Sweetheart Flutes

Irish Flute
1

I was wondering if anyone out there had any thoughts on Sweetheart flutes as a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-come-by keyless flute. I don’t see much mention of them here on the Forum. Does silence speak for itself in this case?

2

Ralph can make a fantastic flute. He can also make a dud. The problem with Sweetheart flutes is that, unless you play them or buy them from someone who has, you never know what you are going to get. I spent 6 hours in Lark in the Morning once, playing Sweetheart flutes. Some of them were extremely cloudy in tone and a couple were real gems. I have three Low D Sweet flutes that all play extremely well (and I could certainly be persuaded to sell one), but I have also played a dozen or more that didn’t make the grade.

So I guess the answer to your question is that a Sweetheart flute could absolutely make a good starter instrument. But it could also be a terrible one.

Jessie

3

I play a Sweetheart flute, and I love it. It has a nice tone and plays easily. The only problem is that it is slighty flat, but I plan on getting that fixed. The best option is to go and visit his shop in CT and try the flutes.

4

I agree. I was fortunate enough to live in a city with a nice little harp shop that carried the full line of Ralph Sweet’s flutes and was able to try out several before I found one that I liked. I walked away quite happy with a nice rosewood. Its volume is a little louder than a my M&E polymer flute. It has a very nice tone and plays easily through 2 full octaves plus a third octave D. I was going to put it on e-bay because I plan to jump onto Patrick Olwell’s waiting list. If your interested in giving it a test drive you can contact me off-list.

Bryan
ravenbsp@yahoo.com

5

This Weekend @ Stone Mtn highland games Tradgirl and I (my sister and I) tried two Ralph Sweet flutes in Rosewood.
One was a straight D and the other had an Eb key on it.

I can barely, if at all, play flute but it played easily for me. She has a Tony Dixon $32 Student flute, and the Sweet blows it away. I almost bought it!

6

Hey Tradman, I was at the SM games too. I saw the flutes at the tent with all the cds, but didnt have time to play one because I was competing in the piping.

7

Too bad you didnt get a chance. To me, it was a nice Flute, but then again, I dont play flute-yet!

I have about $500 worth of nice low whistles, but only whistles. A flute is next…

Glad you were there!

Eric the Tradman