Question

Would a gold flute sound different than a standard silver flute?

Answer 1

Ans= Gold flutes are prized for their warm tone. Denser than Silver, when alloyed with other metals (Copper, etc.) Gold is also harder. Different karat tells of the volume of pure Gold to alloyed metals. Don’t confuse this with carat, a weight measurement for gems. Gold is normally alloyed with Copper, but can be alloyed with Silver and other material as well. The higher pure Gold content, the darker, warmer the sound. Pure Gold is 24K, but this metal would not easily form tubes, etc. Most practical alloys are 14K or less.

Silver is the most common material used in flute making. Many different alloys of silver are available. When the silver is designated by a number such as 950 or 998, this indicates the silver content. For instance, the 950 Silver used by Nagahara flutes is 95.0% Pure Silver. The 998 Silver used by Burkart flutes is 99.8% Pure Silver. Generally, higher pure silver content adds more resistance, which can lead to a slightly warmer or darker sound. Here are some common Silver alloys being used in flutemaking.