I’ve been listening to various renaissance music etc, and I notice lots of higher pitched flutes. So I noticed Ralph Sweet makes a G flute/ fife, and I was thinking about getting one.
Has anyone played one? Are there other makers who make these?
Thanks
demon_piper
I have sweetheart fifes in G and A. Nicely made, good intonation, fairly easy to play for a low fife. Typical Ralph Sweet craftsmanship. Good stuff all around.
I’m sure there are other makers, but I’ve only played these two.
Second this about the Sweetheart. Especially in rosewood.
Phil Bleazey makes a G flute,
as does Skip Healy.
I’m looking pretty seriously at the Sweetheart in Blackwood, and maybe ask for some rings, no rings scares me a bit. The other makers charge considerably more for these things, so unless someone has a used one, I’ll likely get a Sweet
I checked these out with Ralph Sweet at his home/studio.
He says that there is no audible difference tween
blackwood and rosewood in these flutes, except
possibly ‘under the ear.’
The rosewood flutes
are very good. Rings aren’t needed, in truth.
Also they look fine as is.
Of course if you want blackwood and rings,
go for it.
I failed to mention that the G and A fifes I have are both in rosewood. They are simple, but very handsome instruments. At first glance you might think they were made of different woods, as the colors of the two are very different. But they are both nicely made and play very well. I have never missed having rings on these. They’ve held up perfectly without them, and I’ve played them for about ten years.
I have his Resonance D flute in blackwood with rings and it too is very attractive. I don’t think you’d be disappointed with the Sweetheart instruments. I have six of them (a flute, two fifes, two whistles, and a tabor pipe) and they are all well worth the modest price.
I’m one of those bagpiping types, so I’m most comfortable with blackwood and some kind of rings to protect the wood.
Maybe it’s just a dumb instinct… 
I, too, am a fan of Sweetheart flutes.
Mechanically, they are accurate. Physically, they are sound, working flutes made of an appropriate, and properly aged, material. And, they look good, too, frankly, often in a choice of woods.
Moreover, as reliable flutes at an attractive price, I have been comfortably able to expand my experience, with flutes of various pitches.
That is not to suggest that Sweetheart flutes are the very best flutes available on planet Earth, but they indeed are a good value, IMHO.
Definitely, and I think the higher pitched
flutes are very good. I’ve played the heck
out of my G fife on the street.
Maybe something for 600 dollars
sounds better, but this is just fine.
It’s rosewood, it’s in tune, and it
sings…
So I’ve poked around a bit more
Sweet I’m guessing will charge around $220 for a blackwood G with rings
LeJeune charges 365 Euros,
and Bleazey 175 Pounds.
Which puts Bleazey pretty much right in the middle.
Has anyone played a LeJeune of some kind, what are they like? And I don’t suppose anyone has a Bleazey G out there?
I want to have a G flute too. I prefer mellow, soft, sweet sound to loud, dark…thus some soft wood seem to be best choice. I contacted Bleazey, asked for Boxwood, he said Euro Boxwood will not be available until end of this year. A little bit disappointed.
Anyone here has G Bleazey boxwood and wanna part with it ? Others mellow, high end G are also interesting.
Please pm.
I would assume the Lejeune is really nice. There may be a G from bleazey in blackwood still available from tommyk.
I am considering a Sweet in Blackwood, but I really like tuning slides and I don’t know if he would offer that
I missed this Bleazey G when Tommyk offered. He said it now has been sold. Further, i really prefer boxwood to blackwood 
Sweet G in blackwood with rings go for $195. In case he agrees to make tunning slide for ya, i bet the price will be at least 320. Thus Bleazey G would be better choice, isnt it ?
If nobody wanna let their G go, i myself will go after rosewood G from Sweetheart 
I don’t know if the Bleazey is the better choice. Silver plate, nickel silver etc make me kind of nervous. In terms of degredation and their real value, plus the allergies some people have to them.
But I think I may well ask Sweet Co. and see what they can do in a couple of months, I have to go away for work.
It does seem no one wants to part with one of these!
I am sure you will do what you will decide to do and that is just how it should be.
But tell me, what has someone else’s allergy got to do with you? 
Just a bit confused here …
There are a couple of my closer relatives who are allergic to EPNS, so I try not to have any of it around where possible. Plus, it doesn’t tarnish nicely, tends to be difficult to polish etc.
I just find silver easier to work with and nicer
Anybody think we could convince Jon C to start making these
I’m willing to pen one off if you are!
We should but i dont think we could…
Love to have one, anyway
Ok, I’ll send him a PM, if he has an old F# or something like that he may be able to do it, that’s how LeJeune does it, but he’s far away, and I don’t know anything about his stuff, though I assume it’s good.
I had Jon C make a head and barrel for my old Hall and Sons and bang, what a flute it turned into!