Hi all!
I am trying out a used 9k Brannen Body with a new 14K Lafin Headjoint and have only until the end of this week to return the Brannen body. After that it is mine!
The body plays so heavenly and works well with the headjoint, the headjoint is a little heavy though and I'm hoping to get used to it (see headjoint/body pairing thread I recently post.)
This flute setup came to me while at a Flute Fair and I fell in love with it. But it is expensive! I'm now wondering, if I might be just as happy having a silver Brannen Body thus saving a few thousand dollars.
Has anyone had experience playing different Brannens? Is it possible to find a silver Brannen body that can play just as well as the 9k gold Brannen body that I have? It does have the Brogger system, FYI.
Thanks so much for any advice...
Silver Brannen Body versus Gold Brannen Body
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Re: Silver Brannen Body versus Gold Brannen Body
Let's correct something here.
The tone you can get is a consequence of the headjoint not the body. What makes you sound this or that way mostly is a result of the design and material of the riser and a bit less of the headjoint tube.
Now, if you want a body that will not tarnish (eventually will, but veeeery slowly) and last more, although far more expensive and heavy, go for the gold body.
If you never mind having more maintenance to do (cleaning, for example), and having a cheaper and lighter flute (in weight terms, I mean), go for a silver body.
The tone you can get is a consequence of the headjoint not the body. What makes you sound this or that way mostly is a result of the design and material of the riser and a bit less of the headjoint tube.
Now, if you want a body that will not tarnish (eventually will, but veeeery slowly) and last more, although far more expensive and heavy, go for the gold body.
If you never mind having more maintenance to do (cleaning, for example), and having a cheaper and lighter flute (in weight terms, I mean), go for a silver body.
Re: Silver Brannen Body versus Gold Brannen Body
Thanks Zevang,
It is not so much the sound, although it is very interesting to me that I originally was on a quest for just a headjoint to fit onto my Pearl Maesta body. The headjoint is awesome, but it really came to life when paired with the gold Brannen body. I'm not sure if it was the smooth mechanism of the Brannen or what, but it was a far better sound and experience as a whole.
If I had more time I would have tried out some silver Brannens. I did try them out at the Convention last summer, but hard to remember with so many flutes. I guess at the time they did not really stand out.
So I'm wondering if this is THE flute or is there a chance there is another that I would like just as well with it being not so expensive, feel that is, or is that kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack and I found it with this 9k gold body and should just not worry about it, bite the bullet money wise, and keep it.
It is not so much the sound, although it is very interesting to me that I originally was on a quest for just a headjoint to fit onto my Pearl Maesta body. The headjoint is awesome, but it really came to life when paired with the gold Brannen body. I'm not sure if it was the smooth mechanism of the Brannen or what, but it was a far better sound and experience as a whole.
If I had more time I would have tried out some silver Brannens. I did try them out at the Convention last summer, but hard to remember with so many flutes. I guess at the time they did not really stand out.
So I'm wondering if this is THE flute or is there a chance there is another that I would like just as well with it being not so expensive, feel that is, or is that kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack and I found it with this 9k gold body and should just not worry about it, bite the bullet money wise, and keep it.
Re: Silver Brannen Body versus Gold Brannen Body
I played on my 14K Williams HJ with a thinwall Haynes body for several years before having Brannen make my current 14K body. While the HJ greatly improved the response I got, the response I got with the 14k body was even better. The low register is more robust. My orchestra conductor says that my tone has a more shimmering/burnished quality to it now.
SK (who used to post on this board) also did something similar. He got his 14K Brannen HJ and originally paired it with his vintage Haynes for several years before embarking on his search for the "perfect" 14k body to match. He found that body at a NFA convention and liked it so much that he wanted that particular body (not one that Brannen would later make for him). So he had to wait several months for them to make another "demo" body with the 14K tone holes/rings before they would release that flute body to him. He and I have the similar specs on our flutes.
FG18 has played on many Brannen bodies, perhaps he'll post his observations.
Another thing you might look into, is the 15% gold/85% silver body that Brannen offers now. The second flute player in our orchestra plays on that flute (it comes with a Lafin HJ in the same metal) and likes it very much. He was playing on a Powell and I like his tone much more now myself.
The choice is really up to you.
SK (who used to post on this board) also did something similar. He got his 14K Brannen HJ and originally paired it with his vintage Haynes for several years before embarking on his search for the "perfect" 14k body to match. He found that body at a NFA convention and liked it so much that he wanted that particular body (not one that Brannen would later make for him). So he had to wait several months for them to make another "demo" body with the 14K tone holes/rings before they would release that flute body to him. He and I have the similar specs on our flutes.
FG18 has played on many Brannen bodies, perhaps he'll post his observations.
Another thing you might look into, is the 15% gold/85% silver body that Brannen offers now. The second flute player in our orchestra plays on that flute (it comes with a Lafin HJ in the same metal) and likes it very much. He was playing on a Powell and I like his tone much more now myself.
The choice is really up to you.