Chiff and Fipple Forums

Can anyone here shed some light on the matter? I realize that it has a lot to do with personal preference. I like the reedy buzz the flute can produce, and I know that it is just as much the flute as the player, but how does a lined or unlinded headjoint factor in?
I've read several flute makers sites and find some do and some don't line the headjoints and they have their opinions on the matter. I've played bohem system flute for years and it seems to me that a fully lined headjoint would give you pretty much the same sound (I have no experinece) I've only played unlined wooden flutes for about the last 2 1/2 years or so.
I know I'm asking for a lot of personal opinions, so I'm prepared!

Ray

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=57220&hilit=lined+vs+unlined

this should help

I played both and, to be honest, I don't care at all. My current flute has a lined headjoint, the previos one was unlined, the next one will be lined again - I liked and like them all, no matter if lined or not. I also can't track down the subtle differences in sound to the lining. Embouchure and bore shape are bigger factors.

this might be potentially dangerous but, according to tom aebi when I was discussing this, he recommended me to get a lined one because this would be louder.
this was three years ago and since then I don't care anymore as any flute is plenty loud when played well.

so it must be something else then?
berti

This could just be me, just a subjective personal thought based on some personal experience, but I think a non-lined head tends to produce a mellower tone while a lined head can be more edgy. Maybe I'm just using faulty "common sense" in thinking wood is more woody and metal more metalic, like thinking ships can only be made of wood because wood floats whereas metal just sinks. FWIW.

I believe it may go like this.

There are unlined flutes that play louder and project better than
lined flutes (headjoints, that is).

However for most unlined flutes, they will play louder and project
better if lined.

On the otherhand the unlined headjoints tend to have a woodier sound,
though a lined headjoint still sounds like a wooden flute, not a Boehm.

Forgive my question, but as english is not my mother language, I might have missed some point.
In my mind, lined headjoint means that the embouchure hole is lined up with the tone holes. Am I correct?

cheers,

Pascal.

Hi Pascal,

We mean by a 'lined headjoint,' one that is entirely metal coated on the inside, often in silver,
sometimes in brass. Unlined would be just wood. Some headjoints are partially lined,
so that there can be a slide, but most of headjoint is unlined--which may give
the flute a 'woodier' sound.

jim stone wrote:I believe it may go like this.

yer makin' me miss drinkin', ya know.....

I recently acquired a flute with an Abei hj which is partially lined. I am liking it quite a lot! Until now, I have always played flutes with a lined hj. I personally feel that it is a little quieter, but then again, the flute has smaller holes and bore, than my other flutes. Other players sitting across the table from me seem to think it is loud. Is that just me? I dunno. What I do know is that I like the sound and I seem to get that same reedy buzz from the partially lined hj that I do with the fully lined ones. Check out some the clips on my podbean acct. The Firth, Pond & Co. flute has the partially lined hj. The other tunes are recorded on my Hudson Pratten with the fully lined hj.
Arbo

Hey, INI, just listened to some of your clips...very nice. To my ears it sounds like your style is coming together, tightening up. Excellent. I like the Firth sound a lot. Interesting how we all sound about the same on whatever flute we play, just a matter of degrees between different axes. Same is true of lined or unlined I'm sure.

Thank you, Jim, for the explanation.

Cheers,

Pascal.

Akiba wrote:Hey, INI, just listened to some of your clips...very nice. To my ears it sounds like your style is coming together, tightening up. Excellent. I like the Firth sound a lot. Interesting how we all sound about the same on whatever flute we play, just a matter of degrees between different axes. Same is true of lined or unlined I'm sure.

Thanks very much. I am still not sure what my 'style' is however. Any thoughts.? Just curious. I am not saavy to the regional styles really, though I do know I have a very different style than a good friend of mine who plays with that really huffy-puffy, pulsating technique!
Arbo

I don't know words for the style and I enjoy the clips. thanks

Akiba wrote:This could just be me, just a subjective personal thought based on some personal experience, but I think a non-lined head tends to produce a mellower tone while a lined head can be more edgy. Maybe I'm just using faulty "common sense" in thinking wood is more woody and metal more metalic, like thinking ships can only be made of wood because wood floats whereas metal just sinks. FWIW.

I think you're onto something here. The Titanic was metal and it sank as Irish music was playing. Irish music and metal just don't go together .......