Pearl Headjoint

JustBreathe · Post by **JustBreathe** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:37 pm

Hi,

Does anyone happen to know the model number (or distinguishable engraving) for a Pearl silver headjoint as opposed to the plated Pearl headjoint? ...appreaciate it

fluttiegurl · Post by **fluttiegurl** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:58 pm

Silver Pearl headjoints should have "solid silver" on them. Otherwise, do not assume it is silver.

JustBreathe · Post by **JustBreathe** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:09 pm

thanks fluttiegurl. so is "silver" different then "solid silver" engraving on the headjoint? TIA

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:40 pm

It might be. "Solid Silver" or "coin silver" actually indicates a piece of metal that is .900 pure (or 90% silver and 10% other stuff). Sterling silver on the other hand is .925 pure (usually stamped "sterling", or ".925", if anything), and then there are even purer silvers sometimes used by flutemakers, such as Britannia silver (.958). I would assume anything stamped "silver" to be solid silver, just to be on the safe side, though it could be intended just to show that it is not a plated head, in which case it might be sterling. Quite often, flutemakers do not stamp instruments as to purity, and you are relying on the reputation of the maker that it is what it's supposed to be, and not all makers that use stamps use the same ones, which can make it difficult to tell exactly what a headjoint is made of.

ick27 · Post by **ick27** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 2:23 pm

If it isn't silver, it's probably nickel silver. One way to test it is to light hold the headjoint at the top and lightly flick the bottom with your finger. Solid silver will make a kind of a "thunk" while nickel silver will have a nice ringing "ping." Presumably if the headjoint tube is solid silver, the riser and lip plate would be too.

woof · Post by **woof** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:02 pm

I have a Pearl solid silver flute (keys are silver plated) as stated by manufacturer and no where on the flute is it engraved as to silver content. I guess it is one of those thing that the you trust the manufacturer and since their rep is at stake. So your headjoint may not state what the silver content is like mine.?

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 10:14 pm

ick27 wrote:If it isn't silver, it's probably nickel silver. One way to test it is to light hold the headjoint at the top and lightly flick the bottom with your finger. Solid silver will make a kind of a "thunk" while nickel silver will have a nice ringing "ping." Presumably if the headjoint tube is solid silver, the riser and lip plate would be too.

These tests really are not that accurate. The sound will vary according to a number of different factors (tube thickness, purity of the silver, taper of the head, etc...), and can't be used to accurately tell what a head is made from, particularly by a person who has only had the test described to them over the internet.