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Catalog > Wind Instruments > Sweetheart updated January 24, 2008

Whistles | Irish Style Flutes | Renaissance & Baroque Flutes | Fifes

Sweetheart instruments are handcrafted by Ralph Sweet in Enfield, CT. Please note that prices are subject to change, and all woods may not be currently available. For current price and availability, please contact us or submit a quote request (click on the "quote" button) for a particular item.

Sweetheart Whistles

Sweetheart Professional Whistle in birch laminate

With conical bore for perfect octave registration, completely new windway design, and new internal cork joint, this new whistle plays like a dream! Tone quality is sweeter, response more even -- more controlled on the top notes, while strong on the bottom. Can even play 3rd octave notes without injuring eardrums!

Designed over an 8-month period involving much experimentation by Walter Sweet (Ralph's son), it is constructed of Northern birch laminate for strength and stability (trademark Dymondwood©), and looks very much like Honduras Rosewood. Blackwood model also available.

For current prices and availability, please contact us or submit a quote request (click on the "quote" button) for a particular item.

Dymondwood©, key of D --
Blackwood, key of D --

Also see Dixon wooden whistles


Sweetheart Flutes

Sweetheart instruments are handcrafted by Ralph Sweet in Enfield, CT. Please note that prices are subject to change, and all woods may not be currently available. For current price and availability, please contact us or submit a quote request (click on the "quote" button) for a particular item.

Irish Style Flutes

Economical Irish style flutes, easy to play, mellow tone. Large tone holes and improved bore provide greater power and superb intonation. These flutes are preferred for jigs, reels, and other Irish and Contra Dance music. The lower register is especially full bodied. End plug and sterling silver rings are featured on rosewood models; turned wood rings on others.
Keyless D flute in Rosewood, Maple, Cherry, Walnut, or Apple (photo)

Resonance Model Keyless D Flute in Dymondwood (photo) -- $325.00
The new "Resonance Model Flute really honks on low D for that classic, wooden-flute tone that's rich in harmonics. Dynamic expression is improved overall: can play louder on all notes with better clarity. Notes like E and A hold their own in the rest of the scale due to changes in the embouchure hole, conical bore, and undercut finger holes. Holes #3 and #6 are offset to shorten the reach and make this flute more comfortable to hold than others. A=440, great intonation, medium-sized holes, laser engraving and internal cork at the joint. Two years in the making, designed by Walt Sweet. Perfect for Irish Music. Suitable for beginner and expert alike. Available in color-matched Dymondwood (laminated birch wood). Has a beautiful, long-lasting, low-maintenance finish (like its little brother, the Professional Model Fife in High D). Left-hand or zero-offset fingerholes are available by special order.
Ralph Sweet also makes Keyed Irish Flutes, Baroque Flutes, Renaissance Flutes and Walking Stick Flutes which are available by special order. Please visit the Sweetheart website (www.sweetheartflute.com) and contact us.


Sweetheart Fifes

Dymondwood (TM) Professional Model Folk Fife

Made of laminated birch, using the same body as Sweetheart's Professional D Whistle, with a new embouchure and internal cork joint. This fife has a very strong pleasing tone quality while giving more control over the highest notes in the second octave. Also available in Rosewood. In the key of D.

Sweetheart instruments are handcrafted by Ralph Sweet in Enfield, CT. Please note that prices are subject to change, and all woods may not be currently available. For current price and availability, please contact us or submit a quote request (click on the "quote" button) for a particular item.

Dymondwood, key of D
Rosewood, key of D

Ralph Sweet also makes Colonial, Military and Folk fifes in various keys and woods. Please visit the Sweetheart website (www.sweetheartflute.com) and contact us.