Brannen Headjoints

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 7:40 am

Anybody have opinions on or experience with (both good and bad) the different styles of Brannen-Cooper gold headjoints: modern Cooper, modified Cooper, and classic Cooper, which they will apparently still make on special order.

I'm setting up a trial session with a flute dealer in the next few weeks and she's rounding up several gold for me to try; this seemed easier than the cumbersome send a couple for a few days, send them back scenario that you have to do with each maker.

I'm also going to try some gold Burkarts (I already own a silver M2 w/ 14K riser that I love) and Powells (I played on a gold Powell w/ platinum riser last weekend that was amazing).

Any thoughts? I know heads are always particular to the type of flute it gets attached to (By the way, I play on a 1967 handmade in-line keyed b-foot silver Haynes that I absolutely love). But I'm looking for general observations from anybody who has tried them.

Thanks.

SK

cflutist · Post by **cflutist** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 10:24 am

Can't speak about the Brannen-Cooper, but I am very happy with the 14K Rose Gold Williams headjoint (with Platinum Enhanced riser) that I just purchased from Carolyn Nussbaum Co. I had tried 14K headjoints from Gooseman, Sheridan and Williams.

I also play on an open-hole, inline, thinwall (.014"), B-foot Haynes that was made/purchased in 1972.

When I sent all the headjoints back to TX (along with my flute for fitting the Williams HJ), Carolyn did tell me that she felt it was a great match for my flute (these HJs were all about the same price so it really didn't matter to her which one I bought).

HJs are very individual so the fun part is getting to try them all out.
Good luck with your search.

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:54 pm

Thanks so much CFlutist. Actually, I'm going to Carolyn Nussbaum's for these trials

, since it's just a few hours down the road from me. Her store is awesome and customer service superb. She mentioned something about Williams heads but I didn't know anything about them. I've just emailed her, based on your recommendation, and asked her to see about having a couple of golds available for me to try. I don't think I can afford one w/ a platinum riser, though. But I sure did love the gold Powell she had with one.

Carolyn also carries gem stone crowns. I wanted one because I thought they were cool looking, but was amazed at how much the different stones can vary the flute sound (I tried several). I ended up buying the blue paua shell.

The problem I always run into with "designer" heads w/ my Haynes (I'm sure you can probably relate) is that they always deliver well in the low register, but steal away from the top register that epitomizes (IMO) older silver Haynes's. I've never wanted to sacrifice the beautiful high register my instrument has just so I can play a low E louder and with less effort

. The closest I've come to resolving this problem was with the Burkart M2 w/ gold riser. I absolutely love that head (Burkart also has great customer service, not to mention fantastic headjoints, flutes, and piccs), but I still want more of a "gold" sound, which is why I'm scoping around for one now.

And just in case anybody is wondering -- I don't work for either Carolyn Nussbaum or Lillian Burkart, nor do I receive commissions for delivering compliments. I'm just a happy customer of these two very classy and talented women.

SK

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:58 pm

I can't say I cared for any of the Brannen or Williams heads I tried, but that was just because they didn't match up with my playing very well. If you have the opportunity, I would suggest trying a Tom Green head or two, as well as some from Landell. I currently play a 14K Tom Green, and it's a fantastic headjoint (very colorful, very balanced throughout all registers, great response, and it allows me a beautiful tone, not to mention a very positive feel while I play), but I also got to play through Jon Landell's entire stock of heads over the summer, and some of those played incredibly well too.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 3:23 pm

I havent tried any of them, however my last teacher that I had recently, owns a Brannen flute, and she wouldnt have anything else. In her opinion, the instrument fit her like a glove. She really likes their flutes (and headjoints obviously).

cflutist · Post by **cflutist** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 4:36 pm

sidekicker wrote: The problem I always run into with "designer" heads w/ my Haynes (I'm sure you can probably relate) is that they always deliver well in the low register, but steal away from the top register that epitomizes (IMO) older silver Haynes's. I've never wanted to sacrifice the beautiful high register my instrument has just so I can play a low E louder and with less effort . The closest I've come to resolving this problem was with the Burkart M2 w/ gold riser. I absolutely love that head (Burkart also has great customer service, not to mention fantastic headjoints, flutes, and piccs), but I still want more of a "gold" sound, which is why I'm scoping around for one now.

And just in case anybody is wondering -- I don't work for either Carolyn Nussbaum or Lillian Burkart, nor do I receive commissions for delivering compliments. I'm just a happy customer of these two very classy and talented women.

SK

I don't work for Carolyn Nussbaum either (I am in CA, she is in TX) but I also had a wonderful customer service experience with her. In addition to fitting the new HJ to my flute, I also decided to do a COA at the same time during which she also fixed a problem I was having with the inline Split E (added by Haynes in 1998). Now the flute plays better than when I got it back from the Haynes factory in 2003 after a complete overhaul.

I found that the Williams HJ I bought responds equally well in all 3 registers so now I still have that beautiful high register, but a big fat low register too. My orchestra conductor said it sounds "Bigger, stronger, bolder, fuller" than with my Haynes HJ. "I REALLY noticed in the 4th movement of the Mozart Symphony - in the low register I could hear you, i.e. no balance problems! In the 2nd movement, during the series of entrances you'll actually have to tone it down to match the other winds its so strong!"

I also talked to Sandy Drelinger (a past member of the orchestra had one of his headjoints) but 1 - I didn't want to fly to New York, 2 - he wasn't coming to the San Francisco Bay Area until April 2007 (he sells face to face only) and 3 - I don't think I could have decided on a headjoint during the 1 hour appointment you have with him.

Just FYI, the second flute in our orchestra plays on a 14K gold Sankyo flute with a 14K gold LaFin headjoint. The third flute plays on a silver Altus flute with a silver Williams Headjoint with 14K Rose Gold Lip and Platinum riser.

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 10:59 am

cflutist -- You have a PM from me.

SK

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:19 am

FYI for anyone who cares --

I ended up buying a 14K "Modified Cooper" cut Brannen after trying about 20 different gold heads from different makers: Brannen, Burkart, Powell, Miyazawa, Sheridan, Williams, Goosman.

Ironically, the Williams heads (and I tried about 8 of them, I think; all w/ various differences) turned out to be the worst match for my old Haynes. I had the highest expectation for those based on the experiences of several different people who raved over them. They are obviously great for some people, but not for me, obviously. If anybody is interested in my thoughts on the ones I tried, and rejected, PM me (if I can remember all the reasons, that is

).

SK

(Edited to correct the style of headjoint I actually purchased; originally said "modern". I meant to write "modified Cooper", which is a different style entirely that Brannen offers. Scrivener's error; sorry)

cflutist · Post by **cflutist** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 6:53 pm

SK,

Knowing that headjoints (and flutes for that matter) are a very individual thing, I'm curious as to what you thought of the different heads you tried and how you decided on the one you bought.

sidekicker · Post by **sidekicker** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 10:09 am

cflutist wrote:SK,

Knowing that headjoints (and flutes for that matter) are a very individual thing, I'm curious as to what you thought of the different heads you tried and how you decided on the one you bought.

Hi cflutist --

I prefer to respond to this privately if you don't mind. I'll try for today, but lots of things going on for me this weekend.

SK