When purchasing a reputable brand eg Muramatsu, where flutes are QA'd thoroughly with a higher element of handmaking involved in their manufacture, and where current models
eg GX IIIs have S/N : GX III xxx45 on the body with an abbreviated and barely visible matching marking on the footjoint's rib plate GX45 (last two digits), ... does this imply the importance of keeping the pair (body & footjoint) together? In my inexperience, I would have thought that to be important. As the flute would have been perfected in that combination.
I had not realised this but my GXIII flute did not come with it's original footjoint and I feel a little flat about it. Hvg said that I DID purchase it from a reputable authorised distributor.
What is the conventional wisdom out there guys?
Last edited by flutego12 on Fri Jan 25, 2013 7:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
I could be wrong about this, but as I understand it, the headjoint carries most of the tone quality, and the body & footjoint most of the mechanical quality. Aside from the material the body/ foot are made of (the quantity of better materials does affect the sound in a flute), the important things regarding the body/foot are really mechanical. Does the foot fit the body properly? Is it of the same, or better, quality of springs, rods, etc? Is it the same basic measurements (thick/thin wall, etc) as the rest of the flute? Are the tone holes cut to the same specs (or complementary)? If the answer to these is 'yes', then I'd hazard to say it isn't an issue. In fact, it could be as simple as a different type of foot meaning a different model number (upgrade to a 'b' foot, or something like).
But if you're really worried? Approach the people who made it and ask them. They'll certainly be able to tell if it is an issue (either real or imagined) to how the instrument is supposed to play/ sound...
evrmre wrote:I could be wrong about this, but as I understand it, the headjoint carries most of the tone quality, and the body & footjoint most of the mechanical quality. Aside from the material the body/ foot are made of (the quantity of better materials does affect the sound in a flute), the important things regarding the body/foot are really mechanical. Does the foot fit the body properly? Is it of the same, or better, quality of springs, rods, etc? Is it the same basic measurements (thick/thin wall, etc) as the rest of the flute? Are the tone holes cut to the same specs (or complementary)? If the answer to these is 'yes', then I'd hazard to say it isn't an issue. In fact, it could be as simple as a different type of foot meaning a different model number (upgrade to a 'b' foot, or something like).
But if you're really worried? Approach the people who made it and ask them. They'll certainly be able to tell if it is an issue (either real or imagined) to how the instrument is supposed to play/ sound...
That's my best guess, anyway...
Thank you for your thoughts, Evrmre. Makes sense. Ppl do switch C to B footjoints, I guess. Just thought matched flutes will sound better and be nice if they stayed together. The vendor reminded me that they unconventionally allowed me to change the footjoint as it sounded better (probably imagined), guess he should have allowed me to swap the headjoint to the EX! It would have been cheaper for me. Live and learn.
Feel really stupid for it.
I hope someone experienced can answer this.