Chiff and Fipple Forums

Does anyone have a Ralph Sweet fife? Are they any good? I'm thinking about buying one. I know, I have a new question every 2 hours, but I don't know a blessed thing.

There are a lot of better fifes out there. Run a search on this forum and look for fife related posts by Dave Migoya or myself. My posts include links to fife vendors. Or go to my website and follow the links to sutlers and vendors. E-mail me privately if you have more questions. I love talking fifes, but don't want to fill up this forum with a discourse that's somewhat off-topic.

well, I've never had a fife before and was thinking about buying one this weekend. So I don't want one that's really expensive, just one to sort of try.

In that case, try the $6 plastic fife from Cooperman. Anyone I teach starts out with this one. In my opinion, it's the only fife under the $100 range worth having.

Thanks, I'm going to a music store with fifes and stuff this weekend, I'll see what I can find.

well put, Jim!
The black plastic fife is exactly the one I started on.....uh.....wow.....long, long time ago!
anyway....they're surely suitable for any beginner.

If you'd like a photo and sound sample of an old Ralph Sweet fife in ebony wood, see

http://www.flutesite.com/sweethea1.htm

It's the only fife I've ever owned, so I have no standard of comparison as to how well it plays compared to another make. It plays well enough for my purposes (playing alongside Great Highland Pipes--I doubt they even hear much of me over the pipes anyway.)

--James
http://www.flutesite.com