Please help me pick a headjoint

[cflutist]

I have three 14K headjoints in the house to try for the next 4 days.

Have eliminated the Goosman.

That leaves the Dana Sheridan and the David Williams. They sound almost the same to me (much better and louder than the headjoint that came with my thinwall (.014") Haynes flute that I purchased back in 1972).

They are the same price.

The only difference between the two is that the Williams has a 14K PE (Platinum Enhanced) Riser while the Sheridan has a 14K Riser.

Any suggestions or recommendations as to which one to buy?

Is there a difference in resale value (if the situation arises in the future) between the two?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Masters7]

I've owned Dana's headjoints for several years and have considered the Williams -more than once. I have played David Williams headjoints on three flutes. They were very nice, well crafted, easy to control headjoints. I blew into the Williams head and could make the head produce the sound I wanted. My reasoning for the Sheridan was simple -it fit my style of playing. Less work, for a lot of tonal product. I could relax into the Sheridans. The sound came out effortlessly -without having to make the sound come out. Maybe I'm just lazy. But, when you're tired, and all your air is gone, the Sheridan held my hand through that last phrase. With the Williams, I had to hold it's hand.

[ick27]

You should really pick which headjoint you like best on your own, although it does help to have someone you trust listen to you as you play them. I don't think we can help you much over the internet. Headjoints really are a matter of personal taste (more so than flute bodies) and since Williams and Sheridan are both top quality makers, I'm sure you'll do well with the one you pick. I do suggest you play test them in front of other people if you haven't already..

[Zevang]

cflutist,

Haven't you considered a Nagahara head for trial?
I know all the brands you mentioned are very good, traditional in the market, and no doubt the choice of a headjoint is a matter of personal choice, I mean, what you and your audience hear is what really counts when you have to make a decision.
The Nagahara has being so commented these days, that I think it's worth at least a try.
Take a look at www.nagaharaflutes.com and see what to do in case you consider it an option.

Zevang

[fluteguy18]

it is all a matter of personal preferance. Have others listen to the two headjoints (without knowing which one is which), and have them say which they like the best. Also, just go with your favorite. I am sure that you probably like one a little more than the other one, but are just afraid that you might make the wrong decision. I personally like the williams headjoints. I have met him, and tried them out, and they are really nice. I think the platinum would help focus/project your sound possibly more than the plain 14k riser. however, it is just the same is always: its your choice. pick your favorite, because we cant help much over the internet because we cant hear you play them.

[cflutist]

Thanks all for your sage advice.

I decided to go with the Williams. But as fluteguy18 said, I just hope I made the correct decision. The Sheridan and Williams were very close and either of them would have been fine. The finish on the Sheridan was actually better (it had a mirror finish inside the bore and underneath the lip plate) but I liked the sound I got on the Williams a tad more.

Now for the fun part, shipping the 3 headjoints and my flute back and waiting ...

So my orchestra conductor gets to hear me on my 3 KSB Gemeinhardt(normally my camping flute) for the next 3 weeks ... Wouldn't it funny if he thought I sounded better on it than my Haynes ... LOL

[briolette]

You'll have to keep us updated on how you like the Williams. I like both, but have a Sheridan.
HA! I've got the same alternate flute as you. Wish I had a Haynes though.

[fluttiegurl]

Congratulations on your new headjoint! I have tried Williams headjoints and liked them very much. David is a great guy who really knows flutes, and a wonderful person to talk to as well He takes great pride in his work and knowing that players are happy with his headjoints.

[Meredith]

So my orchestra conductor gets to hear me on my 3 KSB Gemeinhardt(normally my camping flute) for the next 3 weeks ... Wouldn't it funny if he thought I sounded better on it than my Haynes ... LOL

Reminds me of the day my new Powell came in the mail, and I test played that and my beat up Yamaha 925 for my mom... and she thought the Yamaha was the new Powell. I think I cried for an hour.

Congrads on the new headjoint, use it well!

[cflutist]

So my orchestra conductor gets to hear me on my 3 KSB Gemeinhardt(normally my camping flute) for the next 3 weeks ... Wouldn't it funny if he thought I sounded better on it than my Haynes ... LOL

Reminds me of the day my new Powell came in the mail, and I test played that and my beat up Yamaha 925 for my mom... and she thought the Yamaha was the new Powell. I think I cried for an hour.

Congrads on the new headjoint, use it well!

Well, the conductor did NOT think my playing was better on the Gemeinhardt, it was the opposite, he kept saying "play out more", I was pushing it as much as I could, but it wasn't responding like my Haynes did, and certainly not like my Williams headjoint will. The principal oboe sitting next to me also said my sound was not as "focused" as it normally is.

Just had an idea, although my Haynes headjoint just swims in the G, I was thinking I could get some of that teflon tape and use the Haynes headjoint in my G until I get my Haynes and new headjoint back.
Will that work? Darn, should have kept some of that tape instead of shipping it back to Texas.

[Meredith]

I've used the tape-trick in the past, to make minor adjustments when my flute got out of whack. (At the time, I was playing a Yamaha 925 that suffered far, far greater abuse over the years than God had ever intended.)

It'll probably work. However, where this trick is normally done by putting the tape on the headjoint and sliding the taped headjoint into the body, in this particularl case I would ONLY attempt this trick by lining the inside of the body (and not the headjoint) in tape. That way, if the tape does any damage (gummy residue, etc.), the damage is left on the Gemeinhardt and not the Haynes.

In any event, I'd also wait for one of the repair(wo)men on the board to comment -- my knowledge of flute repairs doesn't extend to knowledge on the damage tape can potentially inflict on the instrument. At any rate, I wouldn't do a thing that could potentially damage the Haynes.


* * * *


And, to clarify on the above: I just needed a little bit of time to adjust to the new flute. I always blew with too much airpower for my Yamaha, so it sounded somewhat breathy. Once I wrapped my mind around the fact that the Powell was built for people who blow like me, and I no longer needed to compensate for my instrument's shortcomings*, I sounded ridiculously better. It just takes a little time to get used to a new machine.


* While I do think that Yamaha student flutes (this one was a 925) are one of, if not the, best student flutes on the market, they just aren't built to be played by musicians who are going to blow with more air support than your generic 8th grader, and work the machine for 5 hours/day. The "shortcomings" had do with how I was using the instrument, and should in no way be taken as a reflection on the quality of the Yamaha.

[flutepicc06]

Teflon tape should do no harm to the headjoint if that's the way you choose to go, and any gummy residue that may be left behind should be easily removable with some rubbing alcohol. If you want to experiment with the Haynes head on the Gemeinhardt, it should do no harm. I've used this trick before, with no ill result, and I've seen it used on headjoints of gold and platinum as well as silver, by flute dealers who were not at all doubtful about applying teflon tape to their precious metal headjoints, so there so be no worries there.

[fluttiegurl]

When I was between flutes trying to decide which one I was going to keep, I used Teflon tape on my headjoint thai I knew I was going to keep. This lasted for a few months, and the head or the flutes were neither damaged. I was told to use this by a tech as well as a flute maker. I did, however, change it every time I played. Partly to refit the headjoint to that particular flute, partly to keep anything from happening.