handcut headjoints

[woof]

Can someone who has experienced both describe the difference between a machine and handcut headjoint. I know it will vary by model of flute etc but for a particular brand of flute what would be the difference in playing, sound,high vs low registers- etc between the two? I am trying to evaluate for us non professional flute players whether the extra expense of a handcut headjoint is justified. or whether the difference would be too subtle for a non professional to even notice??

thanks

[flutepicc06]

The main difference is, obviously, in the quality. A handcut headjoint is likely to have more over/undercutting and a smoother air reed, while a machine cut head will have less over/undercutting and can have burrs and other imperfections in the embouchure hole that are detrimental to sound. Machine made heads are intended to be the best compromise for the greatest number of people, while a custom head can be cut to exactly fit your playing, and is a much more unique thing. It largely depends on your level of play and what you do with your music, whether a handcut head might be a good purchase. If you are an intermediate or advanced player (and there are some very advanced non-professionals out there) who participates in ensembles or wants more out of the music you play yourself, then it could absolutely be worthwhile. I wouldn't advise a high quality head for someone just starting, or who just wants to screw around with an instrument every once in a while, but for a serious player, a handcut head that suits them well can make all the difference. The main differences are ease of play (it takes less air, and generally the air must be more focused, but it is easier to play throughout all ranges), better tone (a well cut head can do wonders for your sound once you learn to use it), dynamic constrasts will be larger and easier to achieve (pp in 3rd octave and ff in lower octave should be possible with appropriate practice), response is better (you can articulate faster and more easily), and the tone throughout the octaves is more even (can eliminate the bright 3rd octave problem). Of course, maker and material will affect how much each of these factors changes. If you are at the point where you are relatively proficient, you should notice a marked difference if the headjoint in question is a good match for you. However, even more so than in buying a flute, you must try any headjoint that you want to buy, as it must match both you and the flute that it will be put on (due to differences in scale and taper, not all headjoints will work well with every flute). A headjoint accounts for the vast majority of the sound (after the player), so buying a new headjoint can be a great compromise between not buying anything and getting an entire instrument, and should have much of the impact of a new flute on matters relating to tone. And since handcut heads are available at a variety of prices (some relatively inexpensive Yamaha heads can be gotten for just a few hundred dollars, while custom made heads, like Lafin, can sell upwards of $5000), if you want a better headjoint, you should have no trouble finding one.

Chris

[ick27]

The pharse "hand-cut" suggests that the headjoint is machine made, but finished by hand. This can give you a good headjoint for less cost than a hand made headjoint.

It actually doesn't matter how the metal is shaped (by hand, robot, whatever.) So the true test of a headjoint is playing it. If you come across one that plays incredibly, who cares how it was made!

The real issue is that headjoint making is a black art, beyond the realm of engineering and science. The only way to really get a good headjoint is for an expert craftsman to shape the embouchure, testing as they go. Such a person knows what to do to change the playing characteristics of a headjoint by shaving off a bit here and there. The end result is physically unique, but designed for optimal sound production.

While it is true that a wide variety of headjoints are available to suit every conceivable playing style, purely machine-made headjoints simply do not play as well as handmade headjoints. The only benifit of machine-made headjoints is that they are less expensive.

[flutepicc06]

The pharse "hand-cut" suggests that the headjoint is machine made, but finished by hand.

All handmade flute headjoints have the embouchure hole cut by hand, as do some machine made heads, so the phrase "Handcut" tells you nothing about how the head as a whole was made. Either type of head (machine made or handmade) can fit the designation "handcut."