The C fife is more than the Bb, a good deal,
and the A fife is more still.
I just wonder if maybe it’s easier for him to
make Bb fifes, as these are standard.
Also he has several different hole sizes and a couple
of embouchures, including a rectangular one.
I’m enamored of A instruments right now,
which can be quite useful. Do his instruments
work for ITM. If you’re wanting to be heard
but not necessarily needing to cut through
the cannon and the shrieks of the dying,
which hole-size/embouchure should one get?
So far I really don’t like rectangular
embouchures.
I know his flutes are good session instruments. You may need to ask him directly about fife volume. I heard him play one of his fifes outdoors and it was obscenely loud. Can’t say that would be appreciated in a session
I have a Healy 10 hole Bb “Special” fife. It’s well designed and well made. As has been said, it is a very loud instrument. You can play anything on it. It has a good first octave and plays sweetly through the third octave. The tuning is very good. If you are talking about busking, it’s going to be heard. If you are talking about playing in session, you are going to be heard!
I can’t speak to Healy’s pricing, except as you have noted, the Bb fife is more common.
Hole sizing follows the usual thinking - bigger holes for bigger sound.
I have the square embouchure with the relieved blowing edge. I play flutes by Copley, Copeland, M&E, Seery, Dixon, etc. The Healy rectangular embouchure works. It took no time to become familiar with the fife. I have not played a Healy fife without that arrangement so I can’t speak to his other options.
I think it is an interesting instrument. I have had traditional fifes and a couple Sweet folk fifes (liked 'em too) and the Healy is a more versitile instrument all around. Keep in mind I am more of a flute/whistle player and not a traditional fifer.
Skip is a very nice guy and extraordinarily helpful and serious about his fife and flute making. His fifes have become a standard among many fifers. I don’t have an answer for you regarding his pricing, but I’ll bet Skip does – Ask him; don’t think he’ll be insulted by a serious question.
I had a Healy 10-Hole Special fife that I really really liked. The tone was warm and deep for a fife, with good intonation. But I had a tough time keeping the thumb-holes covered. So I passed it along…
I then purchased a Healy Deluxe fife with the standard 6-holes. But it was a “BLASTER”, I just couldn’t keep it reined in. So we parted ways…
I currently keep dreaming about either a Healy Special (or Standard) fife with the oval embouchure. Or a Sweet M-2…
The square embouchure is easy to play and powerful, but isn’t as flexible as an oval (IMO).
I’ve also had a Sweet M-1, played well, but not real strong in the bottom octave.
I had a 7-hole McDonagh fife (Regimental Model) that was excellent (made by Roy Seaman). But more powerful than I wanted. So I parted with it…(bad case of the stupids)…
I currently have a rosewood Sweet Folk Fife in A, that is really wonderful and I’m enjoying that key more than I ever expected to.
There is just something so eminently playable about a fife. They are not to small like a piccolo nor large and are so responsive. They just feel right!
I played a fife since I was a kid - about kuma;dfgi years ago - and we then played McDonagh fifes, super fifes. We graduated to Ferrary. WOW! What a fife! I was into collecting fifes from wherever, eBay and antique shops. I have three Ferrarys, two Bb and one experimental A he gave me on one of my visits to his house in CT. He was about to retire and asked me to take over his business but I was already into public education by years and not wanting to leave.
I have a few Healy fifes that are also magnificant but you/I need to work to “control” them.
Then I found the Irish wooden flute and my fifes are in specially made cloth sleeves. My wife and dog were extatic as were my sons.
First of all, the Healy fifes and piccolos have a different profile to their bores than the flutes that he makes. His fifes have a Boehm taper in the head that allows them to play in tune over three octaves. The taper allows them to play a powerful low D while still having a third octave that speaks easily. It has a rather large bore and tends to play the lowest notes in a very full way. (Fewer upper harmonics?)
I have his deluxe fife and, as Sillydill commented earlier, I find Healy’s rectangular embouchure isn’t as flexible as other instruments I have played. Bending notes is not easy. This also makes the fife very easy to play in tune, so perhaps it is a trade off. I find that it wants go a bit flat when given less air (trying to play it softly) even with a tight embouchure. It wants to be played loud and in tune.
The rectangular embouchure doesn’t really seem to have a sweet spot. If you are use to a round embouchure you could get lost with all of the extra blowing edge. For me the edge never permits “almost” hitting a note it is either on or off. I have never seen options for a different embouchure on his flues and fifes on his website. Although his website does mention that customization is available.
As for price, I am just guessing, but Bb is probably his top seller. I expect that the other fifes are made in shorter runs and the take down and set up times for a smaller run may be reflected in the price. Even the deluxe version, which only differs in finger hole size and spacing from the standard fife, is quite a bit more expensive than his standard fifes.
The thing plays much better than I do, so take my comments with a grain of salt.
Thanks. I have played a wooden flute with the rectangular
embouchure and didn’t like it. Bright, loud, easy
but it seemed a different instrument.
Perhaps it’s better on other wooden flutes than the
one I played.
I can’t see paying 450 for an A fife. Of course i’m
stingy.
I contacted Peeler about A fife’s. He wrote back,
advised me to contact Ralph Sweet and wished
my Merry Christmas.
I have a Sweet A in cherry. It’s fine but I wonder
about something better. The key of A is really
nice and helpful too.
Anybody know who else makes A flute/fifes?
By the way, my most useful instrument on the
street is an old C Susato whistle. Lovely, pure
loud sound, easy to play. I actually got into flutes,
five years ago or so, because I wanted something
better for busking than that Susato.
If you have a buck for pvc, and a hand-drill, you can make a handful of fifes that will sound fine for busking. I like mine better than the Cooperman McDonough-style blackwood I once owned.
Of course, a real fifer would (rightfully) disagree with me. But then, real fifes are finely-honed weaponry for team-fifing, and were never intended to be entertaining solo instruments. What you probably want is a little-flute-like-thing for the street, and pvc is probably the way to go.
