Soldered vs. drawn tone hole flutes
While many professional flutists choose soldered tone hole flutes, the ultimate choice must be based on personal preference. In a blind test, many clients prefer a drawn tone hole flute. While some flutists do feel that soldered and drawn tone hole flutes play differently, others feel that the differences are only slight. The type of tone hole is only one variable among many which affects the overall tone quality and response of an instrument.

What do the terms drawn and soldered mean?
On a drawn tone hole flute, the tone holes are actually extruded or pulled out of the tube of the flute. On a soldered tone hole flute, each tone hole is made separately. Each of the 16 tone holes (which come in 6 different sizes) must be individually soldered to the flute tube. This requires more time and labor resulting in a higher costs. Drawn tone hole flutes take less time to manufacture and are consequently less expensive.

What are the different weights of flutes?
In the United States, a standard weight flute is .016 while a heavy wall is .018 and a thin wall is .014. The Japanese flutes have a different system of measurement so that a standard wall is approximately .015 while a heavy wall is approximately .017.

We strongly recommend heavy-wall flutes as they generally provide more resistance, greater resonance and richness of tone. However, the player is always the best judge of what works best for them.

Why a solid silver flute?
Solid silver increases the value and durability of the instrument. Should the flute become damaged, dented or scratched, solid silver is much easier to repair.

Why pointed key arms?
Pointed key arms strengthen the relationship between key cups and tone holes. Flutists today also consider pointed key arms more beautiful—an attitude which increases the long-term value of a flute.

March 2004

Changing Your Headjoint Cork
A headjoint cork that is fitted well can help your headjoint vibrate and will thus enhance the projection of your tone. Cork shrinks over time as the moisture content lessens. We feel that the headjoint cork should be changed as often as every six months and at least once a year. The cork is set in place with wax for a tight seal; for that reason, you should not re-position the cork yourself. We use very exacting measurements to position your cork for correct intonation.

The Weighted Cork Assembly
Did you know that adding a weight inside your headjoint improves the tone quality of your piccolo? A weighted cork assembly in your piccolo headjoint may be just the solution to your piccolo anxieties. Your tone will be deeper and richer with greater stability throughout all three octaves.

February 2004

Cleaning Your Barrel & Tenons
Jeff feels very strongly about cleaning barrels and tenons. (What an understatement!) Every time you put your flute together, use a soft cloth to wipe all of the connecting pieces:

• The headjoint tenon (the end of the headjoint that is inserted into the body)
• The barrel (the receiving end of the body for the headjoint where the manufacturer's name is usually stamped)
• The footjoint tenon (the end of the body that is inserted into the footjoint)
• The footjoint box (the receiving end of the footjoint)

Occasionally clean these connections with a non-abrasive polish or cleaner. We use an organic, non-abrasive silver polish specially formulated for our company. Some flutes need to be cleaned daily while others may only need a weekly cleaning. Keeping the connections clean will reduce scratching and grinding. The pieces of your flute should fit together like "buttah." (That's butter for you non-New Yorkers!)

The footjoint connection should fit snugly so that the entire tube of the flute vibrates to its maximum potential. When a footjoint feels tight, the connection is usually dirty.

Remove the footjoint correctly!
Many flutists remove the footjoint by grasping the footjoint at the very end past the tone holes. We believe this places a flexing or bending pressure on the footjoint tenon. You will have better leverage by having both hands closer together.
Hold the footjoint with the right hand index finger on the D# key (not the spatula) with the thumb underneath on the tube. Hold the body in the left hand just above the G# lever. Using a strong and fluid motion,

• Roll the left hand towards your body,
• Roll the right hand away from your body,
• and pull both hands apart horizontally.

Don't worry if this feels a little strange at first. We usually spend five to ten minutes at the end of each sales appointment teaching this technique!

Connecting the footjoint to the body should require little effort. Cock the right hand back and line up the rods of the footjoint and body. Then smoothly twist the footjoint 1/4 turn forward while pushing the footjoint towards the body. Always use a twisting motion; never try to push the footjoint straight on to the body. If the connection feels tight or uneven, make sure the tenons and footjoint box are spotlessly clean. If the connection still feels tight, the footjoint tenon may be dented or uneven. Have the tenon re-fitted for a smooth connection.

Headjoint Fitting
The connection of the headjoint with the barrel has long been recognized as one of the most vital points of vibration on the flute. When inserting the headjoint into the barrel, always make sure to use a twisting motion. Never push the headjoint straight into the barrel. The headjoint tenon should always be free of dirt, lint and tarnish to prevent scratching the inside of the barrel. Headjoint fitting is an art, and Jeff is a master. Fitting a headjoint perfectly can sometimes take over an hour.

January 2004
The JB Weissman Music Company is proud to introduce a brand-new High E facilitator design. Manufactured to precise dimensions, this new High E facilitator is available to all flutists.

What Is a High E Facilitator?
The High E facilitator is a mini-tone hole inserted into the lower G tone hole (the tone hole just below the G# lever). This reduces the size of the tone hole that is vented for High E. The facilitator helps the High E respond more easily. The facilitator also lowers the pitch of the High E (which is usually very sharp) and increases the stability of this note in articulated passages and large intervals.

Installation of the High E facilitator only requires a one-day appointment. Schedule your appointment today!