Product Reviews: Miguel Arista Solid Flute Headjoint with 14k Rose Riser

I came to Just Flutes in December 2017 looking for a new headjoint. I had a clear idea of what I was looking for and Jonathan was ever so helpful and gave me a wonderful selection of heads to try including Sheridan, Nagahara, Mancke, Powell, Haynes and Ian McLauchlan. I spent the most part of a day trying these all out and whilst they were all beautiful, none gave me what I was really looking for. I had never heard of Miguel Arista before that day and on my first try through I immediately dismissed his two heads as they didn’t seem to work with my embouchure. I went back to them later in the day and I’m so glad I did. The more I played them the more I adjusted and the more they gave back. Eventually I had dismissed all the rest and was down to the two Arista heads, Tally and L2. After much difficult deliberation I settled on the L2 cut which I found a little more resistant and colourful, though there wasn’t much in it.
I’ve had 6 months to become acquainted with my new headjoint and I can honestly say it’s the best purchase I’ve ever made. It is nicely resistant which works well for my blowing style. The low register is lush, full and edgey with massive volume if needed. The top register speaks easily with roundness and flexibility. The tonal colour range is incredible with a darkness, complexity and sweetness that stirs the emotions like crazy! It articulates and responds like the finest modern German engineering. If it were food it would be dark chocolate and a fine full-bodied red wine with a cherry on top! There is literally nothing that this headjoint can’t do and I’m sure I’ll be discovering it’s capabilities for many more years to come. It may be pricey, which really is the only downside but it’s worth every penny and more and besides, money can’t buy what this simple tube of metal has given to me in just this short time.
Thank you Just Flutes, Jonathan and the masterful Miguel Arista!