Hi all!
I just received a lovely new Pearl 525RBE, it sounds quite different from my 2SP, and the lip-plate is very different. I'm gonna test for a few more days but most likely I'll keep it...however....
The head joint seems relatively easy to slide in and out, I'm pretty certain if I attempt to (i won't of course ) wave the flute like a baton the flute would just fly apart at the hj. Is this normal for brand new flutes?
Foot joint otoh was a pain, took me nearly a minute of slow prodding to get it on lol.
Now, if only my 15hrwork days would end, I would be able to spend more time everyday, not just sundays on practice.....
I think that may be somewhat typical of Pearls.. my friends hj is exactly the same (if she holds just the headjoint, the rest would fall off) although the headjoint that came with my Pearl flute fits perfect. (Mine is a Dolce though, not any of the quantz)
I did buy a Yamaha EC headjoint for my flute which was very loose. If you take it to a repair shop they can make it fit properly (and the footjoint as well) for about $25.
If you bought directly from Pearl, they should fix this problem (or allow one of their desginated techs to do it) free of cost. It's very likely that the instrument is under warranty if it was new when you got it, so you might want to check into what recourse you have. In any case, it should be fixed, as quite apart from the issue of the flute coming apart of its own accord, a headjoint that's that loose is likely to be allowing air to leak out of the instrument. The footjoint should also be adjusted, as you can cause some serious mechanical damage if you have to continue forcing it on there. A good tech can do this in just a matter of minutes, and if you have to pay, the cost will be minimal, so it's well worth having done.
AlvinY wrote:Hi all!
I just received a lovely new Pearl 525RBE, it sounds quite different from my 2SP, and the lip-plate is very different.
The head joint seems relatively easy to slide in and out, I'm pretty certain if I attempt to (i won't of course ) wave the flute like a baton the flute would just fly apart at the hj. Is this normal for brand new flutes?
Foot joint otoh was a pain, took me nearly a minute of slow prodding to get it on lol.
N
Alvin
When I got my Pearl Elegante it was similar to yours in that the HJ slipped easily into place while the FJ was much tighter. It was not loose really but certainly slipped into place easily. I don't feel it is in danger of dropping off and certainly would not wave it around to test it tightness etc. I "lubricated" my FJ with some parafin candle wax- very thin coat which I wiped off with a cloth - leaving a very fine film. It has worked well but the FJ is beginning to tighten up again and probably the tenons need to be cleaned. If your HJ is exceptionally loose- as others have suggested- get it expanded by a tech.
Thanks everyone! My HJ isn't exceptionally loose, it just slides into place much easier. FJ may be a problem, but I'll see if I can find a tech or talk to fw about this. Will let you guys know in a few days how this flute goes. In any case, in another forum I posted I had trouble with the low C? Well I'm still having trouble with the Low C here (and B ) so.... it's me not either flute
Alvin
PS: Lusting after soooo much sheet music I saw online and at the store... but I can't play much of it. Gah. Can't wait for crunch time to be over.
AlvinY wrote:Thanks everyone! My HJ isn't exceptionally loose, it just slides into place much easier. FJ may be a problem, but I'll see if I can find a tech or talk to fw about this. Will let you guys know in a few days how this flute goes. In any case, in another forum I posted I had trouble with the low C? Well I'm still having trouble with the Low C here (and B ) so.... it's me not either flute
Alvin
PS: Lusting after soooo much sheet music I saw online and at the store... but I can't play much of it. Gah. Can't wait for crunch time to be over.
Alvin- the HJ on my Elegante played the upper registers so easily but I also had problems with the low C and B. Very few HJ play both the upper and lower registers with ease and Pearls seem to favor the uppers- the most difficult- IMHO. But with a bit of persistence the lowers will come and tho I would say mine are not "bomb proof" at this point they are pretty good and sound good-not professional but playable. In the end it comes down to the flutist more than the flute- altho I can easily hit C4 it still does not sound the way I want- persistence persistence persistence it will eventually come and so will the low C and B- proper finger placement is key for the low register as well as air stream focus. Good luck--learning is also the journey- it is all good.
) wave the flute like a baton the flute would just fly apart at the hj. Is this normal for brand new flutes? 
