Pros/cons of foot joint
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:02 pm
Looking at various polymer flutes (the good ones like Seery, Dixon 3-piece etc) I see that some have the traditional foot joint with two large holes and some don't (and some have them as an optional extra).
I'm under the impression that they're just a remnant of the old style flutes that came with keys and that, in a keyless modern flute, they serve no useful purpose (other than leaving open the option to have keys added in the future, I suppose).
Assuming that I'm not interested in adding keys, is there any benefit to having a flute with a foot joint, for example, does it improve tone?
I can see disadvantages, such as unnecessary extra weight, which, considering that some feel Seery/M&E polymer flutes are overly heavy, would be a factor.
So, are there any benefits?
Also and, this is just speculation on my part, but, in reading threads comparing Dixons 3-piece polymer to the Seery/M&E, it seems that there's often negativity towards the Dixon, despite the fact that a lesser number of players seem to rate it as being just as good as the other two.
It could be, of course, that it's cos it genuinely is less good in terms of tone/volume/tuning, or due to its lack of tuning slide- but I wonder if, to some extent, it's a bit of prejudice because, not having the old-style foot joint it doesn't look as 'authentic' as the Seery/M&E types?
(Actually, the Dixon 3-piece does have an optional lower foot joint as an extra, but the only place I've seen that mentioned is on Dixons own website and, even on there, the only photo is of the flute without the extra foot joint)
What do you think, do traditional flute players tend to rate a flute possessing the extra foot joint as being better than one that doesn't (all other factors being equal)?
I'm under the impression that they're just a remnant of the old style flutes that came with keys and that, in a keyless modern flute, they serve no useful purpose (other than leaving open the option to have keys added in the future, I suppose).
Assuming that I'm not interested in adding keys, is there any benefit to having a flute with a foot joint, for example, does it improve tone?
I can see disadvantages, such as unnecessary extra weight, which, considering that some feel Seery/M&E polymer flutes are overly heavy, would be a factor.
So, are there any benefits?
Also and, this is just speculation on my part, but, in reading threads comparing Dixons 3-piece polymer to the Seery/M&E, it seems that there's often negativity towards the Dixon, despite the fact that a lesser number of players seem to rate it as being just as good as the other two.
It could be, of course, that it's cos it genuinely is less good in terms of tone/volume/tuning, or due to its lack of tuning slide- but I wonder if, to some extent, it's a bit of prejudice because, not having the old-style foot joint it doesn't look as 'authentic' as the Seery/M&E types?
(Actually, the Dixon 3-piece does have an optional lower foot joint as an extra, but the only place I've seen that mentioned is on Dixons own website and, even on there, the only photo is of the flute without the extra foot joint)
What do you think, do traditional flute players tend to rate a flute possessing the extra foot joint as being better than one that doesn't (all other factors being equal)?