I got my basic Armstrong student flute about 5 1/2 years ago and have loved it the whole time. However, the other day during sectionals one of the flute players said to me "You DO know that when you play there's a grayish mark left on your face, right?" Well that kind of freaked me out, but I thought perhaps my flute was just dirty or something. I've been watching it for about a week and it continues to leave a mark on me, so I got online and found the exact model. The description says it's silver plated and the plating has a guarantee of five years. So apparently the plating is running thing and I need something new. Even though I've been dreaming of and planning my "future flute" for a few years, I'm not able to afford a new flute right now! So I'm hoping to just buy a headjoint. Does anyone know where I would be able to find an identical one? I'd like it to either be the exact same, or the same but with a gold lip plate (depending on price). Any information is appreciated!
Laura
Headjoint
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Hi, 00 !
1.) Are you using a chemically-treated polishing cloth on your lipplate? Sometimes the residue will rub off on our faces.
2.) Are you certain this is a brand-new problem (never happened before)? Some people's skin chemistry reacts with silver or other metals and causes this problem. 3.) Can you see evidence of vanishing plating? You might want to find an Armstrong dealer with a reputable repair tech and question him/her about the problem's possible origins and solutions. Check for the model # of headjoint that comes with your flute (sometimes this is engraved at the top-back of the head, just below the crown) and ask about ordering another, if you really need to. Armstrong headjoints are usually lettered instead of numbered. I think the "B" (basic) head is standard on the 102, if this is your model, and the "J" on the 104. 
Also, Armstrong manufactures at least five or six different headjoints, so if you're going to buy a new one, you might as well try them all, if available. If you're playing a "B" or "J", you might try a "P" or "C". These are available with gold lip plates, if you're concerned about this ever happening again. Any reasonable dealer should be able to order one of these for you and sell these for WELL under $400. 
P.S. Armstrong's parent company, Conn, recently merged with Selmer (don't buy a Selmer flute...), and both are now owned by Steinway. They've created a confusing, uninformative website for Conn-Selmer. Since this merger, some of the old flute model #s have disappeared, but I've not yet (at work) encountered incompatibility between the old and new stuff. 
1.) Are you using a chemically-treated polishing cloth on your lipplate? Sometimes the residue will rub off on our faces.
2.) Are you certain this is a brand-new problem (never happened before)? Some people's skin chemistry reacts with silver or other metals and causes this problem. 3.) Can you see evidence of vanishing plating? You might want to find an Armstrong dealer with a reputable repair tech and question him/her about the problem's possible origins and solutions. Check for the model # of headjoint that comes with your flute (sometimes this is engraved at the top-back of the head, just below the crown) and ask about ordering another, if you really need to. Armstrong headjoints are usually lettered instead of numbered. I think the "B" (basic) head is standard on the 102, if this is your model, and the "J" on the 104. Also, Armstrong manufactures at least five or six different headjoints, so if you're going to buy a new one, you might as well try them all, if available. If you're playing a "B" or "J", you might try a "P" or "C". These are available with gold lip plates, if you're concerned about this ever happening again. Any reasonable dealer should be able to order one of these for you and sell these for WELL under $400. P.S. Armstrong's parent company, Conn, recently merged with Selmer (don't buy a Selmer flute...), and both are now owned by Steinway. They've created a confusing, uninformative website for Conn-Selmer. Since this merger, some of the old flute model #s have disappeared, but I've not yet (at work) encountered incompatibility between the old and new stuff. 
headjoints
I am curious about headjoints-- why should it be that "handcut" headjoints make such a better sound? It would seem that a more accurate and consistant headjoint could be machine made. Why shouldn't makers of mass distribution flutes (student flutes) just cut their headjoints like the very expensive flute makers?? Is it the cut/shape?? or is it the metal the headjoints are made of that make them "better"? 
Or is it that custom headjoints are built so that they focus on certain parts of the flutes range e.g. a headjoint for a jazz flutist might focus on the the higher octaves but "blow" with more difficulty at the lower range??
Or is it that custom headjoints are built so that they focus on certain parts of the flutes range e.g. a headjoint for a jazz flutist might focus on the the higher octaves but "blow" with more difficulty at the lower range??