I have a couple of new Global piccolos for trial .

One has the wave cut headjoint. It plays nicely, but how is the headjoint intended to be positioned? For starters, I find the best position to be with the blowing edge (edge away from lips) higher than the edge near the lips. Is this the basic concept? I'll experiment, but I'd like to adapt to what's correct as opposed to what's easy.

For reference, I position the regular headjoint with both edges at almost the same height, but slightly turned in.

I'm also trialing an old, conical bore silver Haynes piccolo.

The piccolo I own is a Yamaha YPC-62.

Bill

Are you asking if you should play more "rolled in" with a wave headjoint than with a standard headjoint? I've never heard that you should roll in more on a wave headjoint, but I can see how the anatomy of a wave headjoint could make that a natural inclination. I know rolling in too much on any headjoint can negatively affect your sound and pitch.

I'd suggest playing the wave headjoint exactly as you would a standard headjoint. I belive the theory is that the wave headjoint is supposed help direct and focus your airstream. For best results, however, I believe this responsibility should be left to the player and not the headjoint. But if you like it, that's all that matters.

Tim,

My question is how to position the wave headjoint?

With the regular headjoint I align the far edge of the embouchure hole with the far edges of the line of keys.

If I use the same rule for the wave headjoint, the far edge of the embouchure hole is too high. So, I need to turn out more compared to the regular headjoint.

Yes, I'll experiment.

So, far it's hard to decide which I like better. They are both nice, but a different nice.

Thanks,
Bill

Where are Burkart Global piccolos made - US, China, other?

The bodies are made in the US and the key work is made overseas and fitted there. That is what I was told by Lillian. I am not sure if they still are doing it this way. When I bought my Global about three years ago, that is what I was told. I had trouble with the mechanism very soon after buying it and ended up selling it and getting the handmade one. There was a big difference in the mechanism. On my Global there was a slop in the mechanism only after a couple months of playing it. It got hard to play that way. Other flute sellers have confirmed the same problems with them. It was a brilliant piccolo besides that. Perhaps I just got a dud.

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I should add that I don't have my wood handmade picc anymore. I ended up gettting a Pearl Grenadite piccolo and like it even better. I am thrilled with it and would never go back to wood again! Perhaps the wood picc would have done better in a different climate than I am living in. I just didn't want to fight with it anymore.

Kara,

Thanks for the very helpful answer.

Bill