Oh man I tried this flute at a festival about a month ago and everything was absolutely incredible. The bottom range could get so loud and I could pop out a high C at piano no problem. Now to save up for one...
Hi! Late here but I've had a Powell Signature for about 3 years (music student studying performance in college). I ADORE it. I recently upgraded to a 9k Aurumite headjoint in the soloist cut - though I tried all 4 cuts before I settled on that one. The high register sings rather than screams, the response is easy but not TOO easy - you still have a lot of control. I spent a lot of time picking out flutes and it was down to this one and a Miyazawa of the same price range and level and I ultimately went with the Powell because of the control I felt and how it allowed for more rich tone colors. The Miya sounded gorgeous and the notes were so easy to produce they almost "fell out." But the tone to me was a little thin because there was no resistance, and the upper register was WILD. I remember describing it as "out of control" or like the flute was playing me instead. Just a perspective for anyone looking into this. The soloist-cut felt less like an egg shape to me, definitely a more thin, controlled line which is why I gravitated towards it over the other cuts - definitely still pretty forward though! Highly recommend trying ALL the cuts if you're looking into the Powell to figure out which is best for you, they are all very different feeling! I'd say from my recollection the L-cut is the most far back feeling. I also have the model with the c# trill and very recently, added the Celestine Rexonator to replace my cork (HOLY COW, GAME CHANGER. RECOMMEND FOR EVERYONE.)
I purchased a Powell Signature flute 12 years ago. The tone of all the flutes I tried was an impressive upgrade to my student Artly, so I chose the Signature because it felt smaller in my hands than the other flutes. But now, since I have grown as a player and through listening to other flutists, I am not fond of the sound anymore and I think your video just explained why! It sounds like the Venti cut would be better for playing style. Wow! I have really been beating myself up because I just can't get the sound I want. Maybe a new flute or headjoint is what I need! Thank you for this review!
The Venti cut reminded me of my old Yamaha CY headjoint. Big fat sound, but also a tad unfocused around the edges if you are not careful. Great for jazz/solo, but hard to control, as once you go off the breath, it simply dies. I also sing, so moving a lot of air is something I do by default, and the same applies. Support+air=great times. Low air=sound disappears. The sound, though, goes to the standard. It sounds very well balanced through all of the registers.
I've been waiting on this review! And an excellent review it was, thank you! The Powell Signature is in my limited experience an awesome flute. Now I want to try out a Venti cut headjoint!
I love your reviews. One technical suggestion, the volume levels between your speaking voice and the flute is huge. Setting the playback volume for your voice could blow one's ears out when the flute plays in the higher register.
What do you know about diMedici flutes? I got myself one used Jupiter diMedici JFL-1011, d1 headjoint. Didn't found much information about it, only that they are intermediate flutes.
I hated the Signature when I tried it. But when I tried it with the venti, I loved it!!! So much so that I ended up choosing a Conservatory Aurumite with a venti headjoint!
Does anyone know what exact she means when she says the mechanism is slightly resistant? Does that mean the keys are hard to press? Do they spring up fast, or slow? I never really understood completely
She means that you need a bit more "power" whilst playing because the mechanism is a bit more resistant. 'Sloppy' keys have way less resistance and are shit because you aren't able to play fast passages with them.
JustAnotherFluteGuy I own a Powell Signature myself and the Signature II comes standard with this flute; I’ve just never heard anyone call it the “standard” cut.
60darklord Awesome! I didn’t buy my flute through FCNY, so I didn’t know that was a thing through their website. Where I got my flute, they let me try the custom heads on the Signature flute, but they never used the words “standard cut” or “classic cut”.
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Oh man I tried this flute at a festival about a month ago and everything was absolutely incredible. The bottom range could get so loud and I could pop out a high C at piano no problem. Now to save up for one...
Hi! Late here but I've had a Powell Signature for about 3 years (music student studying performance in college). I ADORE it. I recently upgraded to a 9k Aurumite headjoint in the soloist cut - though I tried all 4 cuts before I settled on that one. The high register sings rather than screams, the response is easy but not TOO easy - you still have a lot of control. I spent a lot of time picking out flutes and it was down to this one and a Miyazawa of the same price range and level and I ultimately went with the Powell because of the control I felt and how it allowed for more rich tone colors. The Miya sounded gorgeous and the notes were so easy to produce they almost "fell out." But the tone to me was a little thin because there was no resistance, and the upper register was WILD. I remember describing it as "out of control" or like the flute was playing me instead. Just a perspective for anyone looking into this. The soloist-cut felt less like an egg shape to me, definitely a more thin, controlled line which is why I gravitated towards it over the other cuts - definitely still pretty forward though! Highly recommend trying ALL the cuts if you're looking into the Powell to figure out which is best for you, they are all very different feeling! I'd say from my recollection the L-cut is the most far back feeling.
I also have the model with the c# trill and very recently, added the Celestine Rexonator to replace my cork (HOLY COW, GAME CHANGER. RECOMMEND FOR EVERYONE.)
I purchased a Powell Signature flute 12 years ago. The tone of all the flutes I tried was an impressive upgrade to my student Artly, so I chose the Signature because it felt smaller in my hands than the other flutes. But now, since I have grown as a player and through listening to other flutists, I am not fond of the sound anymore and I think your video just explained why! It sounds like the Venti cut would be better for playing style. Wow! I have really been beating myself up because I just can't get the sound I want. Maybe a new flute or headjoint is what I need! Thank you for this review!
marymo81 you can always ask Powell to recut your current headjoint to match a Venti
I am now intrigued about the Philharmonic cut. Since I focus my air it may work really well for me.
Noticed you haven't tryed any Nagharas yet The standard /full concert /Galway models.
The Venti cut reminded me of my old Yamaha CY headjoint. Big fat sound, but also a tad unfocused around the edges if you are not careful. Great for jazz/solo, but hard to control, as once you go off the breath, it simply dies. I also sing, so moving a lot of air is something I do by default, and the same applies. Support+air=great times. Low air=sound disappears.
The sound, though, goes to the standard. It sounds very well balanced through all of the registers.
I've been waiting on this review! And an excellent review it was, thank you! The Powell Signature is in my limited experience an awesome flute. Now I want to try out a Venti cut headjoint!
Was anyone else at the Jazz Festival in Eau Claire, Wisconsin yesterday? I was!
Josie Madson Eau Claire rocks. 😀 I assume it was fun.
I love your reviews. One technical suggestion, the volume levels between your speaking voice and the flute is huge. Setting the playback volume for your voice could blow one's ears out when the flute plays in the higher register.
Thank you so much for this review Joanna, I’ve been looking at this flute for a while. Maybe ill trial it out one day when I’m in the market to buy.
What do you know about diMedici flutes? I got myself one used Jupiter diMedici JFL-1011, d1 headjoint. Didn't found much information about it, only that they are intermediate flutes.
Can you try a pearl contrabass flute and how to put together please because you have never done one before.
I have a Sonare PS905 body with a Venti Signature headjoint, it is the most beautiful thing I ever played on (yes I have a really big head and mouth)
Can you review the flute that you personally use?
I hated the Signature when I tried it. But when I tried it with the venti, I loved it!!! So much so that I ended up choosing a Conservatory Aurumite with a venti headjoint!
Joanna can you review flutes that are like 1000 dollars like the pearl flutes 525
Just wondering, how did harmonics help you figure out where the egg shape is? And does the egg shape apply to most flutes? Love your vids btw!!
You are great
Please do a Miyazawa 202 or 402 review!!
Does anyone know what exact she means when she says the mechanism is slightly resistant? Does that mean the keys are hard to press? Do they spring up fast, or slow? I never really understood completely
Mechanism affects tone and vibration , she is talking about the tone production is slightly resistant when using a particular headjoint.
She means that you need a bit more "power" whilst playing because the mechanism is a bit more resistant. 'Sloppy' keys have way less resistance and are shit because you aren't able to play fast passages with them.
Hey! When you say “standard cut”, do you mean the Signature II head that usually comes with this model?
Karina Eijo yes! You can select any of the 4 cuts at checkout though. Sometimes also called “classic cut”
Karina Eijo or is it Soloist cut?
JustAnotherFluteGuy I own a Powell Signature myself and the Signature II comes standard with this flute; I’ve just never heard anyone call it the “standard” cut.
60darklord Awesome! I didn’t buy my flute through FCNY, so I didn’t know that was a thing through their website. Where I got my flute, they let me try the custom heads on the Signature flute, but they never used the words “standard cut” or “classic cut”.
I think the conservatory had more depth to the sound but for $3,000 more that might not be worth it, lol!
The Venti-Cut was 3000$ more, the Philharmonic-Cut (I think you meant this one) was 1,250$ more expensive than the standard one.
Wish u would play the flutes more when reviewing. You talk a lot but play very little. Thx