I played both headjoints on a silver Altus and when it comes to first impressions they both have a clear articulation to them and feel reliable. Articulation can be something of a mystery on wood, I have found, but I sense that the silver inserts have somehow honed the airspeed to facilitate a quicker response. Both headjoints have clearer  articulation, but avoid that thin reedy tone that the silver leading edge inserts seem to make.

The lower registers are easier to keep in tune when playing quietly, and the higher, more delicate, sounds have the right resistance. There is somehow more stability to the airflow so diminuendi and quiet dynamics are very easy. There is a bit more consistency or quicker feedback in comparison to the 100% wood variety, but I suspect that might be as much to do with the material of silver not being porous and reflecting the airflow evenly.

It is interesting too that the variation between these headjoints and how they respond is not as distinct as it can be with a completely wooden specimen. The insert does even out certain quirks. Both respond really well in the upper register too - a pp feels stable and has some resistance to it.

I really like the combination of the silver-insert boxwood headjoint on my Altus. The boxwood is very light (and the addition of the silver on the plate provides a good counterbalance to the other end of the flute). The sound is very open and the articulation clear. The lightness of the wood made it easy to create those sought-after hollow sounds, whilst it easily changed gear into a much more colourful animal. It really was a lot of fun to play on this, and I would suspect that the newcomers to wood would like this variation of wood and metal. The pitching was even and the lower octaves had plenty of colour to them, with a sense that you were always aware of the airstream and where it was aimed. The boxwood suits the lighter sound of the Altus, and it can provide a bit of welly when the player wants it too. A very enjoyable and responsive headjoint.

The Grenadilla headjoint with silver inset has a lot more complexity for the discerning player - you get a sense of feedback as to how far you have to go before things are being pushed too hard, and it works very well in the second/third register with plenty of harmonics to work with. It is a rounder sound too, I feel.  I got the sense that the low register was opening up without me going turbo on it. 

So, all in all, they are both a real hoot to play on. If I had to choose I would struggle to decide which to buy!

Dr Richard Craig

https://richardcraig.net/