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A lot have been said on this forum already about the irrelevance of silver content in the flute body, placing the onus on the headjoint - how we do not need to throwaway $$$ by getting a higher precious metal content flute this does not guarantee a better flute sound over its copper/nickel alloy counterparts which may sound as good or sometimes even better for a lot less money - example EX or the PA/PB 202 over full silver models etc
From that base, I've stumbled upon these interesting little paragraphs in Michel De Bost's book, "The Simple Flute from A to Z" (which I have absolutely fallen in love with & highly recommend. Michel De Bost, is a flute-sage and brilliantly written an engaging & enriching little book of tips and insights)...
On page 83 [FLUTE] he says, "Whilst the passage of time does not improve the accoustical properties of flutes made of different material eg German silver versus Sterling. Yet so many old flutes possess a resonant quality of sound that seem unobtainable from newer instruments of the same make and model, so ppl are inclinded to say the phrase [they don't make them like they used to anymore].
He says, "To explain this, one must accept the fact that the tone quality of such a flute is the result of the hardening of the metal body tubing ... " And then, more interestingly, "The point is that the tubing in old flutes made of non ferrous metals has hardened not with age but with use! This is a process called "work hardening." He tells us to consider the hardening phenomenon of the copper pipes in old homes - pliable when new but over time with usage for the transport of water/oil/gas, it becomes britttle after several years of use.
And he wraps with this, "assuming the flutes are well made in the first place and well played,there is every reason to think that a new flute can only get better with time."
On page 206 [RESONANCE] De Bost offers this, "Here is a totally unscientific opinion, a flute that is made to resonate (properly) by its owner becomes better with age. On the other hand, I have loaned my flutes to students and colleagues, and when returned after a month or so, it had on certain notes, the characteristics of the borrower eg this Db is sharper than before, Eb deader, or manifests a more wide open upper range or stuffier lower range. Pure paranoia on my part (he admits) but ...if there is any truth to this opinion, resonance must have something to do in response to the tube maerial"
Most interesting! Backtracking a little at the end of page 205 straddling 206, he writes "Scientists say only the shape and length of the tube affects resonance of the flute and not the material". However DeBost continues that accoustics is not an exact science and suggests that we can only be grateful that human intervention may have the last word."
What are your thoughts findings with your experience peeps? I thought perhaps different players technique may have an impact on the pad sitting and its shape which affects playing - never thought of resonance having so much impact! it could be magic...
