Hi Kathryn, yes I agree. The Song headjoint maker was new to me but I really like these heads. But yes the Burkhart with the silver head and platinum riser is so wonderful too.
Next time it might be a good idea to play them first without disclosing anything about the maker or the materials. The. blindfold test precludes any assumptions and biases. That being said I think you clearly sounded best on the second Song headjoint. Your sound and articulation was most reliable on it, and it was nice. strong sound.
I liked the 14K gold lip Song head joint the best. I felt that it is the most well balanced sound among those five headjoints. Nagaraha 22K gold riser sounds like Lafin headjoints and pretty good, especially if you play in orchestra, since it sounds so neutral. Burkart are, Burkarts. It sounds open, both in good and bad meaning, modern big sound. I personally feel a bit more resistance makes sound better, but that depends on preference. It is really interesting that everybody has different preference.
Thanks for your input. Yes everyone has such interesting preferences. I too like a little resistance which is probably why I like the Haynes flutes and head joints.
1-warmfull, round 2-resistence, colored 3-easy emission.. perhaps good for orchestra 4-reactiv, cold 5-seem to be easy in intervals Thanks for this maestro doctor Where do you feel free? Where do you feel singing more?
I love your assessment! I liked them all for different reasons. It is difficult to pick the best when they are all good as you so nicely stated, for different reasons.
#4 from this grouping seems best for your flute. I play a Nagahara flute with silver head\gold lip plate\ extended platinum riser, so I thought I would love #5, but it didn't seem to match as well. Runner up choice was #2.
Both Song Headjoints very shimmery and responsive Gold Burkart headjoint- Very warm I think that one they should have added a platinum riser to this one and it would have stood out more Silver Burkart- Powerful and responsive Nagahara- From my perspective this one sounded very flat and dull. It responded very well but the intonation was what I could not get over If i had to choose in order: Silver Burkart w/Platinum riser Silver Song w/14k riser Gold Burkart w/silver lip plate Silver song w/14k lip and riser Nagahara w/gold riser
I wanted to tell you that I tried a very interesting Nagahara head joint this week and decided to buy it. I had a 14k DA cut Nagahara head joint that was wonderful. But I saw a used one advertised at the Flute Center of NY. It is 14k gold, Nagahara Galway cut with a platinum riser. It also has a little piece of platinum on the blowing edge too. It is rich and projects much more than my 14k head joint. It has a depth that I’ve never experienced before. Even though I liked my old head joint, I decided to buy the new one and consign the other one to the Flute Center. This new head joint is not easy to play. I kind of have to learn it and tame it. The platinum made a huge difference in the sound. Which head joint did you like best?
Hi Meri, I'm not sure! I did like the Nagahara very much. I think that it was a toss up between the Nagahara and the Burkhart with the platinum riser. Your headjoint sounds marvelous. I bet that in just a little while you will get an amazing sound with this new head. How exciting!
I thought the Burkart with the platinum riser was the best sounding one of the five. Second choice would be the Song HJ w/ Gold lip, riser, and crown. When you talked about weight it made me think of my flute and how much heavier it got when I bought a Geoghegan Solid Silver with 14k Rose Gold Riser and Power Bands.
DoctorFlute it was really strange at first, but I got used to it quickly. The projection and response is wonderful. I love my Geoghegan on my Burkart & Phelan Flute. Definitely different than the Silver M2 Burkart headjoint it came with. A good friend of mine suggested the Geoghegan Elan for my students she was teaching, which is where I learned about Geoghegan HJs. So I purchased an Elan to have my student try when they are wanting to upgrade. Since I teach in a low socioeconomically disadvantaged area, the option of a new HJ is more feasible than an entire flute. BTW, I am actually a clarinetist, but I play flute way more now.
Interesting! I'll have to look up this brand of hj. Many people say that it is all about the headjoint and not about the body. So upgrading to a new HJ is a great choice.
Oh I would love to see a video on them! The upper three head joints are ones I haven’t tried. What is really cool is if you order from them, you get a month free trial, you can lease a Headjoint from them (which is what I’m doing until I pay it off), and right out purchase it. Here’s the link www.geoghegancompany.com :)
I actually liked the #4 the best, with #5 really close behind it. They both gave your sound a darker, sweeter sound than the others, but not as mellow as with #3.
Hi Angela, I kinda like the Burkart 10k Gold M2 Headjoint Silver Lip Plate & Riser, to me, it has a mellower sound?, more velvety?, you know what I mean?. Boy, so many choices ... too many for me, I wish everything could be simpler ... Interesting video indeed, be safe, may God bless and protect you and your loved ones.
Hi Jorge, interesting that you like the gold better. It was a beautiful. It can be overwhelming to pick out a new headjoint. There are just so many with beautiful but different sounds! We are all safe and healthy. How about you? Everyone healthy in your family?
I liked the gold crowned Song headjoint the best! Rich, warm, and flexible sounding. The Burkart with a Platinum riser sounded great too - rounded third octave and great projection throughout. The Nagahara had real nice tapering to dynamics but everything sounded a half step lower - was it a bit too big for the barrel/couldn’t go in enough? You always sound great anyways, which one did you end up picking?
Great analysis! I love to hear everyone's perspective. The truth is I didn't pick any one of those. The Virus hit at the same time and it really was prudent to spend that kind of money at this time. It's on hold to come back to once things settle down.
No clue which is 'better', but I personally like the more mellow sound of HJ #5... #3 sounded really clear and balanced and #1 had some nice nuance to it.
Tone, Song with gold Yes, harder low register but overall tone most beautiful. Nagahara, loud tone, overall easier tonging than gold Song. Not impressed with others. Also, hard to give best comments hearing sound this way. All imho. Enjoy & I hope you find the one you love. Nice & fun video. Thank you !
I really liked the Nagahara, and the 4th (Burkart with the platinum riser) was a close second or tie.I own a 14k Nagahara flute and I love it. Which one did you like the best?
Well, I hope you can let me know which one you pick. It’s a hard decision. I’m waiting to try a used Nagahara 14k used Galway cut head joint with a platinum riser. I hope Flute Center sends it to me next week. I love the Nagahara head joint I have but I’m just curious about this one because of the cut and platinum riser. I have a Powell flute too, but I saw a used Nagahara body recently and tried it. It has a dark, rich sound, and I fell in love! I hope you fall in love with your new head joint!!
That Nagahara sounds fantastic. I'm very interested in the platinum riser. It seems to give just enough power and edge to sound. I'm very excited for you!
Hello from Japan! I liked the gold Burkart best on your flute. I think I’ve heard Burkart on someone else’s channel some time before and I liked that one as well. So I assume the sound of Burkart is comfortable to me and hope I can find one here in Japan to try it myself. Thank you for the video!
Thank you for this very interesting video. Please let me share my thoughts about your test: Burkart's Pt riser and Nagahara's 22K gold riser HJ really stand out in my opinion. Not to say that the other HJ's sound bad in any way, but those 2 have a personality of their own. Platinum riser has my preference by far: super crisp, bright and responsive. Feels like touching the gas pedal of a sportscar + you seem very comfortable with it, which makes your playing seamless. The Nagahara HJ produces really unusual harmonics that are not to my taste, especially in the medium register. Just like "Michaelflute" below, I find the sound a bit out of tune (a bit low). It also sounds more challenging to the player. It could have been interesting to test a Nagahara HJ with a platinum riser for comparison purposes. I just resumed playing my 25-yr old Sankyo flute and I am getting excited about a possible headjoint upgrade next year. I am actually overwhelmed by the variety of models on the market although East Coast makers aren't as distributed as Japanese makers here in Paris. Watching one of your other videos, I clearly understand that you need to develop an idea of what you are looking for before going to the stores. This brings me to my main question. Based on your experience, would you say that we would have heard more or less the same differences if those 5 HJ had been played by a different flutist, or by yourself on a different day for that matter? Is there something physiological that could have produced an entirely different picture ? Another question: I noticed that some makers offer winglets on either side of the embouchure. Do you have any thoughts about this feature?
Hi Guillaume, amazing thoughts. I love your opinion on the head joints. I too am in love with the platinum riser. Interesting about the Nagahara. Sometimes when playing that I thought it was really nice then when coming back to it not so much. I think a comparison with all platinum risers might be in the future. I'm excited for you in trying headjoints for your Sankyo. It can make your flute be an entirely different flute. A lot less expensive then buying an entirely new flute! I definitely believe anyone else trying the headjoints would sound completely different. When I play the headjoints I can play them 5 different times and feel like they sound different every time. I do think our embouchure muscles change frequently with fatigue or temperature change which affects your sound. There are many factors. To pick the right head I think you need to have the head in your possession where you can try it a lot and make a great decision. I'm not a believer in the wings. I've tried and experimented with them and feel that they don't really do as much for you as the makers think. I guess I also feel that flutes have been playing beautifully for many years without them so why is it necessary. Thanks for you thoughtful reply.
I think I would choose between the Song headjoint with the 14K riser or the Burkart M2 with the platinum riser. I did not like the Nagahara headjoint at all-the sound is a little too dark for me. You make the Burkart M2 sound great! I can't get clear articulation with that headjoint cut; I prefer the S4. As for gold risers, I probably wouldn't go above an 18K riser because I love the combo of silver and gold. My favorite flutes that I've tried in conventions have been the Burkart 998 with the gold soldered tone holes and a silver Mancke head with an 18K riser and a 14K Powell body with a silver mechanism and an 18K head. Probably my favorite headjoint that I have ever tried was a silver Dana Sheridan with a 14K riser. Too bad he retired and doesn't make them anymore.
I love your perspective! I love the platinum riser it has such projection with just that little bit of platinum. The Sheridan head joints are so fantastic it is too bad that they aren't being made anymore. What head are you using these days?
@@DoctorFlute Right now, I’m just using the Powell Signature II head that came with my Powell Signature flute. My headjoint has a silver riser and I love how buttery I can make it sound, but I would love a little bit more resistance in my next flute/headjoint. My flute is a gorgeous instrument, but I know I will need soldered tone holes eventually.
There's time for that new flute. I think your flute is a beautiful instrument. I too would like a little more resistance as that type of sound is "in". Ah time and patience.
@@DoctorFlute My biggest worry is that a denser metal means that the instrument will be heavier. I notice that I just put a lot of air into my flute when I’m in good shape so I think I would change heads before changing flutes. As much as I love that gold sounds “pretty”, I really like having an instrument like the one I have that allows me to go between a “pretty” sound and an “edgy” sound. My default sound has quite a bit of a defined core in it so I am working on making sure I can have different shades of it without changing the crown or the head. I almost got my flute with a 14K gold crown, but decided not to because I felt like it didn’t add too much and it was over budget. I would definitely like to try an 18K crown because I like that sound more than 14K.
I feel exactly the same way about the added weight with too much gold. I do not play with tons of air so while I like the gold sound an entire gold flute would not be a great fit for me. I've been thinking of trying some crowns myself. If you want a change it is the least expensive change. That elusive flute that costs so much is always on the other side of the fence. But boy is it fun to try all the toys!
Well that is tricky. Most beginner flutes have that type of head joint. I don't think it would do enough. To upgrade, I would get the solid silver head joint.
Another great video. Q: What's the deal with the CROWN? Surely the crown is not where the action is. Does a heavier gold one alter the balance & bring the Flt lower on the lip?
Thanks Deryck! Crowns do make a difference in tone. Not being an engineer I can't tell you why but I have tried different crowns on my flute and found that depending on what they are made out of they make a difference. It might be more subtle but it a change is present. I tried a gold crown on my flute and the weight difference wasn't too much. This headjoint with the gold crown/lip/riser was definitely heavier but I don't know if it was just this particular HJ or in general. It doesn't make it lower on the lip. It is still easy to put the lip plate in the correct location on the lip. Good questions!
Sometimes the headjoint sound is not the problem...only for us who play them!! Not to the listener who doesn't play the flute like us. I'm shocked cause i bought a Yamaha 361 flute with silver 925 headjoint and still my 225 S II (a nickel plated flute) beats it!!! More resonance/more open and darker tone. I don't know what to do now... Maybe that happens with every brand of flutes... but Yamaha is lefting a lot to be desired unfortunately and i must say that both of them are made in Japan. Not from Indonesia flutes. The thing is that Yamaha won't tell us about the quality of their flutes an they always say that their flutes are and were the best... what do you think about it??
Are you saying that you don't particularly care for this new flute that you got? The headjoint is the key to a great sound. It would be very unusual for the 925 to sound worse then your nickel head. Is this something that you want to ask Yamaha about? They would probably exchange that head for you.
@@DoctorFlute thank u for answer. I bought the flute from another flute player. I bought it used, i mean. Though its pads are in very good condition. In general terms, the sound of it is thin and it hasn't too much resonance if i compare it with my old 225, side by side. It feels like something deep in the sound is missing. Thank u again.
DoctorFlute Because I recently buyed a new headjoint from the norwegian flutemaker Jan Junker. It’s a 750 all silver headjoint with a platinum riser, and I could recognice the same wonderful rich sound that has a vibrant luster I enjoy so much. Very exciting headjoint that I love exploring. A lot ofpossibilities, in my opinion.I love following your channel and I learn something new every day 😊👍 Thank you!
I bet your headjoint is phenomenal. I do love the combination of silver head with platinum riser. There is warmth but also amazing power. I will have to look into Jan Junker's headjoints! I am so glad you are enjoying my channel. Let me know if there is anything that I can help you with.
DoctorFlute He makes the most amazing flutes in gold and silver. He’s maybe not the most famous flutemaker in the world, but he is in fact one of the best. My former teacher has many flutes, but the headjoints and flutes og this maker are his favourites. He is of course a marvelous flutist. I have just returned playing after a 19 years break!! Stoppes when I got my first son, but now I am back on track again. I find your videos very inspiring and I am practising doubbletounging 😀
Edilson Palmieri Nagahara Silver tem um som muito diferente dos outros. Ele tem um som baixo. (Nagahara Silver has a sound very different of the others. It has bass sound)
To me, the platinum riser Burkhardt not only sounded the clearest with a round full tone, but you seemed very comfortable with it whereas the articulation was less clear or the tone too edgy with some of the others. Can you please tell us what is your flute body? Also, are 'Burkart' and 'Lilian Burkart' the same? I was surprised that the no.5 Nagahara IMO did not sound particularly great and I had been looking ta one of those online. It is now off my list - sounded very cliched flutey but not thrilling like the platinum.
Nice analysis! I have a professional Haynes so that is the body of the flute. Yes, I too really like the platinum riser. It really adds something special to a silver headjoint without going over the top. Yes I was speaking of Lillian B. Are you looking for an entire flute or just a headjoint?
@@DoctorFlute I was thinking the head-joint could make the critical difference. My Yamaha intermediate's "CY" lip-plate and solid silver combination is actually fine and I am sure any shortcomings are mine, but I miss the solidity and roundness of lower register unless I am very careful and (for reasons that many be embouchure/blowing openness not the headjoint), I am looking for a more beautiful/rich/full upper register. I should say, although I am a musician by training (violin/viola), I am relatively new to flute, so there is plenty of room for improvement without shopping. Also, I live in Australia, where we have fewer choices available and certainly not the representation of Haynes and Powell that you demonstrated. Lots of Miramatsu, Altus, and Nagahara here and an American called Chris McKenna (still just talking head joints). I haven't yet heard anyone play the McKenna well enough to appreciate the 'wings'. I found the platinum riser difference remarkable and very attractive. NYFC and flute conventions seem to provide astonishing variety to try out. Sadly, it will be a very long time before we will be able to travel to USA again. Thank you so much for your videos and discussions. It is very helpful.
Headjoints do make amazing differences. There have been many discussions around the fact that you don't need the professional model flute only a professional headjoint on an intermediate flute. So a different headjoint on your flute might make all the differnece. I've heard of McKenna heads but have never tried one before. I love going to the conventions when I can as they do have amazing variety especially at the National Flute Convention. Any and every maker is there and you can try every one. (Although who knows now in the present situation if that will still happen). I'm glad my videos offer some help. Let me know if there is anything I can help you with specifically. You can email me on my DoctorFlute.com email. Nice to talk with you.
I think checking diminuendo and really soft playing is crucial, too. Attacks in the high register. Can you change intonation without changing the tone colour? I think you sounded consistent on the last hj, and I would not even consider the others.
DoctorFlute The intonation of the number 5 was better, and there were not many cracked notes when you played on that. Also, you were able to move around in the registers and have a consistent sound. I think the fact that your fingers worked perfectly on that hj is also a message to be noticed. It probably means you were relaxed and comfortable on it. Some of the other hjs gave you a totally different sound in the low reg. Changing the tone colour in the low reg should be an option we have, not something that happens every time imo. The general «finding the sound» at Song 2 sounded nice, too, but when you started playing the music, it was obvious that your habits don’t fit that hj at all. You might end up loving it and sounding really good on it, but it willl take time. Your air stream was too fast or big for it, or perhaps the direction was wrong. Like you played «past» the sound. Best of luck, it is an exciting process!
@@MrsKlausen I put it all on hold during the current crisis. I didn't think spending a few thousand dollars was prudent for the family until things settle down. I'll let you know when I ramp us the search again.
@@DoctorFlute Howdy, I like the warm sound of gold. My own headjoint is a silver Signature Powell with rose gold lip plate and crown (and gold barrel on the body). I like the combination of gold for warmth and silver for projection and colour. I don't like the zing of silver though so my fav was the Burkart, and the Songs were similar to my own headjoint. Impressed with them.
I think platinum takes a regular nice silver headjoint and makes it extraordinary. it warms up the sound but also gives it a power and edge that wasn't there to begin with.
Hi Meri, I really love adding platinum on a headjoint. I think it does add power to a silver headjoint. Adding gold to a headjoint adds warmth to the silver sound. Having an entire gold or platinum head does really do anything for me. But adding a little gold or platinum is amazing.
