wood headjoints

[woof]

I am curious about opinions on wood headjoints- from post I know many of you have tried/own them. They seem to produce (along with the artist of course) such a great sound for those that play them. I have never had the opportunity to try one. How is their dynamic range, are they better at the low end or high end or equally good thoughout. What difference does the type of wood make to the sound? How is their longevity, do they tend to split with time or go "bad" after a number of years playing, perhaps like guitars and violins get better? I hope in the next 300 yrs the NFA will come to the Boston area where I might have a chance to try one- or maybe it is better-financially- that I don't......

[flutepicc06]

Just like with headjoints of other materials, there is a huge range of quality. Some headjoints will favor one end of the range over the other, while some will play pretty evenly throughout. Some have a very limited dynamic range while others are more limited in this respect. The type of wood is like the type of metal...There's really no way to be sure it matters at all. Given good care, they should last quite a long time without cracking. Just as with wooden piccolos, they will mature as time goes on, and may get "better" (really "better" is subjective, and there's no guarantee what the head played like after 50 years would be something you would like, even if you loved it brand new). I have tried several wooden heads on bodies both of wood and metal, and can't say I particularly cared for them. They seemed to lack the colors I was looking for, and didn't allow for a tone that I wanted, and most were limited dynamically, however some people do really like them. I would definitely suggest trying them to see what you think, though.

[MeLizzard]

The new wooden Powells are really nice--I liked them as well as anything metal that I played at the convention. Rich tone, good projection, and warmth. Williams also does nice wooden heads and flutes. If you're in Boston, you're in luck--lots of flutemakers are in or near Boston--Powell, Haynes, and many others. Arista, Emmanuel, and Williams are also in MA, I think. Make an appointment to go try some out!

[fluteguy18]

Yeah, there are tons of makers in your area I think the company Brannen Brothers is in your area (though they do NOT make wooden headjoints or flutes I think). They make really nice flutes in my opinion. What I have found in my trials of wooden flutes (flutes, not headjoints alone) is that the tone doesnt seem to have an edge. At least it didnt with me. Metal has sort of a distinct edge to it's sound, where as in my expieriance wood didnt. they blended really well with me, and I didn't have to fight the 'edge' of a metal flute. It just seemed that there was just solid tone, and no edge to the sound. However, like flutepicc06 I didnt much care for them over all. They had limiting dynamics (at least the ones I played), didnt offer the colors I wanted, and for me the lower register didnt hardly play at all.

However, a lot of people really like them. Give them a shot!

[MeLizzard]

I tried to name only makers who I'm pretty sure make wooden flutes, but I may have unwittingly omitted some. I'm almost certain Brannen doesn't do wood, nor Nagahara, though both (metal) flute lines are excellent. I think, to get the tonal characteristics and response from wood which most players expect (based on the response of their metal flutes), you've got to spend some pretty serious money. I got good tone and response from the Powell, but how much does it cost, again? Yeah, can't afford it.

[woof]

Thanks for the responses. I imagine the skill of the person that makes a wooden headjoint really can make a big difference. Nothing is from a mold, each one is a one-of-a-kind original and my guess is that there may be a fair amount of variablity between the headjoints made by the same person. Definately a "try before you buy" kind of thing. Some artists have achieved spectacular results with them (e.g. Nestor Torres) and it would be fun to try several one day.

[flutepicc06]

Thanks for the responses. I imagine the skill of the person that makes a wooden headjoint really can make a big difference. Nothing is from a mold, each one is a one-of-a-kind original and my guess is that there may be a fair amount of variablity between the headjoints made by the same person. Definately a "try before you buy" kind of thing. Some artists have achieved spectacular results with them (e.g. Nestor Torres) and it would be fun to try several one day.

All of that is quite true, though it also holds for a metal hand cut head. Definitely try some if you get the chance. You never can tell what might work for you.