Question about flute

jlee745 · Post by **jlee745** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:11 am

Hi
I am new here and I am sorry if I have posted this under the wrong topic.
I just bought my daughter a flute(from a pawn shop) for her to start beginner band this coming up school year. I took it to the local music store and they sent it off to check for any repairs it needed. It was gone almost a month when they called for me to pick it up. They replaced 10 pads and 2 corks(i think) plus cleaned and steralized it. I ask her if the flute should last my daughter for a few years and she said it should last for many years cause Armstrong is a good flute. The main thing I was worried about is the closed end of the mouth piece that screws on is loose. I can tighten it and a few minutes later it is loose again. I called back to the music shop this morning cause it was really buggin me. I don't want my daughter to start school w/ a flute that has issues from the beginning . Thats why I sent it off in the beginning. Any how they told me to bring it back(I just picked it up yesterday) and they would send it back off that the lady remembered that it was doing that but she wanted to ck it again.
QUESTION: Is this end piece suppose to do this? If not can it be fixed with out it costing alot.
Also Can a flute be tuned. When I called this morning and asked if they had tuned the flute the woman said she use to play the flute and didn't think a flute can be tuned. I played the flute for 4 years back 20 years ago and can remember several notes and I am having an issue getting the notes out at all. It's probably my old lungs..lol

My cost so far. The Armstrong cost 100 at pawn shop
The music store charged 90 to replace pads and corks
I bought her a gator case for 40.

Thanks in advance for the help. I just want my daughter to have a good flute.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:12 am

The end of the headjoint is called the crown. It should not be loose. It is used to adjust the position of the cork stopper in the closed end. This affects how the notes of the flute are in tune with each other. The cork needs to be set in the correct position and then left alone - i.e. don't turn the crown!

If the crown is loose and turns too easily, the headjoint cork should be replaced. If it is as loose as you describe, it is probably leaking air and that will make it difficult to play. The shop should have checked that when it was in for the other repairs, but apparently they didn't. Replacing the cork should be around $10-$20.

After the cork is replaced, beginning students should not attempt to turn the crown. Later, advanced students can learn the proper way to adjust the cork position.

jlee745 · Post by **jlee745** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:12 pm

Thank you so much. I was worried that it would not be able to be fixed and I had spent all that money for nothing. That would explain why I couldn't get certain notes out. I just don't understand why they didn't check it out. Also how often should you apply the was to the joint areas?

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:57 pm

Flute joints should never be waxed or greased. Wax or grease will actually attract dirt and make the joints difficult to assemble and cause wear.

It's best to just simply keep the joints clean. Occasionally you can use alcohol on a soft cloth to wipe the joints clean.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:29 am

If you do use anything to put on the joints, only use a little bit of graphite. It helps, but will not damage anything. But, as previously stated, it is best to just keep them clean.

As for having the flute tuned.... They can't be tuned. The headjoint cork can be moved which will affect the tuning of the flute, but small adjustments are very personal and subjective to the individual advanced level player. The tuning of a flute is called the "scale." The scale is a combination of the location of the toneholes [the holes that the keys cover], and the height of the toneholes [the chimney like attatchment to the tube that the pads touch]. These cannot be altered once a flute is made unless extensive work is done [it is is VERY expensive and uncommon]. So, to answer your question, no they can't be 'tuned' by your definition.

But, there are some things that will help. Aside from the fact that you need to have the headjoint cork in the proper position, making sure that the corks and felts are in good adjustment will help as well. Certain keys have felt bumpers that contact the tubing when depressed, and the height of the cork [and therefore the corresponding key] can affect the tuning. The thinner the cork, the higher the key goes [and vice versa]. But, assuming that the corks are all new, and that the repairman did his job well, you don't need to worry about this.