Yamaha EC head joint and range?

[sinebar]

What range does the Yamaha EC head joint favor? I'm thinking about buying a better head joint for my YFL 381 that will be easier to get high and low notes but particularly high notes. I was told the EC head joint would do the job but I really don't know.

[fluteguy18]

When I tried out the EC headjoint, I found it to be fairly even throughout all registers. But, this is just my experiance with it, and others might very well have a different opinion.

If you are looking around for headjoints, I suggest just trying a bunch rather than going by what people recommend for you. When I was trying out headjoints on flutes typically the dealer would look at my old flute to see the kind of cut I played on. It was a very round cut, but then I decided to try a square shaped cut, that style worked MUCH better for me. Keep in mind though, this is my playing style. You could be very different.

[sinebar]

When I tried out the EC headjoint, I found it to be fairly even throughout all registers. But, this is just my experiance with it, and others might very well have a different opinion.

If you are looking around for headjoints, I suggest just trying a bunch rather than going by what people recommend for you. When I was trying out headjoints on flutes typically the dealer would look at my old flute to see the kind of cut I played on. It was a very round cut, but then I decided to try a square shaped cut, that style worked MUCH better for me. Keep in mind though, this is my playing style. You could be very different.

Is the head joint that comes with the YFL 381 used because it's cheaper than the pro head joints or did they have the beginner in mind?

[Phineas]

The CY headjoint is just setup to be an easier platform for begining flute players. It is restrictive, yet easy to play, at least this is from my experience. The EC headjoint is not as easy for beginners, but a lot less restrictive.

However, as Fluteguy states, if you are only going to change the headjoint, it would best to look around. You may find a headjoint you may like better than the EC. Frankly, for what some of these headjoints cost, you may as well upgrade the flute if you can afford it. An EC headjoint is going to cost you around $700US! For just a little more, you can step up to an all new flute that playes better, and has a better headjoint!

Phineas

[sinebar]

The CY headjoint is just setup to be an easier platform for begining flute players. It is restrictive, yet easy to play, at least this is from my experience. The EC headjoint is not as easy for beginners, but a lot less restrictive.

However, as Fluteguy states, if you are only going to change the headjoint, it would best to look around. You may find a headjoint you may like better than the EC. Frankly, for what some of these headjoints cost, you may as well upgrade the flute if you can afford it. An EC headjoint is going to cost you around $700US! For just a little more, you can step up to an all new flute that playes better, and has a better headjoint!

Phineas

You have a good point Phineas about upgrading the whole flute but may I ask what you mean by the EC being less restrictive but not as easy to play for beginners? I guess in my mind less restrictive means easier. Do you mean harder to control?

[Phineas]

What I mean by restrictive is the ability to control dynamics and expression. Often, in student model headjoint, the cut is setup to be easier to make a sound with it. However, if you were playing a more advanced piece, most student headjoint are just not well suited for playing with expression and dynamics. This does not mean it cannot be done, but this is where my meaning of restrictive comes in. Higher end hedjoints are not always easier to get a sound out of them, but they are made to allow the player more flexibility, better tone, projection, etc.... depending on how well a cut fits to a particular player.

That being said, here is an example. I keep a student model for times when I am playing in a rock band, and all I need is as much volume as possible, and still be able to hold a note when I am jumping around! The CY is perfect for that. If I were playing in a studio, classical group, stage pit, etc.... I woud prefer using the EC. For me, it is a lot easier to go from pppp to FFFF on the EC than it is on the CY. Your milage may vary!!!!

Phineas

[FltnPicc_David]

I agree with Phineas. I just got my Yamaha 600 series and it comes with the EC headjoint. Before the flute, I played a Gemeinhardt 2SP witht he J1 headjoint that simply did whatever I wanted it to. It's taking longer to adjust to the EC headjoint than I tohught it would but I absolutely love the headjoint. [I'm not sure if my headjoint is also heavy walled or if the it's only the body] The EC headjoint is still restrictive for me but I'm finding that I can do things that I couldn't do on the J1 headjoint and the current outcomes have pleased me.

[sinebar]

I agree with Phineas. I just got my Yamaha 600 series and it comes with the EC headjoint. Before the flute, I played a Gemeinhardt 2SP witht he J1 headjoint that simply did whatever I wanted it to. It's taking longer to adjust to the EC headjoint than I tohught it would but I absolutely love the headjoint. [I'm not sure if my headjoint is also heavy walled or if the it's only the body] The EC headjoint is still restrictive for me but I'm finding that I can do things that I couldn't do on the J1 headjoint and the current outcomes have pleased me.

All this head joint stuff is confusing because I see that some of the pro flutes use CY head joints which I thought was for beginners. So I have decided that if I upgrade anything it will be the whole flute.

[Phineas]

Sinebar

Let us get a few things straight. I know professional players that still play on student models flutes. Main because for Sax/Flute doublers, a good student model is easier to transistion to. Heck, I have made my share of money playing on an Armstrong 104, or this other Chinese flute I had that was a knockoff of a Yamaha 211. Again, it all depends on the situation. In the flute game, Professional is a word that is often mis-used. This is why I chose to use references to pieces of music, rather than using the word "professional".

For the record, the CY headjoint is not as restrictive as student model headjoints on other brands, I just used the comparison of the CY and the EC as a reference to explain my point. Also due to the fact that you are stepping up from a flute that already has the CY. Putting the EC in it woud definitely improve the instrument, but the price of the EC headjoint just is not worth it. You will more than likely prefer a Pearl, Brio, or Jupiters mechanism, and get an a higher level headjoint!

[FltnPicc_David]

Sinebar, there is no such thing as "a headjoint for beginners or a headjoint for professionals." We choose our own headjoints depending on what we hope to achieve and what we want or need as musicians. And I agree with Phineas - for the price of the EC, it's not worth it. [Yamaha headjoints are all the same price, though.] Just try one on your headjoint and see how you like it! Fluteworld can send you one for trial.

[foxxyflutegirl]

One thing you hafta take note of, my student model Yamaha has a larger diameter body than my pro model so if they're still being made this way, a pro headjoint won't fit a student model flute. It's best to bring the flute as you try different headjoints. If you look in the right places, you can find one for sale, even used, fairly reasonable or even trade. I wished when I bought my pro model that someone would've told me I could've requested an AC or EC headjoint rather than getting stuck w/the crappy CY I ended up with. I really don't like it. I can't hit the high notes w/the CY. I'm not a beginner, my dealer knew this & should've told me the CY was standard w/the pro models, that there were other cuts available but he didn't, now I hafta deal w/selling this one. My student model YFL-24S which they don't make anymore has a square tone hole like the AC has (and I believe the EC has a square shape too) & I could hit every note w/that one so I tried using it on my pro model & it wouldn't go in, it was too big around to fit in the slot. Thankfully I've found what I'm looking for, for a little over $500 new; so it's quite possible to find one, even a used one for a reasonable price but I will bring my flute w/me when I go to get it, that way I'll be sure of a perfect fit not only for my flute but for me as well. Good luck finding what you need.