Performance Flute Plug

[deina-kun]

Has anyone seen/heard of this?

http://www.leitholdmusic.com/msearch.htm

http://www.woodlightflute.com/stoppers.htm

http://stores.ebay.com/Leithold-Music_A ... idZ2QQtZkm

It seems interesting replacing the cork with that. I wonder if it really does affect the sound of your playing.

[flutepicc06]

They're essentially the same idea as the Bigio stoppers, but lower quality (and thus less expensive), from what I can tell. I've played flutes with the Bigio set up, and it made a slight difference, but not one you'd likely notice as a listener. Personally, I think there are better things to spend money on.

[deina-kun]

Thanks for the info.

I wasn't sure if the kind of cork used really made a huge difference with sound.

[flutepicc06]

No one's really sure what does it, but my personal opinion is that the crown material, weight and fit matter much more than what the stopper is made of. These differences are extremely slight, though. A different crown may make the feel of a flute different, but not change the sound noticeably. Some argue that the material and snugness of the stopper matters, others don't think anything will affect how the head plays besides the cut of the embouchure hole....Nearly as many variations in heads exist as there are opinions on what the optimum is.

[fluteguy18]

No one's really sure what does it, but my personal opinion is that the crown material, weight and fit matter much more than what the stopper is made of. These differences are extremely slight, though. A different crown may make the feel of a flute different, but not change the sound noticeably. Some argue that the material and snugness of the stopper matters, others don't think anything will affect how the head plays besides the cut of the embouchure hole....Nearly as many variations in heads exist as there are opinions on what the optimum is.

I agree. My current flute professor thought such an idea was ridiculous [ that a crown would change the way a flute plays], but then she went to the NFA convention, and came across a booth that sold mostly crowns. So, she gave it a shot, pulled out her silver Powell, and tried several crowns. She then found that [in her opinion] the crown did make a difference in how the head responded, and spent $70 on a new crown, because in her opinion it made the tone and response of the flute "...like, WAY better than it was before..."

So, there is the opinion of [and a quote of] my professor Mrs. Kean. I agree with her opinion, because I tried the crown on my intermediate model flute on my handmade flute, and it did change the way it played [ but I still like the original crown the best].

[ick27]

The stopper does matter of course. Without it, the flute wouldn't play. The most important thing is that the stopper must be completely air-tight. Cork stoppers shrink and dry up over time, often producing slight leaks that aren't immediately obvious while playing. A synthetic stopper (delrin usually) can seal better and doesn't degrade as much over time.

Incredibly, stopper/crown mass and material do have an effect on the sound of the flute! For instance, check out http://www.larrykrantz.com/stopper.htm.

[Masters7]

I purchased a Bigio stopper and crown for my new wood flute. It does make a difference... at least in my opinion. I tried the "Performance Plug" stopper in my Sheridan. It was effective, but not as effective as the Bigio. Sometimes a stopper and crown change may enchance a particular flute. I tried a J. R. LaFin crown.... a pricey item!! For the price, the stopper did more in terms of sound development. I base my opinion on audience feedback to the sound in a hall.

I started using stoppers such as these many years ago, on the advice of James Peleritte. He sold a version under the Zalo name..... the "O-Ring." It did enhance the response of my Haynes and Heritage headjoints.

There is one down side to using a stopper. Thin wall flutes may become harsh. I found that a short length cork stopper worked better for this type of headjoint.