smelly emboucher hole

[Claiken]

is there any way to clean a headjoint? i thought of like, listerine - is that safe? its solid silver except the keys, are plated.

what can i use to get the smell gone? its really quite gross when i smell my headjoint.... i havent cleaned it (besides polish cloth) since i got it over a year ago....

[flutepicc06]

As long as you swab it out, and avoid eating and drinking anything (aside from water) before or while you're playing, this shouldn't be a problem. If it NEEDS to be cleaned, it would be best to let a tech clean/disinfect it, as you'll likely need the cork replaced to get the smell to disappear completely. You can use denatured alcohol and a Q-tip to clean out the embouchure hole itself (go gently, though), but I would not suggest using any product (particularly not something like Listerine) inside the tube without removing the cork, as it can affect the fit and seal of the cork, and thus the way the flute performs.

[pied_piper]

is there any way to clean a headjoint? i thought of like, listerine - is that safe? its solid silver except the keys, are plated.

what can i use to get the smell gone? its really quite gross when i smell my headjoint.... i havent cleaned it (besides polish cloth) since i got it over a year ago....

Oh no, you've got to stop eating those garlic fries just before playing!

Use a Q-Tip cotton swap dipped in alcohol to carefully clean inside the embouchure hole. Repeat with a fresh swab until it comes out clean.

Hopefully, that will eliminate the gunk causing the odor. If not, the headjoint cork may have to be removed to clean inside the headjoint tube. If you don't know how to safely remove the cork (or don't feel comfortable doing so), you may want to have a repair technician remove the cork so that the entire tube can be cleaned in an ultrasonic bath.

If you've had your flute for a year, it's about time to take it in for a Clean/Oil/Adjust (COA) to make sure everything is in good working order. Over time, things begin to gradually go slightly out of adjustment and it may not be noticeable to you because subconsciously, you begin to compensate for things that are not quite in perfect operating order.

[Claiken]

i do try not to eat right before, but sometimes i cant help it. i liek to eat and the start practising to get in all the time i can before my next classes start (i use my lunch 'break' to practise). i do carefully clean my headjoint everytime though after use, which is why i dont understand why the smell....

its not like, making me want to gag, its just more... not fresh smelling. yah know?

[flutepicc06]

its not like, making me want to gag, its just more... not fresh smelling. yah know?

No flute smells pine fresh (unless something unfortunate has happened to it). If the smell isn't overpowering, and doesn't make you suspect mold on the cork or some other potential health problem, I would clean the embouchure hole as suggested (this can yield surprising improvements in sound), and then I wouldn't worry about it.

[Claiken]

so, when then, do i worry that it could be the cork?? I didnt think anything could get through to the cork, because there is silver plating under it, like when you look into the headjoint. if anything i thought the cork was to compensate for any possible hairline cracks in the seal....

can moisture actually get through to the cork?

[flutepicc06]

can moisture actually get through to the cork?

Absolutely. The cork is what is responsible for sealing the top of the head, not that metal plate. Those plates almost never fit exactly right, in any case, so there's practically no way it could prevent moisture from reaching the cork. Assuming you're taking decent care of the flute, and the cork is fitted correctly, that cork should be good for years. I would not be overly concerned with it. When you take your flute in for a COA, the tech should take the cork assembly out, and at that time, if it looks to be moldy, or otherwise in poor shape, they should replace it.