I have a couple of previously repaired cracks on the barrel of my flute (I’m using the term barrel as noted on the McGee web site). I did a search and got some good advice on repairs which I will certainly try.
If, however, a repair does not work, is it possible to get a new barrel on it’s own, or does its relationship with the tuning slide mean that I’m more likely to require a complete headjoint - in which case, I’m not sure the flute is really worth it.
Though I’m not an instrument maker I am quite sure it would be possible to make a new barrel for your flute. You would probably need to deliver the whole flute to the person making the new part for accuratre measurement.
Since you live in Scotland, have you tried contacting George Ormiston about this?
It should be pretty straightforward for a maker to replace only the barrel joint. The time-consuming (and therefore expensive) part would generally be to fit the metal liner so it slides nicely on the existing head joint liner, and to match the rings. If the metal liner and rings can be salvaged from the existing cracked barrel, then the job is made much easier.
Dave Copley
Loveland, Ohio