AboutHerbert Smith Expertise I can answer questions about almost any flute-related topic. I have trained professionally as a flute repair tech and and music educator, and have a broad range of experiences as a performer. I also have plenty of experience with flutes of every level from a huge variety of manufacturers and built with every imaginable material or specification, and can comment on the quality of various instruments, as well as guide people through the flute-buying process. I'm willing and able to discuss various flute gadgets as well (Valgon rings, Foster extensions, etc.).
I am also glad to offer advice on how to approach difficulties within pieces of music, offer teaching tips to those who give lessons, provide suggestions for repertoire, as well as answer just about any other flute-related query you can throw at me! I'm also quite familiar with piccolo, alto, and other harmony flutes (including those in unusual keys, such as Eb flute, Db piccolo, G treble, etc.), and have experience building professional quality head joints.
Please note, however, that I am not an appraisal service, and will not provide estimates of value. Please do not ask me about the value of your flute.
Experience I'm a professional repair tech with years of experience, and a veteran high school band director. I've maintained a successful studio for private flute lessons for many years, and have performed professionally in just about any imaginable venue.
Education/Credentials I have bachelor's degrees in music education and performance from highly regarded universities, and have trained with one of the best flute techs/flute makers in the US.
Question QUESTION: Two part question..
First, I'm a retired (72yrs.), but active musician - play/have all the saxes (top quality), and a "C" flute (Gemeinhardt with Drelinger HJ).
I want to get an alto flute and have read all I could from the web.
Question 1. I still play/practice 1-4 hrs./day, so COMFORT is important. The idea of using a curved HJ makes SO much sense (for comfort), so that's what I think I should get. I've read that some say there is a difference in sound (quality-wise. What do you think? If it's THAT noticeable, I could always get both straight and curved, but I have a funny feeling that one of them will collect dust.
2nd question.. I know how you feel about the "imports", and I agree. However, one of the flutes I am considering is a DC PRO brand. It's not on your "recommended" list. A store (www.dominicsmusic.com)in Mass. sells them. Is it an "import" or what?
Thank you.
ANSWER: Hello Don!
Great questions....I think I can help, and hopefully you'll be able to find a great alto!
Firstly, yes, there is indeed a difference between a curved headjoint and a straight one. That does not necessarily mean that one is better than the other, however.
Traditional Boehm flutes feature a cylindrical body with a tapered headjoint, as you may know already. The taper is essential to proper intonation and response, and also helps to define tone. Because of the methods used to produce the curve in curved heads, it is impossible to put a standard taper into the them, which essentially means that a curved head and a straight one are built on entirely different designs. As such, noticeable differences are to be expected.
However, the fact that they're different does not necessarily mean that one is inferior to the other. My main alto has both curved and straight heads, and each has its own unique advantages. I find the straight head to produce a slightly richer, darker tone, and the curved to be a bit brighter. However, both are perfectly serviceable and perform very well.
You certainly know your tendencies better than I do, but in my case, I find myself using both the curved and straight headjoints regularly. The curved is very handy for tight spaces where you can't spread out, but the straight works a little better for my tastes. I enjoy having both. Given that the difference in price between a flute with just a curved head, and one with both is pretty small (often $150-$200), I recommend having both. However, for the particular uses you'll be putting an alto to, a curved (or straight) head alone may be more than sufficient.
In any case, the difference is quite small. It is audible to well-trained ears, but I really doubt that any lay-person would hear it, and no one will ever tell you that you would sound better if only you played a straight (or curved) headjoint, rather than whatever you select....An alto flute will sound like an alto flute regardless of which type of head you use. To make an analogy, exactly the same could be said of various combinations of alto saxes and mouthpieces....They all sound like alto saxes, but each mouthpiece/sax combo has its own character, and you'll probably have a preference for one combination over others.
Now, as for your second question, let me clarify that I do no have anything at all against imported instruments in and of themselves. Some of my best flutes were made in Japan and other parts of Asia, or in Europe, and I regularly recommend instruments built outside the US. I do, however, have a problem with sub-par instruments which are aggressively marketed toward beginning players (which are largely imported from Asia, at least right now). Unfortunately, the DC PRO flutes do indeed fall into this category. They're cheap Asian instruments which simply don't play very well. DC PRO is actually Dominic's house brand as I understand it (they simply sell these on a larger scale than most similar operations), but the exact same instrument can be purchased from the manufacturer and stenciled with any name you want if you have the proper connections and the money.
I have had the opportunity to play DC PRO instruments, and while they're not nearly as bad as some of the real junkers coming out of Asia, they really cannot even begin to stand up against a quality instrument from a reputable maker, and I cannot recommend them. When you consider that basic altos are available from established flute manufacturers for just a couple hundred dollars more than you would pay for a DC PRO, and such instruments perform at a higher level, retain their value better, stay in adjustment longer, and are more easily repairable than house brands like the DC PRO, I would argue that there is little justification for selecting a house brand over an instrument from an established maker. Of course, in the end it is your money, so you'll have to make the final decision about what to do on this count.
You should also be aware that in certain musical circles, Dominic's Music has an exceptionally poor reputation. I recommend doing some research into the business' interactions with past clients before placing an order.
Anyway, when it comes to relatively inexpensive altos that nonetheless are quality instruments, I CAN recommend these makes:
Jupiter
DiMedici
Brio
Emerson
Gemeinhardt
Pearl
Sonare
Trevor James
Armstrong
Any of these would be a better choice (in my opinion) for a serious, dedicated doubler than an inexpensive house brand alto.
I hope this is helpful. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Herbert
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: SO glad I asked you BEFORE a purchase.
However, another opinion would be appreciated.
I'm sure, as you mentioned, that I could live with either a curved or straight HJ (I'm leaning towards a straight).
If you had to play your alto for over an hour, would you be using the curved head (for comfort)? I'm not sure if I'm being a wimp about this. I don't have a problem with a "C" flute (well, maybe after 3 hours).
Thanks
Answer Hello again, Don!
I'm glad you found my first answer helpful!
While my experience may not match up exactly with yours, I don't find any particular difficulty in playing my straight head for over an hour, and I've done so on many occasions. I do tend to choose which head I'll use based on the space I'm playing in (as I mentioned above, smaller spaces tend to lead me toward the curved head), and the sound I'm after, rather than comfort (as both of my heads are very comfortable for me).
Because it's somewhat rare to find altos with any major parts made of solid silver (most are nickel silver or brass that's been silver plated), altos actually tend to be pretty lightweight for their size. Combined with the ergonomic key touches that most modern altos have, which provide a good balance point for these large flutes, the weight of these instruments is not really a problem for me.
I'm a pretty tall person, and have long arms, so I also don't have to stretch as much as some to play when I use the straight head. Depending on how you're built, you may have to extend your arms more than I do, and I could certainly see a straight head becoming uncomfortable for smaller players after an extended play session, though I have no problem with mine.
In any case, I don't think it's a matter of curved heads being for wimps and straight heads being for stronger players (or vice versa)....I think it's a matter of finding whatever plays best for YOU, and whatever is the most comfortable for YOU. As such, I recommend that your first step should be to play as many altos as you can and decide which make/model works best for you and your playing in terms of tone, response, intonation, and the like. At that point, I would recommend trying out both curved and straight heads on it to see which (if either) is more comfortable. You'll need to balance the playing characteristics of the heads against their comfort levels, but if you take the time to experiment, you'll be in a good position to make an informed choice when the time comes to place an order.
I hope this is helpful. If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
