I have been saving up over the past 6 months for a gold headjoint - I would buy a gold flute but I can't afford it. I had my sights set on a Muramatsu headjoint (to go with my Muramatsu flute), but Australia's Muramatsu retailer contacted Muramatsu and they won't sell separate headjoints. This is really disappointing for me because I love Muramatsu headjoints/flutes and wanted to be consistent for my embouchure and my sound.
Obviously, I have to look elsewhere. I want to stay with Japanese makes to try to be similar to Muramatsu (is this pointless? I know makes are all very different but I am under the impression Japanese flutes are going to be more similar to each other than Japanese flutes are to American flutes, for example). So I'm thinking about looking at Nagahara headjoints. Does anyone know much about these? As in what they are like to play.
Another make I'm interested in is Mancke. I know this is isn't Japanese, but I've heard a lot of good things about these headjoints. Does anyone know much about what it's like to play on these headjoints?
Any other thoughts are also welcome.
Thanks! =]
Liane
Head joints
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
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lianeandflute
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:19 am
Head joints
"It's happening inside you; not in the flute!" - Emmanuel Pahud (At a masterclass in Sydney, Nov. 2010)
Re: Head joints
Mancke headjoints have a really solid sound, like the Muramatsu. You should get one on trial if you can: I think you would like it if you prefer the darker sound that Muramastu HJs produce.
Re: Head joints
My late friend had a 14K Nagahara flute. These flutes are actually made in Boston Mass in the US, not in Japan. Prior to that, he had a Haynes flute. I did not get a chance to play on his flute.
However, back in 2006 I did headjoint trials myself and ended up buying a 14K Williams HJ. In 2010 I had Brannen Brothers make a 14K body to fit that headjoint. Now that headjoint can be used on my Brannen and Haynes flute bodies.
I have another friend who also did headjoint trials but hated the Williams HJs. He bought a 14K Brannen headjoint and then later also a 14K Brannen body.
Another friend has a 10K Drelinger headjoint paired with a 14K Brannen body.
Just recently another flute player was trying a 14K Brannen HJ with a Powell body and did not like it. He sent it back.
That's strange that Muramatsu will not sell headjoints alone as all of the high-end US flutemakers will sell headjoints without the bodies. Some like Brannen will also make flute bodies to fit your exisiting headjoint.
Bottom line, try all the various headjoints and find one that works the best for you.
However, back in 2006 I did headjoint trials myself and ended up buying a 14K Williams HJ. In 2010 I had Brannen Brothers make a 14K body to fit that headjoint. Now that headjoint can be used on my Brannen and Haynes flute bodies.
I have another friend who also did headjoint trials but hated the Williams HJs. He bought a 14K Brannen headjoint and then later also a 14K Brannen body.
Another friend has a 10K Drelinger headjoint paired with a 14K Brannen body.
Just recently another flute player was trying a 14K Brannen HJ with a Powell body and did not like it. He sent it back.
That's strange that Muramatsu will not sell headjoints alone as all of the high-end US flutemakers will sell headjoints without the bodies. Some like Brannen will also make flute bodies to fit your exisiting headjoint.
Bottom line, try all the various headjoints and find one that works the best for you.
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pied_piper
- Posts: 1962
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:31 pm
- Location: Virginia
Re: Head joints
I play a Muramatsu and a couple of years ago went on a quest for another headjoint. I liked my Muramatsu HJ, but wanted something with a slightly warmer sound and a bit more resistance. I visited J.L. Smith in Charlotte and tried nearly every HJ that they had from a variety of makers. From those, I ended up taking out for trial 3 Manke's (2 silver with gold riser and/or lip plate and an all 14K) plus a Williams 14K with platinum riser. I liked all of them but like cflutist, I chose the Williams because I thought it had the best sound and was more similar to the feel of my Muramatsu HJ. YMMV
"Never give a flute player a screwdriver."
--anonymous--
--anonymous--
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lianeandflute
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:19 am
Re: Head joints
Oh... goodness. This is really interesting.
I didn't know that about Nagahara being made in the US!
I'll try them anyway to see what they're like. I know a guy who has a Nagahara and I really like his sound so I think it's worth looking at these… until I can get a fully gold Muramatsu...
I also really want to try Mancke. I did get to try a 14k briefly (like a few blows) in August - a person I knew let me have a blow on his flute but then we had to rush off. I got the impression that it was very powerful but didn't have much chance to know more because of the time constraints.
I did actually try a few different HJ's a few months ago (the salesman just took the Mura HJ's off their original flutes), I came back to each one several times and my thoughts were as follows:
14k Dana Sheridan - horrible. I sound disgusting on it. Not for me.
14k Brannen - similar to Dana Sheridan but a bit nicer. I just didn't suit it.
10k Sankyo - okay but not quite the sound I am looking for.
9k Muramatsu - very nice. smooth, clean. also a very bright and sweet sound.
14k Muramatsu - Such hard work, but it really pays off. Clean, smooth, but also dark and warm. Almost exactly the sound I was looking for, and with a few months work I think I could start really achieving the sound I want.
So yeah. Haven't tried any others though. I guess I'll just go and try the Mancke and Nagaharas and get back to you here.
Thanks for the advice, really helpful =]
I didn't know that about Nagahara being made in the US!
I'll try them anyway to see what they're like. I know a guy who has a Nagahara and I really like his sound so I think it's worth looking at these… until I can get a fully gold Muramatsu...
I also really want to try Mancke. I did get to try a 14k briefly (like a few blows) in August - a person I knew let me have a blow on his flute but then we had to rush off. I got the impression that it was very powerful but didn't have much chance to know more because of the time constraints.
I did actually try a few different HJ's a few months ago (the salesman just took the Mura HJ's off their original flutes), I came back to each one several times and my thoughts were as follows:
14k Dana Sheridan - horrible. I sound disgusting on it. Not for me.
14k Brannen - similar to Dana Sheridan but a bit nicer. I just didn't suit it.
10k Sankyo - okay but not quite the sound I am looking for.
9k Muramatsu - very nice. smooth, clean. also a very bright and sweet sound.
14k Muramatsu - Such hard work, but it really pays off. Clean, smooth, but also dark and warm. Almost exactly the sound I was looking for, and with a few months work I think I could start really achieving the sound I want.
So yeah. Haven't tried any others though. I guess I'll just go and try the Mancke and Nagaharas and get back to you here.
Thanks for the advice, really helpful =]
"It's happening inside you; not in the flute!" - Emmanuel Pahud (At a masterclass in Sydney, Nov. 2010)
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Docslingerland
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:04 am
- Location: Downey/Newport Beach,Calfi.
Re: Head joints
Hi Leane,
There is a Russian woodwind tech in L.A. named Oleg. Kenny G and others use him. Head joints are one of his specialties. Check out www.olegproducts.com I talked to him on the phone for an extended period... very informative.
Doc
There is a Russian woodwind tech in L.A. named Oleg. Kenny G and others use him. Head joints are one of his specialties. Check out www.olegproducts.com I talked to him on the phone for an extended period... very informative.
Doc
Re: Head joints
For what it is worth my daughter plays on a Muramatsu AD (much like the DS of today). We upgraded the HJ last year and looked at about 20 or so. In the end it was Mancke vs Nagahara.
The Nagahara was purchased (silver, gold lip and platinum riser). Worth every dime as it was a great match for the Muramatsu body. The ability to change the weight in the head made the difference (extra heavy worked best) As a side note we were in Mass over the summer and stopped by Nagahara and met the staff and Kanichi. It was very interesting to see how the flutes are made and everyone present was very kind to us and helpful with my d's future plans. Good luck with your search! If you try Nagahara make sure that you request different weights to try. They refer to them as locking crown bases and come in four weights.
The Nagahara was purchased (silver, gold lip and platinum riser). Worth every dime as it was a great match for the Muramatsu body. The ability to change the weight in the head made the difference (extra heavy worked best) As a side note we were in Mass over the summer and stopped by Nagahara and met the staff and Kanichi. It was very interesting to see how the flutes are made and everyone present was very kind to us and helpful with my d's future plans. Good luck with your search! If you try Nagahara make sure that you request different weights to try. They refer to them as locking crown bases and come in four weights.
Re: Head joints
First of all, I must say that, besides all the interesting experiences told here, choosing a headjoint is a totally personal experience. There is no headjoint that is good for everybody. So what works well for me could not necessarely do for the others.
Despite that, my personal experience with headjoints so far resumes into two HJ I love to play: A Nagahara and a Sankyo NRS1. These are so different that I can use them interchangebly, according to the repertoire I'm playing. The Nagahara for the heavier, more modern music, the Sankyo I like for playing Beethoven and earlier.
Despite that, my personal experience with headjoints so far resumes into two HJ I love to play: A Nagahara and a Sankyo NRS1. These are so different that I can use them interchangebly, according to the repertoire I'm playing. The Nagahara for the heavier, more modern music, the Sankyo I like for playing Beethoven and earlier.