Still over-fluted so offering for sale a 1-key rosewood flute by Ralph Sweet.
This is #170 which, according to Ralph’s records, was made in July of 1978 and he’s “95% sure it’s Honduras Rosewood. If not, it could be Bolivian rosewood.” One brass key and faux ivory rings. No tuning slide but adjusts on the tenon as necessary. One hairline crack in the head, away from the embouchure, that has been repaired and stable for the past three years at least. Regularly oiled, played, and kept in humidified box in a non-smoking household.
A nice-sounding instrument that provides, for the way I play, a reedy lower octave and a rather sweet upper register. All in all a nice-sounding flute. I really like the ones Ralph made back in the day.
Comes with a five-pocket flannel case made and embroidered by Ms. Sweet for a touch of that homey nostalgia.
Selling price $265 (firm) includes shipping and insurance in the CONUS.
Contact me either by PM or email using the buttons below.
I think I played this flute in Ralph’s shop when I bought a few flutes that were part of a workshop ‘clear out.’
If it is from that sale. I can ‘vouch’ for this flute being an absolutely great player.
At the time I didn’t need another D flute but if I had I would have bought it in a second.
Ralph’s flutes have always been great back to the time when he was the only dog in the show.
I have a similarly styled 3 keyed flute by Ralph, with one piece body in Rosewood and the faux ivory rings, and I must say it’s a very pleasing instrument to play. Not to be confused with his popular entry level Sweetheart Maple model ( although a great value flute ) this is a fair few steps up in every department.
Some additional background about this (and another, similar) flute. Back in 2010 I also bought a flute from Ralph during his “clean-out sale”. It was similar to the one offered above, but in maple and made in 1990. Lovely flute. (So how does a good flute sit, unsold, for 20 years in Ralph’s office/warehouse?) It was my first wooden flute and I really had no idea whether it was good, bad, or indifferent. I took it with me to the Pipers Gathering in 2010 where John Skelton was teaching flute and whistle. At one point I asked him to try it and let me know if it was a suitable instrument on which to learn. He offered to buy it and has subsequently asked me a couple of times whether I still had it an if it was for sale yet.
That flute moved on as part of a trade for a Firth, Hall, and Pond antique.
But in 2014, the above flute came up for sale on C&F. I bought it to assuage my seller’s remorse for letting the maple flute go. This one, however, goes rather further back into Ralph’s history of making flutes. It plays as well as the maple one (maybe I should call John, hmmm) with a somewhat “darker and reedier”, more cutting tone in the lower register (as it plays for me). I can’t say that it came from the “clear-out sale” that dunnp mentions—I just don’t know, but if so, it would have sat around from 1978—2010. Since that time, I’ve gathered a number of flutes and it’s time to have my own “clear-out sale.” I can say that Ralph’s flutes from those early years were great sounding and playing instruments and hold up very well.
At any rate, it plays well, it’s for sale (at a pretty reasonable price), and you can contact me with the PM/email buttons below.
