Headjoint cutting services & training

wally · Post by **wally** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 11:51 am

Anyone in the states that custom modifies old flute headjoint embouchures and/or provides training in that?

Are the lipplate risers on the average flute thick enough to permit serious undercutting?

I'm interested in learning to do this and would like to practice on some old cadavers from the 'bay.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:39 pm

Jonathen Landell offers headjoint making classes. I'd be wary about taking them though. I tried to sign up for one and ran into a problem. When getting ready to give him my deposit I asked that in the event that the class/course is cancelled for any reason if I would get my deposit back, he said "no."

So I just hung up the phone. If he cancels the class you should get your money back. I can understand him keeping the deposit if you don't show up. But if he cancels but keeps the deposit, he is ultimately not holding up his end of the contracted exchange. You buy his services. If he doesn't deliver the product (the class), then you get your money back.

And besides.... he has a lot of weird ideas about flutes. I just try and avoid him now.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:04 pm

Joe Butkevicius of Pearl Flutes sometimes conducts clinics on headjoint recutting for repair technicians. He posts here sometimes, so maybe he can suggest someone to you.

wally · Post by **wally** » Tue Nov 10, 2009 9:29 pm

pied_piper wrote:Joe Butkevicius of Pearl Flutes sometimes conducts clinics on headjoint recutting for repair technicians. He posts here sometimes, so maybe he can suggest someone to you.

Hi PP, thanks for that. Yeah, good ole JB, I've learned something from every post of his that I've read. I suppose I should've been a bit more specific about geography, etc. I'm in Oregon and interested in re-cutting embouchure holes (not making headjoints, fluteguy18, though thanks for refer on Landell -- I betcha he's as straight a shooter as they come; if I had the $ and time to attend some of his camps, I would).

I know I could make or buy an appropriate scraper, I just have zero knowledge of the art, let alone acquired muscle memory from scraping such material in that location. I believe Joe has taught a number of techs the skill. Joe (if you read this) anyone out here in Oregon?

Aside from my naive wish to be able to do this myself, what would be (roughly) a going rate to have the embouchure hole recut on a flute, and what factors influence that? Is it always best that the player be standing over your shoulder (well, nearby, so he can try things as the work progresses....)?

JButky · Post by **JButky** » Wed Nov 11, 2009 9:40 pm

I'm actually teaching an all day flute repair class in AZ this Saturday. The last segment is on headjoint recutting. I'll be doing some hands on sessions at the Napbirt National Convention in Tampa Fl in April and then I'll be teaching a week long class in IL the end of July which is specifically for Headjoint measuring, recutting and tool making for the task.

I haven't been up to Oregon in a couple years. There is an instructional video on DVD that was made a few years back when I was at the Minneapolis National Convention. PM me and I can put you in touch with the director of the repair college (in Canada) who made the video for me. It's strictly available by making a donation to the musical instrument repair program there. Many people have told me that outside of personal instruction, it's a nice guide through the basic measurements and processes. It's pretty low tech but nicely done. A great bunch of techs appear on the video, all contributing a share. They asked me to give the clinic in my hotel room and Mike did the taping and editing.

If you can get up to Landell's, do it. That's where I started!