Jose Luis, there are moments when a new equipment is really needed. I would say that without it, sometimes it's impossible to grow.
In your case, it's important to stop and think what is really directing you to that sort of decision, taking in account the level you achieved with the instrument you possess now. My personal idea of it is that you took the right decision for now.
I am a professional, 20 years playing as principal in a major orchestra. I can say to you sincerely that when a finally afforded buying a Nagahara headjoint to my new Sankyo, two years ago, I achieved a new level in playing the flute, including tone, overall sound and tunning.
To me, it was a metter of getting a better instrument to work with which could let me be a better flutist, although I could never imagine myself with this instrument in my early years of getting graduated at the university. That old silver plated Yamaha 21-S did the job and did it well! :-)

cheers,
Zevang

Well said, Zevang. The fact that he's thinking is a good sign, but you're exactly right.

You have to know when to move away from being complacent with a setup, or stick with what you've got, and just get serious with more intelligent practice and/or more hours.

Also, make sure that flute in top playing condition, you don't want to fight minor leaks, sticky mech., et cetera, when you're workin' out. When problems are very subtle, you don't realize that they affected you until that they're fixed by your flute engineer (godsend).

Peace..

I must confess that I said "OK, not buy for the time being" but soon after I sent a mail to M. Faulisi and also to someone who is selling a second hand HJ of his workshop. I may have the virus, yes.

So I will keep you informed in case there are news....

Jose Luis,

For what it's worth, I sold my Nagahara headjoint for a Faulisi. They may not be right for you, but definitely give Mr. Faulisi's headjoints a good try.

If your flute teacher can get a great sound out of your flute, then that shows that the headjoint and flute have great potential, but that still doesn't necessarily mean that the headjoint is the one best suited to you.

That also doesn't mean that you can't get better on it and NEED a new headjoint. But if you have the opportunity to try one it's worth doing so. If you find a headjoint that works better for you than your current one - you'll know as soon as you've given it a good blow.

Don't assume that because a headjoint is worth a lot of money or is a bargain for you to buy that it's necessarily going to be better than the one you have now. It's worth waiting for the right one to come along. Or maybe in your future is a trip to a country where you can try a lot of them in one place!

I have a Yamaha 774 and I play it with a Prima Sankyo NRS-1 headjoint and I LOVE it so much. It's my second one, after I sold my first one I had to get another!

UPDATE

I tried to get in contact with Mr Faulisi but he did not answer may mail, so I decided he might not be interested and did not insist.

The main difficulty right now is having a new HJ fit the Yamaha body as I do not have easy access to anybody here I can trust to do this. And I cannot modify a HJ just for trying it and then returning it if I do not like the results

Nagahara in USA discouraged me to buy without trying because they could not be sure of their right model to fit the wall thickness of the body, without actual trying it at their facilities. As they do not accept returns or trial shipments outside USA, I had to close that way. The same Nagahara HJ is available in in UK for trial shipment, but it is too more expensive there and I cannot afford it by now.

So I think I may travel sometime in the future to UK with my flute and try different HJs and have the fun of visitng that wonderful city at the same time. Or maybe travel to USA...

Anyway it is not an urgent project any more.