Wood Headjoints

Kything-Flutes-Mark-Hoza-makers-mark2Enjoy the look, feel and sound of a wood headjoint…

  • Give your silver or gold flute the rich, dark tone that only a wood headjoint can give
  • Enhance the beauty of your metal flute with the contrast of wood
  • Wood headjoints give a rich, dark tone, similar to gold headjoints, while remaining quick and responsive, similar to silver headjoints
  • Natural tung oil finish to enhance the tonal effects and visual beauty of the wood
  • Available in Cooktown ironwood, red lancewood, African blackwood and other timbers upon request
  • All head joints made from start to finish by wooden flute maker, Mark Hoza, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia
  • Removable sterling silver tenon design allows you to have different tenons for different flutes
  • Sterling silver ring/socket tuning slide design eliminates structural sources of cracking
  • Headjoints come in a protective pvc carrying case with felt pouch insert to protect your instrument from overly dry conditions and physical damage
  • On-going relationship with the maker to work with your changing needs over time
  • Cooktown ironwood is notoriously good for those who have sensitive skin and allergic reactions to other types of wood.

Mark Hoza's Kything flutes headjoint.

This headjoint will fit in any Boehm system concert flute.

The rings and tenon are sterling silver, and the tenon can be removed for easy sizing by a technician so that you can get the tenon sized for your flute. I can make the tenon so that it is close to the size of your flute’s socket, if you can give me accurate measurements for the following:

  1. Two or more measurements of the outside diameter of the tenon (ex: 19.80mm & 19.82mm)
  2. The inside diameter of the socket (ex: 19.85mm)
  3. The length of the socket/how far the tenon goes into the socket (ex: 40mm)
  4. And also give me the make/s and model/s of the flute/s that it will be used with.

Due to my removable tenon design this flute can be played with different flutes without having to re-fit the tenon. I can provide more than one tenon if you have more than one flute that you use. Each extra tenon will be an additional USD$66.00.

Kythers by Mark Hoza head joint maker's mark detail.

Other wood flute headjoint details:

I use a Robert Bigio style crown and end cap design (with his permission). I use a Delrin/o-ring stopper and a small hole in the end cap, thereby creating a resonance chamber in the north end of the headjoint. The stopper has a groove turned into the outer surface of the face. I also make my flutes with a taller than normal chimney, along with mild overcutting on the far side of the embouchure and a recess under the chin. I find that these modifications enhance headjoint responsiveness while maintaining a rich, strong tone in the lower register.

In order to guarantee a perfect fit with your flute I will require that I have your flute for final fitting. Otherwise I will get the tenon as close as I am able to, based on measurements supplied to me. If the tenon doesn’t fit your flute exactly you may need to have it sized by a flute technician near you.

I use a removable tenon design that allows me to easily swap and change tenons for different flutes. This design makes it possible for you to have different tenons for different flutes that you play, allowing you to use this wood head on all of your flutes!

Feel free to contact me via email or phone to discuss details. Thanks to the Internet I enjoy having direct contact with customers around the world!

I look forward to working with you,

Mark R. Hoza

Cooktown ironwood headjoint detail.

These photos are of a wood headjoint in Cooktown ironwood, an Australian hardwood carefully harvested west of Cooktown, Queensland. This timber is similar to African blackwood in density and gives a superb tone. I also favour this wood for it’s beauty and durability. Cooktown ironwood has also proven good for people who tend to have allergic reactions to other types of hardwoods.

Most wood headjoints have a metal tube inserted into the tenon end of the headjoint. The problem with that design is that when the wood shrinks around the metal tube the wood is forced to crack. Wood is always in movement with changes in humidity, such as when the instrument is played regularly versus not being played on a regular basis.

Hoza silver ring/socket detail.

This tuning slide design allows for more movement in the wood without causing cracking.

The lower ring is a combination ring/socket for the silver tenon. This is a great design because the worst that can happen is that the ring/socket merely becomes loose when the wood contracts. It is easy to then glue it back on.

I include a durable pvc carrying case so that the headjoint can be kept in a controlled environment. Wooden instruments require special care and these cases take away a lot of the guess work associated with owning a wood flute. I make the cases with a hydrator so that the wood can be kept hydrated, which significantly reduces the risk of cracking.

Each headjoint comes with a protective pvc cannister carrying case to protect your investment from impact and low humidity conditions. The headjoint, cleaning rod and stopper setting tool are nestled in a felt sleeve, which is then rolled up and stored inside the cannister.

Price includes freight, protective pvc case, cleaning rod, stopper setting tool and one tenon.
Extra tenons for other flutes may be purchased for AUD66 each.

Prices as at 18 June 2019:

Note: If you send me your flute I will require additional money to cover appropriate insurance and additional shipping for your flute.

Full payment is required before shipment.
Client is responsible for return postage on returned flutes.

I have my own merchant facility for credit card purchases and I accept payments via PayPal.

I also accept payment via money order in US or Australian dollars as well as direct bank deposit for Australian orders. I accept personal checks from the US and Australia, but payment must clear before I ship your order.

Please write to me at: Mark@WoodenFluteMaker.com if you need more information or if you are ready to place an order.

2 thought on “Wood Headjoints”

    1. I didn’t see your comment until today, sorry.

      I have made a quena style headjoint for a transverse flute, yes. It is a special order. There is less work in making it than there is for the regular headjoints, and it is worth noting that intonation through the range is not perfect. It’s ok, but not perfect, so that you are aware.

      I am willing to make one for $600 plus shipping. Let me know if you are interested in this.

      Cheers,
      Mark

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