Lower Notes

[FOXOMATIC]

I can hear a distinct tone difference from flutes made of gold/gold alloys...not sure I've heard a platinum. There is much more color in the tone...sort of a brilliance and resonance that silver plated or cheaper don't flutes have. With my solid silver, I can't really, truthfully say, but others say it is better sounding. Never played a gold or gold alloyed flute, but I've heard a few, in person and on recordings. I suspect they respond better too. I'll never know...till I accidentally get really rich.

[flutepicc06]

I can hear a distinct tone difference from flutes made of gold/gold alloys...not sure I've heard a platinum. There is much more color in the tone...sort of a brilliance and resonance that silver plated or cheaper don't flutes have. With my solid silver, I can't really, truthfully say, but others say it is better sounding. Never played a gold or gold alloyed flute, but I've heard a few, in person and on recordings. I suspect they respond better too. I'll never know...till I accidentally get really rich.

Gold does not necessarily respond any differently than silver. That's a function of the headjoint's geometry. A poorly cut gold head is not going to respond faster than a well cut silver. The sound difference is arguable too. I hear a difference as well, but many don't, and in fact, in anything below 10K gold, I hear no distinguishable difference between silver and gold. The primary difference to me is in the way gold plays. The feel is very different from silver, and platinum is different from gold. Of course, as you progress in material cost, the quality of the instrument generally increases, which many who can't hear a difference in material argue is the reasoning for differences in tone, rather than the material itself.

[fluteguy18]

very good point. I agree that if a headjoint is made of gold, then it will automatically respond better. I have tried many headjoints in various combinations of silver, gold and platinum, [in each grouping with the same cut for as close comparison as possible *with them still all being hand cut allowing some minor changes*] and I think that the material does change the tone, and general feel of the flute.

Even though they may all [if cut well] respond easier, I have found the metals to vary when it comes to pushing the sound to thier breaking point. I overpower silver easily, regardless of the cut I am playing on. I have found gold to be less prone to 'breakage' in the sound, and platinum very resistant [with some cuts I have tried, seemed almost impossible]. So, to me the feel in the metals are all very different, and I personally think that my tone changes quite a bit depending by what metal I am playing on. So, that obviously shows that I think the metals sound different as well .

But, there are just so many variables that factor into the qualities of a headjoint, that I think a lot of it is dependant on the player. Some people sound great on any well made flute. Some people will sound good on any well made flute, but absolutely amazing on a specific metal [ example: my professor sounds horrible on gold, but sounds amazing on silver].

and just as a hint to help you know if you have heard a platinum flute or not..... the charachteristic I noticed about any platinum flute/headjoint [etc] they all had a very laser like sound quality to them. However, I have a very focused/centered tone, so it might just be my playing on that material. But, those platinum flutes I have heard played by others, also had very laser like qualities to their sound [and again, it might have just been thier tone enhanced by the tone qualities of that metal].

[flutepicc06]

Even though they may all [if cut well] respond easier, I have found the metals to vary when it comes to pushing the sound to thier breaking point. I overpower silver easily, regardless of the cut I am playing on. I have found gold to be less prone to 'breakage' in the sound, and platinum very resistant [with some cuts I have tried, seemed almost impossible].

I agree about "breakage" for the most part. That's one reason why I really like the Landell Titanium heads....You can push those things like there's no tomorrow, and they still won't crack, but they have a very nice sound too (not suitable for everything, but very useful especially for big, flamboyant pieces where you really need huge sound and energy). They're also remarkably easy to move around on. Have you tried them?

[fluteguy18]

No I havent. I have always wondered how a titanium headjoint would sound..... But for some reason, I just cant imagine that it would have a good sound, but this is my lack of trying one speaking.

It would be very interesting to try one. If there are any at the convention that is coming soon [here in KY] I will definately try one.

[flutepicc06]

No I havent. I have always wondered how a titanium headjoint would sound..... But for some reason, I just cant imagine that it would have a good sound, but this is my lack of trying one speaking.

It would be very interesting to try one. If there are any at the convention that is coming soon [here in KY] I will definately try one.

I'd definitely recommend trying one if you get the chance. I got to play Jon Landell's personal flute with various headjoints, including his personal titanium, and they're amazing. As soon as I get a little more money, one of those is going to be mine.