Headjoint/Body Pairing

[musicgeek]

Well I did it.. bought a 14k Lafin headjoint that I absolutely love. Now I'm feeling I need to upgrade my flute body to match, at least the weight of the headjoint. Is this a real issue or is it me just getting used to the flute feeling a little "top-heavy"? Is it okay to pair a heavier headjoint with a lighter weight flute body?

Thanks all!

[pied_piper]

I've been playing a 14K headjoint on a silver body for some years now. You peaked my curiosity though. I've never noticed any weight difference between my headjoints, so I weighed both my 14K and silver headjoints. Each weighed exactly 3.0 ounces. While the atomic weight of gold is heavier than silver, on 14K headjoints, the tubing is usually thinner than silver headjoints (even thinwall), so the heavier metal is offset by the thinner tubing. If your 14K headjoint is actually heavier, it is more likely to be due to a heavier crown. Even so, any difference is likely to be in the realm of fractional ounces or a few grams...

So, yes, it is OK to pair a 14K headjoint with a silver body. If you feel your flute is now top heavy, you may may be psychologically influenced due to the fact that you "know" gold is heavier than silver. Weigh both of yours and report your findings.

[musicgeek]

Thanks Pied Piper!

It's late now, but when I get a chance I'll weigh both headjoints and see if they weigh the same. It could be that it is the crown or that it is in my crown!

FYI, I did try a 14k Brannen flute body along with my new headjoint, for fun, it too at the time felt a little heavier, it was quite wonderful, but again it could all have been psychological knowing it was gold.

Thanks again!

[musicgeek]

Hello again,

Well I haven't actually weighed my headjoints, but I can tell for sure that my new 14k gold Lafin headjoint does weigh more than my silver head joint. I talked with someone regarding Lafin headjoints and they told me that they do weigh more than most other headjoints. I have it paired with a 9k Brannen body.

So.. I am feeling a little discomfort because of its weight. Not pain, but a little discomfort after playing a stretch. Is this normal and will go away in time after getting used to it weighing more? I absolutely love the sound and the feel of the flute. I'm in heaven in regards to everything else!

Thanks again for any advice and/or comments!

[cflutist]

My .014" Haynes is 15.20 oz, while my 14K Brannen (silver keys, gold tone holes and rings) is 17.70 oz.
There is definitely a difference in weight.

Oh, and my Gemeinhardt camping flute is 16.15 oz.

[pied_piper]

cflutist - I'd be willing to bet the weight difference is more attributable to the differences in the mechanisms rather than the material. Do all of them have split-E? I think I recall your Brannen has a C# trill while the Gemmie likely does not. And doesn't your Brannen have the Brögger mechanism? All that would add weight to the Brannen.

[cflutist]

pp, both my Haynes and my Brannen have a Split E and C# Trill. I can feel the weight difference with the Brannen immediately. At first, I couldn't play for long periods of time due to the weight difference. I am used to it now. The Brannen is 2.5 oz heavier than the Haynes.
2.5 oz is a LOT to Ernie with his Ultralight backpacking

One of the reasons I got the silver keys (but still the 14K tone holes and rings) is that Kari S. said that an all gold flute would have been even heavier.

As to why the Gemmy (without C# trill or split-E) is heavier than the Haynes is because the Haynes is a thinwall .014" tube, while
I'm guessing the Gemmy is .016".

Now if I weren't so lazy, I get our kitchen scale (weighs to the closet .05 oz) and weigh the headjoints. I do remember when I first got
the 14K Williams HJ, that it did seem to weigh the Haynes flute down, aka slightly out of balance.

[fluteguy18]

As already alluded to by PP, it's probably also because of the density of the metals involved. Silver is very lightweight whereas gold is very heavy. Your gemmy is probably a bronze/brass type of alloy and falls in the middle.

[cflutist]

cflutist - I'd be willing to bet the weight difference is more attributable to the differences in the mechanisms rather than the material. Do all of them have split-E? I think I recall your Brannen has a C# trill while the Gemmie likely does not. And doesn't your Brannen have the Brögger mechanism? All that would add weight to the Brannen.

14K does have a higher specific gravity than silver, but we're also dealing with a .012" 14k tube, versus a .014" silver tube on my Haynes, and a .016" solid silver tube on the Gemmy.

[musicgeek]

Well, I figured out what needs to be done.

It is not the weight of the 14k gold headjoint that is bothering me, but instead it it the weight of the 9k Brannen body. Bummer! I tried the Lafin HJ with my Pearl Maesta body and oh.. what a relief. To bad because I just love the sound and feel (mechanism wise) of the 9k Brannen, but I'm a wimp I guess when it comes to the weight. I think it might be due to the split e mechanism, where my Maesta doesn't have one, and of course it is gold, not silver like my Maesta. And maybe the Brogger system too is adding weight.

Whoever says there isn't a difference in sound between metals must be deaf! My cats can definitely hear the difference. They run out of the room when playing my silver Maesta versus the 9k Brannen.

I'm now on a quest for a lighter weight yet fuller, deeper toned sounding body. Maybe a gold Brannen but w/o a split e? I wonder if that would do it? Or a HW silver Brannen? Or an 18/85 might be a good option. Does the Brogger System itself add that much weight? Any suggestions? I like the smooth, even, light feel Brannens have, so that is why I'm leaning toward that brand. But how about any other brands that might be just as satisfying?