Feedback/Reviews
You are probably thinking that I only publish the positive feedback, and leave out the negative. The fact is: There have only been 5 negative feedbacks since 2009 from anyone who has purchased my flute stopper!! Hey, nothing is for everyone all the time, but my flute stopper plug is pretty close. Frankly, I am surprised at the universally positive praise, but very pleased to receive it.
Mark Seidman
PLEASE READ ON :
December 28, 2022
I installed it and it’s amazing, the flute is more responsive and control of tone and colour is much easier. Intervals are much easier to play with confidence.
Everything said about your product on the website is true.
Sam Stolzoff, US
August 2, 2022
Forgot to add that the flute is all silver and has a gold riser. It had a lovely sound before I installed your stopper, but now has a more beautiful, more resonant sound. It also seems to project more.
Lee Viens, US
March 22, 2022
this is my 2nd flute stopper cork thing. i love the first ones but I put it on my "beach" flute. I love the response it affords the flute and i couldn't wait to put it on my Powell 705 model flute. any recommendations or anything please contact me thanks. I can do a demo or something . IK'm playing flute for 50 years starting in December 1971. best always... Brooks, US
June 7, 2021
At last my flute sings the way it was intended. No more stuffy top end. The low end is slightly less lush, but the overall gain is tremendous.
Herve Sanchez, UK
November 9, 2020
I have installed your plug in my Powell signature Headjoint. As advertised it noticeably improves the sound quality and play-ability.
R. Feldman, Canada
April 25, 2020
Received the stopper and installed it yesterday in my Miyazawa hj. Super happy with it. The fit felt perfect and the flute plays great top to bottom. Great product for a super price - thank you. I’ll definitely be letting my friends know about you.
Dave, USA
March 20, 2020
Thank you. The plug has made my old flute alive. To my surpise, even my famlity said the flute sounded very nice.
Teliu, USA
June 27, 2020
This will be the 4th stopper I’ve purchased. I’ve installed them in three of my four flutes and love how they improve their sound. You have an amazing product!
Brian Rounds, USA
March 28. 2019
I have received my stopper plug today and the installation was easy. My flute is more stable on the 3 registers and my sonority is very nice.
Julie Michaud, USA
November 18, 2019
My flute always had a beautiful, luminous tone, but which is now made even more dynamic for my progressive jazz, Brazilian and chamber music performances.
Richard, USA
May 6, 2018
Your flute stopper is fantastic. My daughter's Artley student model flute is sounding better than ever. We can hear a noticeable difference in it's sound, and it seems more responsive(if that's a thing). It's given her new found confidence for her first concert performance. Thank you!
Andy Musser, USA
April 19, 2017
Dear Mark, Your stopper is incredibly useful both from the perspective of sound and the reliability of the
headjoint in different climate conditions. I noticed that your stopper minimized the amount of tension or distortion created by the cork in the sound. The sound is definitely more consistent through the full range of the flute. I highly recommend it.
Marco Granados- USA
March 7, 2017
Hi Mark: It has greatly improved response and resonance. The headjoint I’m playing on is less than a year old, I can only imagine what it will do for tired old student flutes that may have never had a cork replacement.
Robert H. Wilson, Director, Bellevue School of Music - USA
May 30, 2016
The Best Permanent Headjoint Cork I've ever used. "Seidman Flute Stopper Plug". Unbelievably, It changes the sound of a very cheap Chinese flute into a sound of a best professional Japanese flute! So imagine what does it do to a professional flute!
Amin- Canada
March 12, 2016
Hey Mark!
In the future, I will order more of your plugs from your website. I repair flutes, but for some reasons, I stopped doing it last year. I'm planning to restart flute repairing this summer, and I decided to install only your stopper plugs for all flutes that I gonna repair, and see the reactions and surprises in the face of my clients when they blow to their flutes for the first time after repair! so don't forget my name!!
I'm really happy and proud to find you personally on ebay! you're a great inventor!
you have my email, I'll be so glad to be in touch with you
best wishes for you and your family
Amin Kashanchi- Canada
February 10, 2016
I have just received another 4 stoppers from you.
They work brilliantly, so much so that I was wondering if you could make one for my alto flute.
Let me know if you are able to and I will send you the measurement of the headjoint.
Kind regards,
Tony Barnden
Australia
June 13, 2015 :
hi: just a note how happy i am with the flute plug i bought. i put in a 1940's Bettoney Bundy flute. worked well, a big improvement in sound it made. i am a contemporary open mic artist and in a community band playing a lot of different places. love the sound my one flute has now. will be ordering more. have some other flutes i want to to it in have you ever thought of making one for an alto flute ? thanks so much mark
M. Vankirk- USA
February 4, 2015 :
the stopper plugs have arrived already and I've fitted them yesterday,
and yes, big difference, for me especially at the higher octaves, some
of the notes I hadn't been able to get yet before and now I can! At
first I felt the tone was slightly colder, or lighter, than what I was
used to, but on the second day I could adapt my airflow to make it
warmer again and more resonant still. The flute sounds louder, too,
more powerful, with less effort. AND, I really like the idea that I
don't have to worry about the cork disintegrating over time. Peace of
mind and an improved flute and sound for a few dollars, bargain, and
congratulations for coming up with this clever idea in the first
place. Feel free to use the review, no problem at all.
All the best from the UK, Gisela
August 20, 2014:
Hello Mark,
I now have three of your flute stopper plugs. I have put one in three different Yamaha heads with different cuts, the difference between the cork and your plug is amazing!
Each of the heads requires a change in tuning position but the resonance and resistance is wonderful.
Thank you so much.
Roy- USA
July 2,2014:
Thought I'd test drive my new sound for awhile and hear the difference. You are so right on with this, thanx loadz. Truth is I prefer this head joint over my other collection of flutes.
William Davis- USA
June 5, 2014:
Hello from Puerto Rico. I got your stopper. I am still amazed, after two months using it, of the huge diference when I play my flute. You are a genius. Thank you very much. I have never seen so much change in my playing thanks to your stopper.
Hector De Leon - Puerto Rico, USA
March 27, 2014 :
Thanks, Mark, for the good and quick service. This is the second of your stopper I have bought. I got great results putting it in a top level headjoint by a famous maker that had seemed to go dead and unresponsive. Your innovative stopper brought this head joint back from the dead.
When one of my high school student with a not very good beginners' flute was getting ready for state contest, I put your stopper in her headjoint and again the flute just seemed to come to life. (She got a I rating at the contest, too! She will be sending you an order as well.)
I was especially interested to see that Brook Devetter-Smith preferred your stopper as to using the Olnhausen ring. I have used this ring with good results as well, but find your stopper a much more cost effective and stable choice.
Jerry Pritchard, Professor Emeritus of Music
California State University
March 10, 2014
Hi Mark - I am a big fan of your stopper. I just ordered my fourth. I've put one in all our flutes. Thanks!
Jonathan Cohen- USA
December 18, 2013:
I wish EVERY dressing room on tour was like this one...what a glorious warmup space! (Also, mad props to Mark Seidman for his super awesome stopper, which I'm using in my Sankyo Flutes headjoint...really livens up the ol' tour setup!)
Joshua Jonsson- USA
October 22, 2013
I am a college student who is majoring on the flute. I had recently upgraded my flute and had been hoping to use my old flute to teach my younger cousin how to play, but when I checked it out, I noticed it needed the cork replaced and thought that rather than pay to have it replaced i would give this a shot. I got it in the mail and had to remove the dreaded old cork (which was quite a difficult task) and i put this one on. There were no instillation instructions, so I looked up how to do it, and Ta-Da! The high notes now come out with such clarity and volume that they did not have before :) I would completely recommend this to a fellow flautist! Taylor Gosner- USA
December 2, 2013:
I bought the stopper out of curiosity: I already have high-end gold headjoint on a Yamaha Student body.
I was interested to see whether a further improvement could be made for a low price.
The difference to the sound is small but audible. I notice it most on the very low notes, where the harmonics have been made more complex, so the sound does not get covered so easily by other instruments.
I could easily have spend another £500 on a headjoint that would have had this effect, so the price was well worth it.
It took a small amount of DIY to install: I have never taken a cork out before and it took care and the right tools (set out in full detail in the online instructions that come with the stopper) but it was not a difficult job.
Mark, professional/teacher-UK
October 28,201
I live in a small town and sending my baby away would have been sad and
expensive. Enter the Seidman Flute Stopper Plug. So easy to install, and
it works beautifully. Thank you very much!
Penny Will - Canada
August 22, 2013
It's AMAZING, what a Seidman Flute Stopper Plug is doing with your flute.
Uwe Nowotzin- Germany
August 22, 2013
It's been a week now that I've played with the stopper installed. I must say it pleases me greatly. The harmonics are clearer, especially in the lower tones (of course in the lower tones...), jumping from high to low is easier. And I'm still discovering.
In the coming weeks I'll remove the upper and/or the middle rubberband to hear the differences.
Thanks for your invention!
Jan Westerhof- Netherlands
July 11, 2013
Hi Mark,
Just a little update on your flute stopper. I must admit that I was skeptical at first. I had read accounts both pro and con about flute stoppers -- in fact, Sir James Galway carries around Bigio's titanium flute stoppers and crowns with him wherever he goes for others to try, but interestingly enough, he doesn't use them himself??? Enough to make you wonder.
Well, I figured that the price was right for an experiment, so I purchased one. I must admit that it did make a difference on my 14k Goosman Butterfly headjoint. Not a dramatic difference, but a substantial one. It opened it up and gave it more resonance (ring) as well as a slightly brighter sound. Just what I was looking for, because it sounded a little darker and duller than my silver Dana Sheridan headjoint.
John Banaccorso- USA
March 19, 2013
Arrived Safely, easily installed in my Powell headjoint and works like a charm. Great Prouct. Relieves me of having to worry about when the cork is getting loose again since we have so little down time here in SC between drying heat and drying AC. I was stunned the cork got dry in less than a year!
Nancy Owens - USA
December, 2012
I have placed the Seidman Flute Stopper Plug in my wood Powell flute and it is quite amazing. Articulations come easier and the sound is larger without changing the tonal quality. It is quite easy to install and you will appreciate the response and ease of playing.
Steve Deutch, musician & technician- US
October, 2012
I am an adult, amateur learner. I wasn't sure if my flute was playing up or it was me: The change of stopper, at little cost, has improved the sound and my ability to play beyond my expectations. Thank you Mr Seidman and Just Flutes for importing them.
H. Keen- UK
January , 2012
Having just purchased one of these and tried it out, I would highly recommend it, sound projection is improved in all octaves and I infact have now placed an order for another one.
You can pay approx £200 for some crowns and stoppers, and at this price, you can't really go wrong. Check out the fitting instructions on Mr Seidman's website, as the item though easily fitted doesn't come with any fitting instructions.
Anthony- UK
December 16, 2012
Hi, Mark, I have to tell you that I'm pretty wowed by this stopper plug of yours. Here's my story...The mouthpiece soldering, on my wonderful Miyazawa headjoint, started coming unglued! So, off she goes to Miyazawa to fix it. In the meantime, I had concerts and other gigs coming up so I grabbed an old crap headjoint from a 30-yr old student-flute I had. Wow, that thing was awful, and on my good flute the tuning was a little out of whack, but you do what you have to do. I ran across your sale on eBay (I don't even remember how, honestly, as I was browsing for weaving thread), and thought maybe this would help a little. I've been using it for a week now, and first off, somehow this has corrected all the tuning issues I was having! ??? Maybe that's just a plug size thing. I don't know. There's a definite improvement in tone. Responsiveness to dynamics is also greatly improved - on a CRAP HEADJOINT! I have been getting comments from my fellow flute players asking if I got my headjoint back already because it sounds that good. I'm really excited to see what happens when I pop it into the Miyazawa headjoint next week she returns from the repair shop. So glad I decided to do this. You saved Christmas! Well, the holiday concert season, anyway :)
Erin Collins- USA
OCTOBER 16, 2012
I installed your stopper plug in my 10k gold headjoint yesterday. Wow! I really like what it does to it. It has given the headjoint a sweeter more solid core to the sound and an even wider palate of colors that it did not have before. It has a beautiful even sound through all of the registers. It has made the top register more etherial and the low register more buttery. I don't want to put my flute down as I discover more colors and nuances that I can now create with my headjoint. I have already ordered another one for my other flute.
John Gonzalez- USA
August 7, 2012
I duly received the hourglass plug back in May and am so please with it. My Pearl Flute is now so much more sonorous and responsive and, as a result, I’ve put off upgrading to another flute for the time being.
I’d love to have a similar plug for my alto flute should you decide to manufacture one sometime in the future.
Nigel Street - United Kingdom
April 19, 2012
Hi Mark:
They really work well. The sound is so much cleaner and focused. On my platinum head, I have experimented with unscrewing the crown about a quarter of a turn or a bit more, since I used to do that years ago, before I started using an Olnhausen ring seven or eight years ago. That didn't help. The ring was enough. Now that I have discarded the ring and am using your stopper, I thought I'd try loosening the crown. That seems to open the sound up slightly, while maintaining the great focus of the stopper. Have you had anyone mention that? It also seems to work on my students' silver heads as well. I am wondering whether that has some meaning to you.... Why should this be? If I go beyond a half turn, it's not as good, but very slightly seems to allow the headjoint (and even the feel under the fingers) to vibrate noticeably, with even more resonance.
I have also tried placing the stopper very slightly off the center mark -- actually not pushing it in quite all the way to the line on the cleaning rod. That also seems to improve the response, at least on my pt headjoint. I haven't don that on the silver one. This slight alteration of the placement of the stopper is extremely minimal, and doesn't seem to affect pitch, but quickens articulation. Your device is quite uncanny! It really makes a difference. Projection is fine. I only wish I had used it on a recording I made last year!!!!
Brooks de Wetter-Smith - USA
March 23, 2012
Hi Mark, I purchased your stopper last week and am amazed at the difference in response, color and overall playing changes. I'm now getting one for my other headjoint and a friend. I'm sure there will be more to follow. Best wishes, Rob Portnoy - USA
January 3, 2012
I've received your stopper and had the opportunity to try on many headjoints (Arista, Muramatsu, Miyazawa and Yamaha) and the results were very positive.
In my opinion the choice of instrument and its component parts is always a very personal and particular decision. Today we needed to be awake for the evolution of technology and be able to follow all the trends. The Seidman Flute Stopper is a tool available to performers, who can help us find new colors and sounds. The main advantages I find are better able to resonate throughout the body of the instrument, more clarity in the articulation, and a fuller tone [tone richer color] especially in the recording medium and severe (especially in right hand).
I can say I am very pleased and I recommend everyone to try.
Best Regards,
David Sousa - Portugal
December 12, 2011
I recently bought two flute plugs, one for myself and one for my niece. Both of us are wild about the plugs. They're amazing!
November 15,2011
Yes indeed!!! It's in all the flutes I care about ... and even in a couple I don't care much about. That's how good this brilliant little gizmo is.
Pauline Finch- Canada
November 11, 2011
Sorry for getting back to you this late ... I really must congratulate you for on your ingenious flute stopper - it's marvellous! It simply transforms the whole instrument - more immediate response, much more resonance (both markedly improved in the low register), more controllability and better intonation. I am playing a solid silver Muramatsu heavy wall with soldered tone holes and a Lafin silver headjoint with 18ct riser and lip plate. This provides a fat and voluminous sound I am very attached to, but so far lacked a certain, well, "slimness" and ease it has now acquired with your stopper. So thank you so much - I wish you loads of success with this simple but most efficient tool!!
This brings me to the next question: Do you make similar stoppers for alto and bass flutes? I play a Muramatsu alto flute which will greatly benefit from a similar stopper. Please let me know.
Thanks so much again, congratulations, and cheers! Oliver Busch - Germany
November 11, 2011
I put one of those in my headjoint last spring!! I LOOOOOVE it!!!! :-) One of the best purchases I've ever made for my flute! Scott D. - USA
October 5, 2011
I just installed (pretty easy, too) the stopper plug on our Gemeinhardt 3SS all sterling pro flute made by Kurt himself in 1963 before he retired. Like I said earlier, we didn't expect much, but not having to replace the cork again and not having to WONDER if the cork is leaking or NOT all the time makes this a good modification so long as the sound did not suffer compared with a properly fitted cork plug. Well, I'm pleased to tell you it made immediately noticeable changes: the high notes are sweeter sounding and easier to produce (no small thing!) and the low end sounds less "fuzzy", more focused. It simply plays easier and sounds better and this was a pretty nice flute to begin with and my son, Max, brings out a wonderful tone which is now even better. Now, I want two more stoppers from you. One for our modest 22SP student flute and another for our rather special Altus 1207RB with C# triller. Funny, I was pretty skeptical, but now I'm quite sure we'll be hearing improvements in these instruments, as well. This is the cheapest thing we've done to this Gemeinhardt and it has made the biggest difference. Quick, let me buy two more before the price goes up. Charles- USA
September 17, 2011
I have already bought 2 stoppers from you. The difference it has made to the sound of my flutes is just astounding. You have done a very good thing for flutes!
best regards
Robin Wilson- London, UK
August 18, 2011
This is my second purchase, this time for my wife's Muramatsu flute after she heard that my old Yamaha had improved so much with the stopper. I told my Flute teacher -- who helped me put in the flute stopper -- and now he is buying one for his gold Althus as well. It is is amazing. It frees the flute. Wish we had something like that for humans. John- France
May 20, 2011
Dear Mark
I play an Emanuel solid gold Flute Nr. 50 one of the best flutes he has ever done .
This Flute is so wonderful has its own sound and carisma of colours .
I got your Stopper Plug last week I installed it with a great curiousity !
I play with it now for seven days . The result is fantastic .
Since your Plug is installed my flute became much better . The lower register is much easier to play
and the higher notes have more power . Ulrich - Germay
May 18. 2011
Thanks so much. Actually, I got it today, and my teacher and I love it! (I've played around three hours today) So far, the changes I've noticed are; the flute is more "present," the tone is clearer, it has more "ring," and best of all , that "gap" or break between the upper and lower octaves seems to be gone; tone color is a lot closer! We're going to work again tomorrow (just got back from rehearsing with him, in fact.); but he and I feel very comfortable. So, thanks for being concerned! I appreciate that so much, and am telling all my flute friends about the stopper. Sincerely, Kathleen- USA
April 20. 2011
Hi Mark -- thanks for your quick shipping. I have already tried the plug on all three of my headjoints and found that it improved response in fast articulation as well as in the ease of playing at both extremes of the range, especially on my Armstrong thin-wall sterling "WS" cut HJ which is the one I use most of the time anyway. Carolyn - USA April 4, 2011I just received your plug and I must say, I wasn't expecting much. It is nothing short of amazing! I put your stopper on my Gemeinhardt KG Special really as a means to try to make it better. I can't afford a new flute at the moment and I'm very unhappy with the sound I was getting. It's difficult to put into words what exactly has changed, but I think overall response (and as a result, attack clarity) has become worlds better! I haven't even "fully" installed it (I've left it un-cemented for the moment) and I think it's absolutely brilliant. Kedgrick - USA
April 4,2011
I just received your plug and I must say, I wasn't expecting much. It is nothing short of amazing! I put your stopper on my Gemeinhardt KG Special really as a means to try to make it better. I can't afford a new flute at the moment and I'm very unhappy with the sound I was getting. It's difficult to put into words what exactly has changed, but I think overall response (and as a result, attack clarity) has become worlds better! I haven't even "fully" installed it (I've left it un-cemented for the moment) and I think it's absolutely brilliant. Kedgrick- USA
March 29, 2011
Hi Mark, The second stopper is a perfect fit and I have been using it for about 2 weeks with a Burkart headjoint with a platinum riser and a 1880s Bonneville. It is an improvement over my zirconium stopper that I have used for about 2 years. After about the 1st week I was convinced it was an improvement compared to my zirconium stopper, so I made a slight modification to the silver plate, that would normally be glued to the cork. It provides a more balanced response over all octaves. Low notes pop out or it can be played PPP with ease. I will send you the first riser that had dimensional problems. I did try it with a thicker o rings but it did not work well. I will be in touch to get another for my powell. Regards, Henry - USA
February 18, 2011
Hi Mark, I tried petroleum jelly because it was easy and I figured I could just wash it off and start over if it didn't work. It worked very well. My (very inexpensive) flute sounds better than I ever hoped it could. Thank you for the great stopper and for all your extra help. You make a great product and you really understand customer service. Unfortunately that's kind of a rarity these days. Betty- USA
January 17, 2011
Thanks Mark - I'm glad to have you as an FB friend. I was so pleased with the way your stopper has enhanced my sterling silver low-B open-hole Emerson (I just put it in today)that I had to tell everyone. The best flute I've ever owned is now even better! - Pauline Finch- USA
January 7,2011
These are fantastic. Really aids in getting a solid, dark, vibrant sound.Maximizes projection but with a beautiful sound and solid low register.These increase control and lock in 3rd octave tuning. Amazing! Joe- USA
December 30,2010
I got the flute plug today and fitted it to my Muramatsu DS with a Yamaha 925 AC headjoint. I did this because I wanted to see how it worked before I spoiled the Muramatsu headjoint that belonged to the flute. I must admit I was a little bit skeptical about your claims but thought it was worth a try.Once I replaced the stopper and played my flute I was literally blown away by the improvement in tone and ease of playing in all registers.I compared the now modified Yamaha headjoint to the one that came with the flute and now it sounds even better with your plug.Please rush me two more for my second flute and my Muramatsu headjoint. You are a genius!!!!! Mike Parlett- USA
November 13, 2010
today the flute stopper plug arrived. I installed it on my flute. I played for some hours now, it is really amazing, everything works better. Sound quality, articulation, dynamics. I couldn't believe it. Flute playing works so easy now, it gives the feel like a well oiled engine.... I love it.
Flavio- Switzerland
November 9, 2010
Hi Mark. I am very happy with your stopper. Every time I pick the flute to play is more joyful the experience. Some of my friends has noticed the change for good of the sound. I have been passing the news, so others here can experience how wonderful their flutes can sound using your stopper. I will be thankful for ever... to you for this. If you make one for the piccolos, tell me as soon as you can. Ricardo- Puerto Rico
October 14, 2010
The stoppers have been installed in both my Muramatsu flutes (open and closed hole instruments) and I have to say that the difference between the old cork stopper and your stopper is utterly astounding.
The resonance, particularly in the closed hole flute, is so different; enough to say that my relatively medium sound is now a bigger one, which also means it improves the tone colour significantly without having to change anything in the way of the embouchure.
The open hole flute is a slightly different matter, but then again, that is to be expected, but it is still a better sound.
Getting the old cork stoppers out was really easy, nothing difficult or technically challenging about it, and installing the new ones was easy. Your instructions were clear and precise, and no jumping up and down was required! .... :-D
We have passed your website on to the local music store with excellent referrals, letting them know that this is a product every flute owner should have, student or professional, it's the only way to go to get rid of the dirty old corks and move flutes into the 21st century!
Many thanks again for your wonderful service and prompt efficiency. Jaqueline- Tasmania, Australia
September 26, 2010
I tried the stopper on a Myazawa with a platinum chimney headjoint, and then the same flute with a Drelniger headjoint, and noticed a favorable difference with both. Better high notes, more even response for me. I have just ordered a second stopper. The price can't be beat.
Charles- USA
September 26, 2010
I install one of your stoppers in my new Hammig flute head, Man, that stoppermade that flute sing like Pavarotti. I put another in my Rudall Carte head with similarresults.There are no stoppers around the world that can compare with yours, You are a genius! Carlos- USA
September 6, 2010
I got the new stopper and it works great. My flute sounds much crisper and cleaner. I had no idea it would make so much difference. I left you what I consider the best feedback I have left in my ten years on eBay. Hope you like it.
David- USA
August 22,2010
Mark, Your stopper is the best. It makes my Muramatsu sing! Laurent Bass- USA
August 24,2010Played with your stopper for over a year now. It's fantastic !
Par Johansson-Sweden
July 24,2010
Fantastic Item!! I highly recommend this stopper.I have them on all my flutes!!
Damian- USA
July 10,2010
Fantastic, Installed it today,Works Great, Great Packing & eMails, 5 Stars All
Bill- USA
June 26, 2010
Suono migliorato notevolmente su flauto Yamaha, si fa meno fatica a suonare.OK!
Anna- Italy
June 23, 2010
item as described works great for 1953 Haynes closed hole Michael- USA
June 4, 2010
superb, really works Steve- USA
May 2, 2010
Super product! incredible performance, and very honest ebayer. Fabio- Italy
April 28, 2010
Hello Mark,
I put one stopper in my Flute this morning (FAULISI head, ROOSEN Flute)The richness of sound quality and the tone are wonderfull.It's a real pleasure to play with this new plug.My Flute factor is interest by your stopper.He have your mail.Thank you and BRAVO
Frédéric Werner Professor at the Schola Cantorum in Paris
March 15, 2010
Hi. The flute plug came yesterday. I just left you + feedback and 5 stars across the board.
This is an interesting product. On my intermediate flute head joint, the one I have my students use, it not only improved the response and tuning but gave a much better tone quality.
On my hand made headjoint, it didn't change the tone or response much but did greatly even out the sound between registers. Not only do the high notes not thin out but I don't have to fight to keep them from going sharp. Your plug seems to add a bit of resistance in a nice way, helping me make a better connection with the instrument. The end result is better control and, surprisingly, better tonguing. This is the first performance product I've tried that actually improved my hand made head joint.
Overall, I'm very impressed. I have to give it a big thumbs up. I'll be recommending it to my students and the other flute players I know.
Thanks again.
Joe- USA
April 7, 2010
Hi Mark, What a fantastic product your stopper is! I'm a long-time flutist and thought I'd give your stoppers a try. I wasn't unhappy with my overall sound or anything - I was just curious about your product. I have to say that I'm very pleased with it. I noticed a definite difference immediately. I sound like I'm playing in stereo now - it's great! Thank you! Lisa- USA
December 20, 2009
REVIEW FOR PICCOLOIST.COM Recently I was given the chance to try a stopper plug made by Mark Seidman of seidmanflutetechnology.com. Initially intrigued by the interesting shape of the little gadget, I wasn't thinking that it was going to make a huge difference in my overall sound. I had tried a few others before this particular plug. Most were similar in material, having being made of Delrin, or just your traditional headjoint cork. The little plug is very well put together and has 3 "O" rings which the maker claims "for just the right dampening of balance and tone control". One downfall was my own responsibility. The cork in my headjoint was almost 2 years old and was not easy to get out. It literally had to be broken apart since it was glued on to the little metal plate quite good! After getting through that, installing Mark's stopper plug was extremely simple. Mark gives you step-by-step installation instructions on his website. The very first thing that stood out was that my lower register just seemed to "pop" out (in the words of Emeril, "BAM!"). I'm used to playing on a colorful headjoint that I absolutely love, but all of a sudden the notes seemed to feel more powerful and have a bit more life to them. I thought that playing up through the registers that I would lose some vibrancy or quality due to the low register's new brilliancy. Not the case! Both my middle and high registers were not affected by Mark's plug and the flute just seemed to play more effortlessly than it ever did before! Tone and pitch were not affected at all. Consider playing low-register passages from "Syrinx" or parts from the Khachaturian "Concerto". For articulation, try the allegro from Bach's "Sonata in C Major". For the high register, I played Ran's "East Wind" and overall found that something like the Dutilleux "Sonatine" was a good piece for all three registers. However, a student flutist would fare well on just their scales. The sound is not brassy, nor is it fake or shrill. I still sound like me, but I feel more powerful and feel like I am projecting more. I imagine something like this would work wonders in most flutes, especially for those who are seeking a new headjoint or flute. Perhaps you wouldn't need to go there quite yet.... Consider trying a stopper plug made by Mark Seidman before spending thousands on a new headjoint. He does give you a 7 day money-back guarantee and for only $25 (which includes shipping, $10 more for international) it is a steal! Mark himself says, "no other stopper plug in the world creates this shape space around the tubing for maximum resonance". I played on my new setup for the first time in a recent Christmas concert with my orchestra and have not taken it out since! The other flutist in the orchestra also tried my flute and agreed that it sounded great! Overall I would rate this an A+ buy because of the final result being so positive. Go get one for a flutist for Christmas! For more information on the stopper plug by Mark Seidman or to purchase, please visit Mark's website at www.seidmanflutetechnology.com(Cristina Ledford tested the Seidman Flute Stopper Plug on a .017 Silver Muramatsu flute with a Silver Lopatin headjoint and a 14K
riser)
February 9, 2010
This stopper has changed my playing forever...I Love It.
Kennith- USA
February 8,2010
I recently purchased one of these plugs for my Fiancee’s flute; and it is absolutely wonderful! I am a music teacher and will be promoting your product as much as possible. Thank you. Jeremy- USA
January 27, 2010
Hello Mark, Please know that I am thrilled with the two plugs I bought from you. Your response and service could not have been better, installation was successful, and the tone and ease of playing are wonderful. Being a bit squeamish, I installed the first plug on an old Artley flute that I leave out all the time just to pick up and play a bit whenever I walk by it. That gave me the confidence and eagerness to put the other one on my Powell. The ease of bringing out clear high and low notes was everything I had hoped for, and the tone of the whole range a thrill. I'm so glad I found out about your plugs and happy to have them. I did not see anything about life expectancy, so I assume they will last for a very long time - thus not need replacing with every cleaning and adjustment. Thank you for inventing such a neat product.
Carolyn- USA
January 25, 2010
Okay, Mark - I got your stopper today. I can't say I'm any closer to virtuosity, but my old Haynes is MUCH more responsive. I'm a believer! Please send me another for my second head joint. Many thanks for a terrific product.
Craig - USA
October 9, 2009
Your stoppers arrived safely today. I put one in my Powell flute, because the cork is very old and I seldom play the flute anymore, and see, it sounds great!! I will introduce it to people here in Zürich, I think it is fantastic. It has the effect Arthur Lora described in the fifties. Florent Hofinger also did experiments in this direction, by the way.Thanks a lot!
Maurice Heugen - Zurich Opera Orchestra, Switzerland
October 4,2010
Thank you Mark.
So far I am liking your stopper best of the ones I have tried. I tried the Robert Bigio (Zirconium) stopper. The sound is great with lots of core to the sound, but there's a hollow thing happening in parts of the middle register that I find uneven and unsettling.I haven't fully tried the Lafin because the screw at the present moment is too long. It sounds good and very clear but a little tight.
Yours on the other hand seems to have a nice balance of features in the sound that I find quite useful. I will continue evaluating, specially when I get your new version. I'll have a chance to try it in a week or so since I have some out of town gigs this coming week.I would like to pay you for your stopper, do you accept paypal? Thank you so much, Peace Marco- USA/Venezuela "Peace & Prosperity"www.sunflute.com
September 4, 2009
Hello Mark, Well I stayed home today with a slight reaction to the flu vaccine I got yesterday, which was a good enough reason to spend the past 1.5 hours flute playing with your plug in my 14k headjoint. At first I thought the upper register was a bit thinner and maybe not as much resonance in b2, c2, c#2, but since I have been only playing on a Folkers &Powell Full Circle wood headjoint for a while, it was just a matter of reorganizing my embrochure to the metal headjoint. I just finished playing Carnival of Venice and am absolutely thrilled with response & sound change of my heajoint (it came with an Ogren Stopper, so I have never played it with a cork stopper). Amazing!!!!!! Did I tell you I am thrilled with the improvement? There is also an added POP to the notes. I think is opened up this headjoint (which is really a very nice head on its own, but its just that much more now).
I have tried Bigio delrin stopper&crown and Ogren Stopper on this headjoint as well as other headjoints but at this time I must agree your stopper is superior in results. I was afraid of the word Clarity in your description, as in my mind that usually is synonymous with bright& thin, like some of the Japanese flutes, maybe loss of resonance, but that is not the fact with your stopper. I just did a buy now on another stopper. I will try it on my silver Dana Sheridan headjoint. Sorry for my long winded review! Dee- USA
December 10, 2009
Congratulation! This is one great plug!Do you make one for alto and bass? Those really need the low register response!
Thank you! Petri - Finland September 10, 2009
Thank you for your kind and gracious reply. I am sorry for the tone and words of my knee-jerk reaction. I regretted it immediately after hitting the "send" button. When I showed the photo of your stopper to Bob Ogren (our flute tech who designed the one we sell) he said; "Way cool!" I asked him why he wasn't upset, and he said "we obviously think alike and have similar interests. Wish them good luck!" So I offer you my apologies and thank you. Obviously God intended our paths to cross because I was way overdue for a lesson in humility! God bless YOU!
Paul Leithold - USA
October 13, 2009
It really is working ! With this plug my standard silver Muramatsu
(from the 70´ies) got a much louder, wider tone, without missing the accuracy and easiness to play. It was very smooth and easy especially in the high level before, because the embouchure plate has been altered years ago by J.R. Lafin, but now it achieved fullness and a little more richness of volume, esp. in the lower level. Very good piece of invention!! Andreas- Germany
September 3, 2009
The upper register is VERY responsive now. THanks! Ted- USA
September 4, 2009
The stopper works well on my wood flute. Thanks! Larry- USA
September 6, 2009
I installed the plug myself, a simple procedure really, a much easier process with threading the delrin stopper. Again, I played yesterday morning and am just amazed at the change in the performance of my gold headjoint. Feel free to use my comments on your website. I think you are really on to something with your product. Thanks again. Dee- USA
September 7, 2009
I blew my flute last night at a gig and there is a
noticeable difference. I can do multi-phonics
without even thinking about now. Thanks very much! Ted- USA
September 12, 2009
Excellent! My flute has never sounded so good! Lynn- USA
September 14, 2009
The stopper plug has arrived and was easy to install. It definitely makes a difference. Top octave notes E and F sharp seem easier and the top octave is less shrill. Steve- United Kingdom
September 15, 2009
Better then ever!!!! Raytin- Thailand
September 19, 2009
Arrival safely today. It's a GREAT SOUND! Very kindly & Fast response. Thanks!! Katsuyuki- Japan
September 22, 2009
I received the stopper yesterday and you definitely didn't exaggerate!! It's so simple, and so brilliant. I'm going to orchestra tomorrow night and tell the other flautists about it. The change in richness of sound quality is amazing- D USA
September 22, 2009
Thank you for working on my flute! It sounds great and better than before. Thank you. Annie K. (age 13) USA
September 22,2009
THIS THING WORKS!! Dramatic improvement to flute.Easy to install. FAST shipping. Deena USA
September 26, 2009
Flutes sounds really great. Just ordered another plug to show other flute players in our Community Symphony Orchestra at West Virginia University. Heikki USA
Mark Seidman
PLEASE READ ON :
December 28, 2022
I installed it and it’s amazing, the flute is more responsive and control of tone and colour is much easier. Intervals are much easier to play with confidence.
Everything said about your product on the website is true.
Sam Stolzoff, US
August 2, 2022
Forgot to add that the flute is all silver and has a gold riser. It had a lovely sound before I installed your stopper, but now has a more beautiful, more resonant sound. It also seems to project more.
Lee Viens, US
March 22, 2022
this is my 2nd flute stopper cork thing. i love the first ones but I put it on my "beach" flute. I love the response it affords the flute and i couldn't wait to put it on my Powell 705 model flute. any recommendations or anything please contact me thanks. I can do a demo or something . IK'm playing flute for 50 years starting in December 1971. best always... Brooks, US
June 7, 2021
At last my flute sings the way it was intended. No more stuffy top end. The low end is slightly less lush, but the overall gain is tremendous.
Herve Sanchez, UK
November 9, 2020
I have installed your plug in my Powell signature Headjoint. As advertised it noticeably improves the sound quality and play-ability.
R. Feldman, Canada
April 25, 2020
Received the stopper and installed it yesterday in my Miyazawa hj. Super happy with it. The fit felt perfect and the flute plays great top to bottom. Great product for a super price - thank you. I’ll definitely be letting my friends know about you.
Dave, USA
March 20, 2020
Thank you. The plug has made my old flute alive. To my surpise, even my famlity said the flute sounded very nice.
Teliu, USA
June 27, 2020
This will be the 4th stopper I’ve purchased. I’ve installed them in three of my four flutes and love how they improve their sound. You have an amazing product!
Brian Rounds, USA
March 28. 2019
I have received my stopper plug today and the installation was easy. My flute is more stable on the 3 registers and my sonority is very nice.
Julie Michaud, USA
November 18, 2019
My flute always had a beautiful, luminous tone, but which is now made even more dynamic for my progressive jazz, Brazilian and chamber music performances.
Richard, USA
May 6, 2018
Your flute stopper is fantastic. My daughter's Artley student model flute is sounding better than ever. We can hear a noticeable difference in it's sound, and it seems more responsive(if that's a thing). It's given her new found confidence for her first concert performance. Thank you!
Andy Musser, USA
April 19, 2017
Dear Mark, Your stopper is incredibly useful both from the perspective of sound and the reliability of the
headjoint in different climate conditions. I noticed that your stopper minimized the amount of tension or distortion created by the cork in the sound. The sound is definitely more consistent through the full range of the flute. I highly recommend it.
Marco Granados- USA
March 7, 2017
Hi Mark: It has greatly improved response and resonance. The headjoint I’m playing on is less than a year old, I can only imagine what it will do for tired old student flutes that may have never had a cork replacement.
Robert H. Wilson, Director, Bellevue School of Music - USA
May 30, 2016
The Best Permanent Headjoint Cork I've ever used. "Seidman Flute Stopper Plug". Unbelievably, It changes the sound of a very cheap Chinese flute into a sound of a best professional Japanese flute! So imagine what does it do to a professional flute!
Amin- Canada
March 12, 2016
Hey Mark!
In the future, I will order more of your plugs from your website. I repair flutes, but for some reasons, I stopped doing it last year. I'm planning to restart flute repairing this summer, and I decided to install only your stopper plugs for all flutes that I gonna repair, and see the reactions and surprises in the face of my clients when they blow to their flutes for the first time after repair! so don't forget my name!!
I'm really happy and proud to find you personally on ebay! you're a great inventor!
you have my email, I'll be so glad to be in touch with you
best wishes for you and your family
Amin Kashanchi- Canada
February 10, 2016
I have just received another 4 stoppers from you.
They work brilliantly, so much so that I was wondering if you could make one for my alto flute.
Let me know if you are able to and I will send you the measurement of the headjoint.
Kind regards,
Tony Barnden
Australia
June 13, 2015 :
hi: just a note how happy i am with the flute plug i bought. i put in a 1940's Bettoney Bundy flute. worked well, a big improvement in sound it made. i am a contemporary open mic artist and in a community band playing a lot of different places. love the sound my one flute has now. will be ordering more. have some other flutes i want to to it in have you ever thought of making one for an alto flute ? thanks so much mark
M. Vankirk- USA
February 4, 2015 :
the stopper plugs have arrived already and I've fitted them yesterday,
and yes, big difference, for me especially at the higher octaves, some
of the notes I hadn't been able to get yet before and now I can! At
first I felt the tone was slightly colder, or lighter, than what I was
used to, but on the second day I could adapt my airflow to make it
warmer again and more resonant still. The flute sounds louder, too,
more powerful, with less effort. AND, I really like the idea that I
don't have to worry about the cork disintegrating over time. Peace of
mind and an improved flute and sound for a few dollars, bargain, and
congratulations for coming up with this clever idea in the first
place. Feel free to use the review, no problem at all.
All the best from the UK, Gisela
August 20, 2014:
Hello Mark,
I now have three of your flute stopper plugs. I have put one in three different Yamaha heads with different cuts, the difference between the cork and your plug is amazing!
Each of the heads requires a change in tuning position but the resonance and resistance is wonderful.
Thank you so much.
Roy- USA
July 2,2014:
Thought I'd test drive my new sound for awhile and hear the difference. You are so right on with this, thanx loadz. Truth is I prefer this head joint over my other collection of flutes.
William Davis- USA
June 5, 2014:
Hello from Puerto Rico. I got your stopper. I am still amazed, after two months using it, of the huge diference when I play my flute. You are a genius. Thank you very much. I have never seen so much change in my playing thanks to your stopper.
Hector De Leon - Puerto Rico, USA
March 27, 2014 :
Thanks, Mark, for the good and quick service. This is the second of your stopper I have bought. I got great results putting it in a top level headjoint by a famous maker that had seemed to go dead and unresponsive. Your innovative stopper brought this head joint back from the dead.
When one of my high school student with a not very good beginners' flute was getting ready for state contest, I put your stopper in her headjoint and again the flute just seemed to come to life. (She got a I rating at the contest, too! She will be sending you an order as well.)
I was especially interested to see that Brook Devetter-Smith preferred your stopper as to using the Olnhausen ring. I have used this ring with good results as well, but find your stopper a much more cost effective and stable choice.
Jerry Pritchard, Professor Emeritus of Music
California State University
March 10, 2014
Hi Mark - I am a big fan of your stopper. I just ordered my fourth. I've put one in all our flutes. Thanks!
Jonathan Cohen- USA
December 18, 2013:
I wish EVERY dressing room on tour was like this one...what a glorious warmup space! (Also, mad props to Mark Seidman for his super awesome stopper, which I'm using in my Sankyo Flutes headjoint...really livens up the ol' tour setup!)
Joshua Jonsson- USA
October 22, 2013
I am a college student who is majoring on the flute. I had recently upgraded my flute and had been hoping to use my old flute to teach my younger cousin how to play, but when I checked it out, I noticed it needed the cork replaced and thought that rather than pay to have it replaced i would give this a shot. I got it in the mail and had to remove the dreaded old cork (which was quite a difficult task) and i put this one on. There were no instillation instructions, so I looked up how to do it, and Ta-Da! The high notes now come out with such clarity and volume that they did not have before :) I would completely recommend this to a fellow flautist! Taylor Gosner- USA
December 2, 2013:
I bought the stopper out of curiosity: I already have high-end gold headjoint on a Yamaha Student body.
I was interested to see whether a further improvement could be made for a low price.
The difference to the sound is small but audible. I notice it most on the very low notes, where the harmonics have been made more complex, so the sound does not get covered so easily by other instruments.
I could easily have spend another £500 on a headjoint that would have had this effect, so the price was well worth it.
It took a small amount of DIY to install: I have never taken a cork out before and it took care and the right tools (set out in full detail in the online instructions that come with the stopper) but it was not a difficult job.
Mark, professional/teacher-UK
October 28,201
I live in a small town and sending my baby away would have been sad and
expensive. Enter the Seidman Flute Stopper Plug. So easy to install, and
it works beautifully. Thank you very much!
Penny Will - Canada
August 22, 2013
It's AMAZING, what a Seidman Flute Stopper Plug is doing with your flute.
Uwe Nowotzin- Germany
August 22, 2013
It's been a week now that I've played with the stopper installed. I must say it pleases me greatly. The harmonics are clearer, especially in the lower tones (of course in the lower tones...), jumping from high to low is easier. And I'm still discovering.
In the coming weeks I'll remove the upper and/or the middle rubberband to hear the differences.
Thanks for your invention!
Jan Westerhof- Netherlands
July 11, 2013
Hi Mark,
Just a little update on your flute stopper. I must admit that I was skeptical at first. I had read accounts both pro and con about flute stoppers -- in fact, Sir James Galway carries around Bigio's titanium flute stoppers and crowns with him wherever he goes for others to try, but interestingly enough, he doesn't use them himself??? Enough to make you wonder.
Well, I figured that the price was right for an experiment, so I purchased one. I must admit that it did make a difference on my 14k Goosman Butterfly headjoint. Not a dramatic difference, but a substantial one. It opened it up and gave it more resonance (ring) as well as a slightly brighter sound. Just what I was looking for, because it sounded a little darker and duller than my silver Dana Sheridan headjoint.
John Banaccorso- USA
March 19, 2013
Arrived Safely, easily installed in my Powell headjoint and works like a charm. Great Prouct. Relieves me of having to worry about when the cork is getting loose again since we have so little down time here in SC between drying heat and drying AC. I was stunned the cork got dry in less than a year!
Nancy Owens - USA
December, 2012
I have placed the Seidman Flute Stopper Plug in my wood Powell flute and it is quite amazing. Articulations come easier and the sound is larger without changing the tonal quality. It is quite easy to install and you will appreciate the response and ease of playing.
Steve Deutch, musician & technician- US
October, 2012
I am an adult, amateur learner. I wasn't sure if my flute was playing up or it was me: The change of stopper, at little cost, has improved the sound and my ability to play beyond my expectations. Thank you Mr Seidman and Just Flutes for importing them.
H. Keen- UK
January , 2012
Having just purchased one of these and tried it out, I would highly recommend it, sound projection is improved in all octaves and I infact have now placed an order for another one.
You can pay approx £200 for some crowns and stoppers, and at this price, you can't really go wrong. Check out the fitting instructions on Mr Seidman's website, as the item though easily fitted doesn't come with any fitting instructions.
Anthony- UK
December 16, 2012
Hi, Mark, I have to tell you that I'm pretty wowed by this stopper plug of yours. Here's my story...The mouthpiece soldering, on my wonderful Miyazawa headjoint, started coming unglued! So, off she goes to Miyazawa to fix it. In the meantime, I had concerts and other gigs coming up so I grabbed an old crap headjoint from a 30-yr old student-flute I had. Wow, that thing was awful, and on my good flute the tuning was a little out of whack, but you do what you have to do. I ran across your sale on eBay (I don't even remember how, honestly, as I was browsing for weaving thread), and thought maybe this would help a little. I've been using it for a week now, and first off, somehow this has corrected all the tuning issues I was having! ??? Maybe that's just a plug size thing. I don't know. There's a definite improvement in tone. Responsiveness to dynamics is also greatly improved - on a CRAP HEADJOINT! I have been getting comments from my fellow flute players asking if I got my headjoint back already because it sounds that good. I'm really excited to see what happens when I pop it into the Miyazawa headjoint next week she returns from the repair shop. So glad I decided to do this. You saved Christmas! Well, the holiday concert season, anyway :)
Erin Collins- USA
OCTOBER 16, 2012
I installed your stopper plug in my 10k gold headjoint yesterday. Wow! I really like what it does to it. It has given the headjoint a sweeter more solid core to the sound and an even wider palate of colors that it did not have before. It has a beautiful even sound through all of the registers. It has made the top register more etherial and the low register more buttery. I don't want to put my flute down as I discover more colors and nuances that I can now create with my headjoint. I have already ordered another one for my other flute.
John Gonzalez- USA
August 7, 2012
I duly received the hourglass plug back in May and am so please with it. My Pearl Flute is now so much more sonorous and responsive and, as a result, I’ve put off upgrading to another flute for the time being.
I’d love to have a similar plug for my alto flute should you decide to manufacture one sometime in the future.
Nigel Street - United Kingdom
April 19, 2012
Hi Mark:
They really work well. The sound is so much cleaner and focused. On my platinum head, I have experimented with unscrewing the crown about a quarter of a turn or a bit more, since I used to do that years ago, before I started using an Olnhausen ring seven or eight years ago. That didn't help. The ring was enough. Now that I have discarded the ring and am using your stopper, I thought I'd try loosening the crown. That seems to open the sound up slightly, while maintaining the great focus of the stopper. Have you had anyone mention that? It also seems to work on my students' silver heads as well. I am wondering whether that has some meaning to you.... Why should this be? If I go beyond a half turn, it's not as good, but very slightly seems to allow the headjoint (and even the feel under the fingers) to vibrate noticeably, with even more resonance.
I have also tried placing the stopper very slightly off the center mark -- actually not pushing it in quite all the way to the line on the cleaning rod. That also seems to improve the response, at least on my pt headjoint. I haven't don that on the silver one. This slight alteration of the placement of the stopper is extremely minimal, and doesn't seem to affect pitch, but quickens articulation. Your device is quite uncanny! It really makes a difference. Projection is fine. I only wish I had used it on a recording I made last year!!!!
Brooks de Wetter-Smith - USA
March 23, 2012
Hi Mark, I purchased your stopper last week and am amazed at the difference in response, color and overall playing changes. I'm now getting one for my other headjoint and a friend. I'm sure there will be more to follow. Best wishes, Rob Portnoy - USA
January 3, 2012
I've received your stopper and had the opportunity to try on many headjoints (Arista, Muramatsu, Miyazawa and Yamaha) and the results were very positive.
In my opinion the choice of instrument and its component parts is always a very personal and particular decision. Today we needed to be awake for the evolution of technology and be able to follow all the trends. The Seidman Flute Stopper is a tool available to performers, who can help us find new colors and sounds. The main advantages I find are better able to resonate throughout the body of the instrument, more clarity in the articulation, and a fuller tone [tone richer color] especially in the recording medium and severe (especially in right hand).
I can say I am very pleased and I recommend everyone to try.
Best Regards,
David Sousa - Portugal
December 12, 2011
I recently bought two flute plugs, one for myself and one for my niece. Both of us are wild about the plugs. They're amazing!
November 15,2011
Yes indeed!!! It's in all the flutes I care about ... and even in a couple I don't care much about. That's how good this brilliant little gizmo is.
Pauline Finch- Canada
November 11, 2011
Sorry for getting back to you this late ... I really must congratulate you for on your ingenious flute stopper - it's marvellous! It simply transforms the whole instrument - more immediate response, much more resonance (both markedly improved in the low register), more controllability and better intonation. I am playing a solid silver Muramatsu heavy wall with soldered tone holes and a Lafin silver headjoint with 18ct riser and lip plate. This provides a fat and voluminous sound I am very attached to, but so far lacked a certain, well, "slimness" and ease it has now acquired with your stopper. So thank you so much - I wish you loads of success with this simple but most efficient tool!!
This brings me to the next question: Do you make similar stoppers for alto and bass flutes? I play a Muramatsu alto flute which will greatly benefit from a similar stopper. Please let me know.
Thanks so much again, congratulations, and cheers! Oliver Busch - Germany
November 11, 2011
I put one of those in my headjoint last spring!! I LOOOOOVE it!!!! :-) One of the best purchases I've ever made for my flute! Scott D. - USA
October 5, 2011
I just installed (pretty easy, too) the stopper plug on our Gemeinhardt 3SS all sterling pro flute made by Kurt himself in 1963 before he retired. Like I said earlier, we didn't expect much, but not having to replace the cork again and not having to WONDER if the cork is leaking or NOT all the time makes this a good modification so long as the sound did not suffer compared with a properly fitted cork plug. Well, I'm pleased to tell you it made immediately noticeable changes: the high notes are sweeter sounding and easier to produce (no small thing!) and the low end sounds less "fuzzy", more focused. It simply plays easier and sounds better and this was a pretty nice flute to begin with and my son, Max, brings out a wonderful tone which is now even better. Now, I want two more stoppers from you. One for our modest 22SP student flute and another for our rather special Altus 1207RB with C# triller. Funny, I was pretty skeptical, but now I'm quite sure we'll be hearing improvements in these instruments, as well. This is the cheapest thing we've done to this Gemeinhardt and it has made the biggest difference. Quick, let me buy two more before the price goes up. Charles- USA
September 17, 2011
I have already bought 2 stoppers from you. The difference it has made to the sound of my flutes is just astounding. You have done a very good thing for flutes!
best regards
Robin Wilson- London, UK
August 18, 2011
This is my second purchase, this time for my wife's Muramatsu flute after she heard that my old Yamaha had improved so much with the stopper. I told my Flute teacher -- who helped me put in the flute stopper -- and now he is buying one for his gold Althus as well. It is is amazing. It frees the flute. Wish we had something like that for humans. John- France
May 20, 2011
Dear Mark
I play an Emanuel solid gold Flute Nr. 50 one of the best flutes he has ever done .
This Flute is so wonderful has its own sound and carisma of colours .
I got your Stopper Plug last week I installed it with a great curiousity !
I play with it now for seven days . The result is fantastic .
Since your Plug is installed my flute became much better . The lower register is much easier to play
and the higher notes have more power . Ulrich - Germay
May 18. 2011
Thanks so much. Actually, I got it today, and my teacher and I love it! (I've played around three hours today) So far, the changes I've noticed are; the flute is more "present," the tone is clearer, it has more "ring," and best of all , that "gap" or break between the upper and lower octaves seems to be gone; tone color is a lot closer! We're going to work again tomorrow (just got back from rehearsing with him, in fact.); but he and I feel very comfortable. So, thanks for being concerned! I appreciate that so much, and am telling all my flute friends about the stopper. Sincerely, Kathleen- USA
April 20. 2011
Hi Mark -- thanks for your quick shipping. I have already tried the plug on all three of my headjoints and found that it improved response in fast articulation as well as in the ease of playing at both extremes of the range, especially on my Armstrong thin-wall sterling "WS" cut HJ which is the one I use most of the time anyway. Carolyn - USA April 4, 2011I just received your plug and I must say, I wasn't expecting much. It is nothing short of amazing! I put your stopper on my Gemeinhardt KG Special really as a means to try to make it better. I can't afford a new flute at the moment and I'm very unhappy with the sound I was getting. It's difficult to put into words what exactly has changed, but I think overall response (and as a result, attack clarity) has become worlds better! I haven't even "fully" installed it (I've left it un-cemented for the moment) and I think it's absolutely brilliant. Kedgrick - USA
April 4,2011
I just received your plug and I must say, I wasn't expecting much. It is nothing short of amazing! I put your stopper on my Gemeinhardt KG Special really as a means to try to make it better. I can't afford a new flute at the moment and I'm very unhappy with the sound I was getting. It's difficult to put into words what exactly has changed, but I think overall response (and as a result, attack clarity) has become worlds better! I haven't even "fully" installed it (I've left it un-cemented for the moment) and I think it's absolutely brilliant. Kedgrick- USA
March 29, 2011
Hi Mark, The second stopper is a perfect fit and I have been using it for about 2 weeks with a Burkart headjoint with a platinum riser and a 1880s Bonneville. It is an improvement over my zirconium stopper that I have used for about 2 years. After about the 1st week I was convinced it was an improvement compared to my zirconium stopper, so I made a slight modification to the silver plate, that would normally be glued to the cork. It provides a more balanced response over all octaves. Low notes pop out or it can be played PPP with ease. I will send you the first riser that had dimensional problems. I did try it with a thicker o rings but it did not work well. I will be in touch to get another for my powell. Regards, Henry - USA
February 18, 2011
Hi Mark, I tried petroleum jelly because it was easy and I figured I could just wash it off and start over if it didn't work. It worked very well. My (very inexpensive) flute sounds better than I ever hoped it could. Thank you for the great stopper and for all your extra help. You make a great product and you really understand customer service. Unfortunately that's kind of a rarity these days. Betty- USA
January 17, 2011
Thanks Mark - I'm glad to have you as an FB friend. I was so pleased with the way your stopper has enhanced my sterling silver low-B open-hole Emerson (I just put it in today)that I had to tell everyone. The best flute I've ever owned is now even better! - Pauline Finch- USA
January 7,2011
These are fantastic. Really aids in getting a solid, dark, vibrant sound.Maximizes projection but with a beautiful sound and solid low register.These increase control and lock in 3rd octave tuning. Amazing! Joe- USA
December 30,2010
I got the flute plug today and fitted it to my Muramatsu DS with a Yamaha 925 AC headjoint. I did this because I wanted to see how it worked before I spoiled the Muramatsu headjoint that belonged to the flute. I must admit I was a little bit skeptical about your claims but thought it was worth a try.Once I replaced the stopper and played my flute I was literally blown away by the improvement in tone and ease of playing in all registers.I compared the now modified Yamaha headjoint to the one that came with the flute and now it sounds even better with your plug.Please rush me two more for my second flute and my Muramatsu headjoint. You are a genius!!!!! Mike Parlett- USA
November 13, 2010
today the flute stopper plug arrived. I installed it on my flute. I played for some hours now, it is really amazing, everything works better. Sound quality, articulation, dynamics. I couldn't believe it. Flute playing works so easy now, it gives the feel like a well oiled engine.... I love it.
Flavio- Switzerland
November 9, 2010
Hi Mark. I am very happy with your stopper. Every time I pick the flute to play is more joyful the experience. Some of my friends has noticed the change for good of the sound. I have been passing the news, so others here can experience how wonderful their flutes can sound using your stopper. I will be thankful for ever... to you for this. If you make one for the piccolos, tell me as soon as you can. Ricardo- Puerto Rico
October 14, 2010
The stoppers have been installed in both my Muramatsu flutes (open and closed hole instruments) and I have to say that the difference between the old cork stopper and your stopper is utterly astounding.
The resonance, particularly in the closed hole flute, is so different; enough to say that my relatively medium sound is now a bigger one, which also means it improves the tone colour significantly without having to change anything in the way of the embouchure.
The open hole flute is a slightly different matter, but then again, that is to be expected, but it is still a better sound.
Getting the old cork stoppers out was really easy, nothing difficult or technically challenging about it, and installing the new ones was easy. Your instructions were clear and precise, and no jumping up and down was required! .... :-D
We have passed your website on to the local music store with excellent referrals, letting them know that this is a product every flute owner should have, student or professional, it's the only way to go to get rid of the dirty old corks and move flutes into the 21st century!
Many thanks again for your wonderful service and prompt efficiency. Jaqueline- Tasmania, Australia
September 26, 2010
I tried the stopper on a Myazawa with a platinum chimney headjoint, and then the same flute with a Drelniger headjoint, and noticed a favorable difference with both. Better high notes, more even response for me. I have just ordered a second stopper. The price can't be beat.
Charles- USA
September 26, 2010
I install one of your stoppers in my new Hammig flute head, Man, that stoppermade that flute sing like Pavarotti. I put another in my Rudall Carte head with similarresults.There are no stoppers around the world that can compare with yours, You are a genius! Carlos- USA
September 6, 2010
I got the new stopper and it works great. My flute sounds much crisper and cleaner. I had no idea it would make so much difference. I left you what I consider the best feedback I have left in my ten years on eBay. Hope you like it.
David- USA
August 22,2010
Mark, Your stopper is the best. It makes my Muramatsu sing! Laurent Bass- USA
August 24,2010Played with your stopper for over a year now. It's fantastic !
Par Johansson-Sweden
July 24,2010
Fantastic Item!! I highly recommend this stopper.I have them on all my flutes!!
Damian- USA
July 10,2010
Fantastic, Installed it today,Works Great, Great Packing & eMails, 5 Stars All
Bill- USA
June 26, 2010
Suono migliorato notevolmente su flauto Yamaha, si fa meno fatica a suonare.OK!
Anna- Italy
June 23, 2010
item as described works great for 1953 Haynes closed hole Michael- USA
June 4, 2010
superb, really works Steve- USA
May 2, 2010
Super product! incredible performance, and very honest ebayer. Fabio- Italy
April 28, 2010
Hello Mark,
I put one stopper in my Flute this morning (FAULISI head, ROOSEN Flute)The richness of sound quality and the tone are wonderfull.It's a real pleasure to play with this new plug.My Flute factor is interest by your stopper.He have your mail.Thank you and BRAVO
Frédéric Werner Professor at the Schola Cantorum in Paris
March 15, 2010
Hi. The flute plug came yesterday. I just left you + feedback and 5 stars across the board.
This is an interesting product. On my intermediate flute head joint, the one I have my students use, it not only improved the response and tuning but gave a much better tone quality.
On my hand made headjoint, it didn't change the tone or response much but did greatly even out the sound between registers. Not only do the high notes not thin out but I don't have to fight to keep them from going sharp. Your plug seems to add a bit of resistance in a nice way, helping me make a better connection with the instrument. The end result is better control and, surprisingly, better tonguing. This is the first performance product I've tried that actually improved my hand made head joint.
Overall, I'm very impressed. I have to give it a big thumbs up. I'll be recommending it to my students and the other flute players I know.
Thanks again.
Joe- USA
April 7, 2010
Hi Mark, What a fantastic product your stopper is! I'm a long-time flutist and thought I'd give your stoppers a try. I wasn't unhappy with my overall sound or anything - I was just curious about your product. I have to say that I'm very pleased with it. I noticed a definite difference immediately. I sound like I'm playing in stereo now - it's great! Thank you! Lisa- USA
December 20, 2009
REVIEW FOR PICCOLOIST.COM Recently I was given the chance to try a stopper plug made by Mark Seidman of seidmanflutetechnology.com. Initially intrigued by the interesting shape of the little gadget, I wasn't thinking that it was going to make a huge difference in my overall sound. I had tried a few others before this particular plug. Most were similar in material, having being made of Delrin, or just your traditional headjoint cork. The little plug is very well put together and has 3 "O" rings which the maker claims "for just the right dampening of balance and tone control". One downfall was my own responsibility. The cork in my headjoint was almost 2 years old and was not easy to get out. It literally had to be broken apart since it was glued on to the little metal plate quite good! After getting through that, installing Mark's stopper plug was extremely simple. Mark gives you step-by-step installation instructions on his website. The very first thing that stood out was that my lower register just seemed to "pop" out (in the words of Emeril, "BAM!"). I'm used to playing on a colorful headjoint that I absolutely love, but all of a sudden the notes seemed to feel more powerful and have a bit more life to them. I thought that playing up through the registers that I would lose some vibrancy or quality due to the low register's new brilliancy. Not the case! Both my middle and high registers were not affected by Mark's plug and the flute just seemed to play more effortlessly than it ever did before! Tone and pitch were not affected at all. Consider playing low-register passages from "Syrinx" or parts from the Khachaturian "Concerto". For articulation, try the allegro from Bach's "Sonata in C Major". For the high register, I played Ran's "East Wind" and overall found that something like the Dutilleux "Sonatine" was a good piece for all three registers. However, a student flutist would fare well on just their scales. The sound is not brassy, nor is it fake or shrill. I still sound like me, but I feel more powerful and feel like I am projecting more. I imagine something like this would work wonders in most flutes, especially for those who are seeking a new headjoint or flute. Perhaps you wouldn't need to go there quite yet.... Consider trying a stopper plug made by Mark Seidman before spending thousands on a new headjoint. He does give you a 7 day money-back guarantee and for only $25 (which includes shipping, $10 more for international) it is a steal! Mark himself says, "no other stopper plug in the world creates this shape space around the tubing for maximum resonance". I played on my new setup for the first time in a recent Christmas concert with my orchestra and have not taken it out since! The other flutist in the orchestra also tried my flute and agreed that it sounded great! Overall I would rate this an A+ buy because of the final result being so positive. Go get one for a flutist for Christmas! For more information on the stopper plug by Mark Seidman or to purchase, please visit Mark's website at www.seidmanflutetechnology.com(Cristina Ledford tested the Seidman Flute Stopper Plug on a .017 Silver Muramatsu flute with a Silver Lopatin headjoint and a 14K
riser)
February 9, 2010
This stopper has changed my playing forever...I Love It.
Kennith- USA
February 8,2010
I recently purchased one of these plugs for my Fiancee’s flute; and it is absolutely wonderful! I am a music teacher and will be promoting your product as much as possible. Thank you. Jeremy- USA
January 27, 2010
Hello Mark, Please know that I am thrilled with the two plugs I bought from you. Your response and service could not have been better, installation was successful, and the tone and ease of playing are wonderful. Being a bit squeamish, I installed the first plug on an old Artley flute that I leave out all the time just to pick up and play a bit whenever I walk by it. That gave me the confidence and eagerness to put the other one on my Powell. The ease of bringing out clear high and low notes was everything I had hoped for, and the tone of the whole range a thrill. I'm so glad I found out about your plugs and happy to have them. I did not see anything about life expectancy, so I assume they will last for a very long time - thus not need replacing with every cleaning and adjustment. Thank you for inventing such a neat product.
Carolyn- USA
January 25, 2010
Okay, Mark - I got your stopper today. I can't say I'm any closer to virtuosity, but my old Haynes is MUCH more responsive. I'm a believer! Please send me another for my second head joint. Many thanks for a terrific product.
Craig - USA
October 9, 2009
Your stoppers arrived safely today. I put one in my Powell flute, because the cork is very old and I seldom play the flute anymore, and see, it sounds great!! I will introduce it to people here in Zürich, I think it is fantastic. It has the effect Arthur Lora described in the fifties. Florent Hofinger also did experiments in this direction, by the way.Thanks a lot!
Maurice Heugen - Zurich Opera Orchestra, Switzerland
October 4,2010
Thank you Mark.
So far I am liking your stopper best of the ones I have tried. I tried the Robert Bigio (Zirconium) stopper. The sound is great with lots of core to the sound, but there's a hollow thing happening in parts of the middle register that I find uneven and unsettling.I haven't fully tried the Lafin because the screw at the present moment is too long. It sounds good and very clear but a little tight.
Yours on the other hand seems to have a nice balance of features in the sound that I find quite useful. I will continue evaluating, specially when I get your new version. I'll have a chance to try it in a week or so since I have some out of town gigs this coming week.I would like to pay you for your stopper, do you accept paypal? Thank you so much, Peace Marco- USA/Venezuela "Peace & Prosperity"www.sunflute.com
September 4, 2009
Hello Mark, Well I stayed home today with a slight reaction to the flu vaccine I got yesterday, which was a good enough reason to spend the past 1.5 hours flute playing with your plug in my 14k headjoint. At first I thought the upper register was a bit thinner and maybe not as much resonance in b2, c2, c#2, but since I have been only playing on a Folkers &Powell Full Circle wood headjoint for a while, it was just a matter of reorganizing my embrochure to the metal headjoint. I just finished playing Carnival of Venice and am absolutely thrilled with response & sound change of my heajoint (it came with an Ogren Stopper, so I have never played it with a cork stopper). Amazing!!!!!! Did I tell you I am thrilled with the improvement? There is also an added POP to the notes. I think is opened up this headjoint (which is really a very nice head on its own, but its just that much more now).
I have tried Bigio delrin stopper&crown and Ogren Stopper on this headjoint as well as other headjoints but at this time I must agree your stopper is superior in results. I was afraid of the word Clarity in your description, as in my mind that usually is synonymous with bright& thin, like some of the Japanese flutes, maybe loss of resonance, but that is not the fact with your stopper. I just did a buy now on another stopper. I will try it on my silver Dana Sheridan headjoint. Sorry for my long winded review! Dee- USA
December 10, 2009
Congratulation! This is one great plug!Do you make one for alto and bass? Those really need the low register response!
Thank you! Petri - Finland September 10, 2009
Thank you for your kind and gracious reply. I am sorry for the tone and words of my knee-jerk reaction. I regretted it immediately after hitting the "send" button. When I showed the photo of your stopper to Bob Ogren (our flute tech who designed the one we sell) he said; "Way cool!" I asked him why he wasn't upset, and he said "we obviously think alike and have similar interests. Wish them good luck!" So I offer you my apologies and thank you. Obviously God intended our paths to cross because I was way overdue for a lesson in humility! God bless YOU!
Paul Leithold - USA
October 13, 2009
It really is working ! With this plug my standard silver Muramatsu
(from the 70´ies) got a much louder, wider tone, without missing the accuracy and easiness to play. It was very smooth and easy especially in the high level before, because the embouchure plate has been altered years ago by J.R. Lafin, but now it achieved fullness and a little more richness of volume, esp. in the lower level. Very good piece of invention!! Andreas- Germany
September 3, 2009
The upper register is VERY responsive now. THanks! Ted- USA
September 4, 2009
The stopper works well on my wood flute. Thanks! Larry- USA
September 6, 2009
I installed the plug myself, a simple procedure really, a much easier process with threading the delrin stopper. Again, I played yesterday morning and am just amazed at the change in the performance of my gold headjoint. Feel free to use my comments on your website. I think you are really on to something with your product. Thanks again. Dee- USA
September 7, 2009
I blew my flute last night at a gig and there is a
noticeable difference. I can do multi-phonics
without even thinking about now. Thanks very much! Ted- USA
September 12, 2009
Excellent! My flute has never sounded so good! Lynn- USA
September 14, 2009
The stopper plug has arrived and was easy to install. It definitely makes a difference. Top octave notes E and F sharp seem easier and the top octave is less shrill. Steve- United Kingdom
September 15, 2009
Better then ever!!!! Raytin- Thailand
September 19, 2009
Arrival safely today. It's a GREAT SOUND! Very kindly & Fast response. Thanks!! Katsuyuki- Japan
September 22, 2009
I received the stopper yesterday and you definitely didn't exaggerate!! It's so simple, and so brilliant. I'm going to orchestra tomorrow night and tell the other flautists about it. The change in richness of sound quality is amazing- D USA
September 22, 2009
Thank you for working on my flute! It sounds great and better than before. Thank you. Annie K. (age 13) USA
September 22,2009
THIS THING WORKS!! Dramatic improvement to flute.Easy to install. FAST shipping. Deena USA
September 26, 2009
Flutes sounds really great. Just ordered another plug to show other flute players in our Community Symphony Orchestra at West Virginia University. Heikki USA