Gen fipple bumps

I have a range of gens – one in each key. Two play really well, the others don’t, though the bluetack tweak helped (all but the C – I still can’t get the head off that one). Last night I put them all out on the coffee table and noticed that they all have a sort of bump on the lip of the fipple (hope I have my terminology right). On the two that sound good, that bump starts noticeably futher back – that is, there’s a longer flat space between the blade and where the bump starts. I’m thinking of sanding, filing, or otherwise trying to create a longer flat space on the whistles that don’t sound as good.

Has anyone else tried that? What happened?

Tery

Hi, Tery.

If you can remove the bump cleanly and leave an accurate, smooth ramp that’s still the correct angle, I would recommend that you go ahead and do it. On the other hand, if the result will be approximate, not flat, rough, etc., I would say leave it alone.

My experience has been that a perfectly flat, very smooth (polished, even) ramp often does help clean up the sound and focus the voice. (And yes, I have done this with Generations.)

Best wishes,
Jerry

I’d try on the ones that don’t work.

It gives you first hand experience so you’ll know what (not) to do next time, and it’s fun. I’ve sandpapered a few heads and the first one was a disaster, but I learned from that how to do the other ones.