Lafin Headjoints

[Michael Ward]

These handmade winged headjoints are made by Brannen Bros. I am making a trip to Just Flutes in Croydon to try a lot of headjoints out and these have been recommended. Anybody playing or played one? thanks

[griff136]

Very nice - you may want to try some Ian Maclauchlan H/Js while you're there.

when are you thinking of popping in? I am one of the repairers there ( I work there on a thursday usually)

Griff

[BarrySachs]

As I understand it, the Lafin headjoint is more of a one-off, bespoke type product. Only established players are able to get Lafin to make a headjoint for them and there is a queue.

As far as I know, Lafin has nothing to do with Brannen. I believe that Robert Langevin, of the NY Phil, plays a Brannen with Lafin headjoint.
http://nyphil.org/meet/orchestra/index.cfm?page=profile&personNum=95

[JButky]

As with all headjoints, the proof is in the playing. From my playing perspective, they are OK. If they have a Mancke headjoint, try that too. It's one of the nicer headjoints I've tried within the past year and would be a much better headjoint for me than the Lafin.

Joe B

[Michael Ward]

Thanks everyone. Griff I spoke to Jon and I'm not sure when but I'm coming but soon. I haven't been there for a few years. Regarding Brannen I just read about the headjoints on Just Flutes website and the owner Jon told me about them. It says there they hooked up with Brannen. I'm going to go with an open mind and try every headjoint there that fits my flute try and stay sane and maybe bring a couple home.

[Black Obelisk]

Lafin is an old german guy who used to play in symphonies over there & was buddies with Galway, I think?

I believe he pioneered the whole "wings" concept, thingee.

Rampal never had any of that stuff. He played the HJ that came with his Haynes, and didn't he sound great?

[Michael Ward]

I know man yes..I think the wing thing has been around for years..some of the old German flutes had them I recall. I'm only changing because I've had this Muramatsu for a few years and I just can't get comfortable. Plus I double a lot and it's got to be there instant.

[griff136]

Thanks everyone. Griff I spoke to Jon and I'm not sure when but I'm coming but soon. I haven't been there for a few years. Regarding Brannen I just read about the headjoints on Just Flutes website and the owner Jon told me about them. It says there they hooked up with Brannen. I'm going to go with an open mind and try every headjoint there that fits my flute try and stay sane and maybe bring a couple home.

Come early and if you want to try all the headjoints that fit then bring a packed lunch or some money to get some food and be prepared to leave late in the early evening.

I look forward to meeting you if we manage to be in the shop on the same day!

Griff

[Michael Ward]

Cool Griff. Yes I'm sure I'll go into overload quite early on. cheers

[bruce bailey]

LaFin was one of the first to use the idea of bending the front of the lip down to reduce outside resistance. Very nice heads but VERY expensive.

[Michael Ward]

Griff does Ian Maclauchlan work on existing headjoints? I would like a new lip plate on my Kingma Bass or maybe a new head if he has the tubing. I talked to Bigio and he said it could be done. thanks

[bruce bailey]

My GF had one of his early ones in silver with a gold riser and the front was very similar to the Emerson American which was a copy. The LaFin was about .011". I have heard they are only made in gold now. The more recent ones had a curved front with a slight crease at the front of the hole.

[Zevang]

As far as I know, Lafin has nothing to do with Brannen. I believe that Robert Langevin, of the NY Phil, plays a Brannen with Lafin headjoint.
http://nyphil.org/meet/orchestra/index.cfm?page=profile&personNum=95

Mr.Lafin is retired from making heajoints now. He has a business with Brannen in which he passed the knowledge to them so Brannen is exclusive in selling his headjoints.
I know of a case of a 18K brannen with a Lafin headjoint that had defects in the enbouchure soldering. It was returned to Brannen but they gave no definitive solution. Maybe it was because the flute was sold for an amateur (believe it...) south american flutist. Maybe if it was in the USA things might have been different...
On the other hand, I have at least two very satisfied colleagues using brannen flutes (btw without a Lafin head).

[Kritavi]

Has anyone ever seen or heard of a Lafin HJ with no markings?
I brought this to an expert who said in terms of looks and quality it most resembles a Lafin but the absence of any markings makes it a mystery. It has a standard lip plate.

[Zevang]

Maybe it's a copy from an enthusiast maker?

[kymarto]

I was at Yamano Music in Tokyo last year, where they always have at least 40 handmade flutes many more headjoints from all the top makers, when a concert flutist was in town giving some master classes. He and I tried out a bunch of Powells, Haynses, Lunns, a Matit and some other flutes. We found one old silver Powell that we both thought was very nice. He tried it with a couple of gold Lafin headjoints, and neither was in the class of the Powell head. Everyone there remarked on the fact that both Lafins had a rather unfocused sound, and he said that he much preferred the Powell. The moral of this story is to choose a head based on how it sounds and works for you rather than the named stamped or engraved on the tube. Not only are there different cuts and designs by different makers, but small variations in the manufacturing process can turn out two "identical" heads which play much differently.

Toby,

[bruce bailey]

A local top notch flutist here had a gold Brannen wiht the original head and a LaFin gold head that she got from Galway. I fitted the LaFin to the body and the conclusion was that the LaFin was a bit better but if you already had the Brannen head, it would not be worth buying the expensive LaFin head.