What's Up with the Guo Grenaditte Flute These Days?

[wally]

A bit slow I am, but I've come across this model and have read most if not all the older threads on it (none seem to be very recent). I've seen some anecdotal comments on vendor websites or ads suggesting this flute has been updated in some way since it first hit the market.

Any of you playing this flute regularly? I like what I hear in several of the youtube demos I've watched. I'm curious about the mechanism, how durable it is, whether it is crafted to a professional level, or on a par with something less. I.e., is the price reflective more of the material novelty than the craftmanship?

An aside, lest anyone want to go off on that tangent: I could not care less about looks but I can't understand how anyone could consider this flute ugly. In webshots, it looks organic and alive and natural, a welcome contrast from the cold, machine-tool look of the typical metal flute.

[edit]
While I'm at it, anyone using one of the Grenaditte headjoints on a standard flute, and how do you like it? Is the tone comparable to that from a Grenaditte flute, or something else altogether?

[fluteguy18]

I tried a Grenaditte flute about a year ago. I liked it fairly well for it's price. The headjoint was pretty resistant, but I could get used to it. I played the technical bits of the Nielsen Concerto on it and it seemed okay.

For the price, if you like the instrument, I'd say get it! I want to get one for Baroque music. They definitely have a woody sound.

[Tarandros]

I also tried the Grenaditte flute in a shop and having played wooden flutes I'd say it actually sounds more like a metal flute with a wooden head. It's a lot less resistant than a wooden flute and has more projection.

The same company, Guo flutes also make the Executer headjoint which is basically the Grenaditte flute headjoint which you can have fitted to your metal flute - I think the price is around $250.

Recently, they've also brought out their 'New Voice' flute for around $1000 which is very similar to the Grenaditte one but has been designed to sound more like a silver flute and has less resistance. It also comes in four different colours! You can view it here:

http://www.flute.com.tw/en/products/ind ... d=35&id=45

Kind regards, T.

[wally]

Thanks for your input folks. It seems that either the people playing/owning these Guos don't spend much time on woodwind forums or that this is still exotica. I am still interested in hearing about how robust the mechanism is, whether it holds regulation well like most good flutes (till the pads go, at least....). I already have heard a few soundclips and feel on that basis alone the flute (for me) rates seriously worthy of a testplay. I can't get the sound out of my head...... so to speak, but does the hardware really warrant a $2000 price tag?

[wkzh]

A technician told me that durability is one thing you might want to look at. Backpacking, for example. Of course, it'd be nice if he incorporated super-hard plastics to replace the metal parts to make it corrosion-resistant.

Playing-wise, I find it more resistant. Headjoint cut, perhaps? I find the tone woodier too. But I was testing it for fun that time, never really inspected properly. I staunchly believe that the material per se does not affect the tone, but perhaps the surface geometry of the Grenaditte, e.g. rougher.

kz

[fluteguy18]

I tried one again a few months ago. If I had the extra money, I would get one. But, if it came to deciding between one of these and a wood headjoint, I would choose the headjoint.

[flutego12]

I tried one again a few months ago. If I had the extra money, I would get one. But, if it came to deciding between one of these and a wood headjoint, I would choose the headjoint.

About picking headjoints...does one need to testdrive the headjoints
An ebay retailer says that the headjoints are standard issue and therefore homogenous but I'm reading that they are "handcut" whatever that means.
Another distributor tells me though that the individual headjoints differ as is the case in any other metal headjoint and need to be trialed by the individual prior to purchase for best fit.

Also they come in different measurements - am reading some flutes may be incompatible.

And if you have time, in a nutshell how would you differentiate the
Grenadite vs
Grenadite II vs
New Voice vs
Tocco

Thank you so much for your input. always appreciated.

[evrmre]

Two headjoints of the same model can still have quite a bit of variation, despite everything that is said. They will all fall within the basic spec for the model, sure, but always test the actual headjoint before buying, as the small differences can mean a lot or a little depending on the player's needs.