MANCKE Piccolo Headjoint | Mopane

MANCKE is a leader in designing and building flute and piccolo headjoints in precious metals and woods and their combinations. MANCKE superior headjoints are played worldwide by renowned soloists, orchestral players, professors, and conservatory students.

Through an innovative exploration of materials, MANCKE has developed a wide variety of unique combinations, fusing different metals and woods to create the perfect expressive headjoint for every flute and piccolo player.

MANCKE handmade headjoints are available in many models and combinations of materials, offering the broadest selection available in the industry.

MOPANE

Mopane elicits a strong, yet sweet, sound. Similar to Grenadilla in depth, feel and clear articulation response, it is very resonant and powerful. Mopane imparts a darker quality in the upper register that emerges from the smooth, rich lower registers.

This exotic wood is from Southern Africa. Its appearance is dark reddish-brown, with black stripes, and tends to darken with age.

MEDIUM WAVE

The Medium Wave model embouchure hole has very slightly raised side edges. This cut gently channels the airstream to help with focus, responsiveness and consistency. Clear, focused articulation is enhanced with this cut which offers stability for the player without thinning the sound. Seasoned and professional players will especially appreciate this level of control when frequently switching between flute and piccolo.

WAVE CREST

The Wave Crest model is easily identified by the significantly raised sides of the embouchure hole. This model gives a quick, clean, responsive articulation. With minimal resistance and great flexibility, the player experiences secure, strong, low notes, yet can produce the highest notes with ease. The overall result is a unique combination of ease and stability – a piccolo player’s dream.

LIP PLATE

The Lip Plate model may feel very familiar to players who like the ease of having a lip plate similar to the flute, providing consistency when switching between instruments. This cut provides the familiar stability and control of the straight cut, with the added security of the lip plate for quick and accurate placement during those quick changes.

It is easy to find a big, resonant sound in all registers with the Lip Plate model. Extreme dynamic control and responsive articulation are available across the entire range. Although this embouchure cut will suit players who may struggle with standard piccolo embouchures or have a side embouchure, it is also a popular choice for players who are comfortable with the straight cut.

MANCKE Interchangeable Adaptor System for Piccolos

Since the 1960s when Albert Cooper first started making custom flute headjoints, flutists have had an increasing array of headjoint choices available. The universal technical aspect that makes this possible is that flute bodies are made to accept a headjoint of specific length and diameter that is, for the most part, interchangeable between flute brands. However, this standardisation does not exist with piccolos.

Until recently, piccolo players have had far fewer options, limited in large part to the headjoints produced by each maker for their own piccolos. Piccolos differ significantly in both tenon/bore size and outer circumference, making it impossible to fit the same headjoint to piccolo bodies of different makers. That is, until the invention of the revolutionary MANCKE Interchangeable Adaptor System.

The patented MANCKE Interchangeable Adaptor System allows for our headjoints to fit to any piccolo brand and model. Using an adaptor sleeve with a screw-in tenon, we have created a sizing guide to perfectly fit your specific piccolo. The interchangeable screw-in tenon is made in different sizes to perfectly fit inside the piccolo, while the adaptor sleeve comes in different sizes to fit properly on the outside of the piccolo. This system allows the player to try all of our headjoint possibilities on any piccolo.