, Coltman's research has not been countered or refuted by any other credible scientific studies. That is why I asked if you had any factual basis for your statements; I would be most interested to read any scientific studies that contradict Coltman's findings.

Before buying a flute or headjoint and choosing the material from which it is made, I would suggest that every flutist owes it to themselves to make an informed choice by reading the two articles I referenced above. Forearmed with this knowledge, they can then decide for themselves what they choose to believe.

Lastly, polite/civil discussion or discourse is certainly welcome on the forum and no one will be banned for that.

[wall flood]

Right.

I don't think I was trying to get into that now 40+ year old debate that materials make NO difference. I think they do but no.....I havent any scientific data or scholarly work at the moment to refute your citations. Although it would be nice to have a couple in one's pocket just to throw into this old argument.

I was trying to refer to claims that certain crowns and head corks are designed to increase resonance and therefore "improve" sound. But this doesn't mean to say an audience member would notice. Only the fluatist would perhaps notice and I think this would be mostly feel ie vibration through the instrument, jaw, skull, fingers, inner ear (not in any order). I think "feel" is a big part of this and what can really flick the switch on when the player suddenly feels their instrument singing for them.

And of course all the other considerations ie head joint, embouchure construction and cut; quality of key work, wall thickness, pad material/ venting/ dampening etc.

Having said all that: one of my very non-musical family members can consistently pick out a Miyazawa 102, Muramatsu EX, and YFL-221 from downstairs. No science there. But she can do it. All plated instruments no less.

Another very non-musical family member can pick out wood. Every time (and I hope to use this to my advantage as a wooden flute is my dream).

As with everything tho......the person with the instrument is the most significant factor IMHO.

Again, I so misread the OPs post and for that I apologize. That's what I get for reading flute forums while falling asleep (I love flutes)-
X

[pied_piper]

I have experimented a bit with different crowns and different head corks. I tried a "performance flute plug" to replace the cork. It did seem to alter the response and "liven" the sound a bit but the effect was very slight. Different weight crowns seem to also have some impact upon sound. I have added weight to hollow crowns and even built weights to go between the crown and head cork. All of those do seem to alter the sound to me but as you mentioned, it may only be perceptible to the flutist.

Then of course there are other "add-ons" like Valgon rings and Foster extensions. It's really amazing the lengths that we flutists will go to in search of the "ultimate" flute sound...

Hmm... Perhaps we've deviated a bit far from the thread topic here.

[wall flood]

Haha yes just a bit! Fun little discourse and very informative. Thanks-

[wall flood]

Regarding flute engraving I do think it changes the metallurgy and consequently the timbre of the instrument.



Ok kidding. But seriously every time I play a flute with engraving on the lip plate it feels like scratches to me......kind of unsettling-

[pied_piper]

Yep. Plus, there's no "undo button" for engraving. If you don't like it, oh well... Once it's done, it's done.