Sweetheart instruments are handcrafted by Ralph Sweet in Enfield, CT. Please note that prices are subject to change and not all instruments are in stock. Most are quick to special-order. Please contact us for availability.

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 Whistles

Sweetheart's best pennywhistle is now available machined in black plastic. Developed over the past several months, these new whistles take the old proven design of the Pro to a new level of playability, with the easy care and durability of a polymer. Our intent: to ensure more consistent voicing and to blend the sweetness of the ProMellow version with the presence of the ProPlus (in plastic, there will be one model with a 15/32-inch bore). As always, the response is balanced, transitions are smooth and stable, and the tone is quite resonant. There's good "chiff" for that classic pennywhistle sound.

Construction is a little different: The joint slides on a replaceable o-ring inside the head for easy tuning. Beautifully laser engraved on a slimmer head. All plastic parts (fifes, trios, separates) are interchangeable in matching material -- black polycarbonate or acetal, both FDA approved and hypoallergenic. Sorry, but these won't fit the laminated or blackwood pieces.

Just as before, the curved windway reduces clogging while the tapered bore in the body gives accurate octaves and tuning on A=440. Same ergonomic hole spacing. O-rings on the outside of the tenon serve as tuning spacers.

High D and C fifes -- solid Rosewood or Blackwood with brass rings to reinforce sockets

Cloos reproduction fifes -- accurate for Civil War and later reenacting.

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Sweetheart Flutes

Sweetheart instruments are handcrafted by Ralph Sweet in Enfield, CT. Please note that prices are subject to change and not all instruments are in stock. Most are quick to special-order. Please contact us for availability.

Irish Style Flutes

Resonance Model Keyless D Flute

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: the player 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 A=440, great intonation, medium-sized holes, laser engraving. Internal cork joint serves the purpose of a tuning slide without the danger of cracking as would be the case with a metal liner. Two years in the making, designed by Walt Sweet. Perfect for Irish Music. Suitable for beginner and expert alike.

Available in color-matched Rosewood, African Blackwood with three sterling silver rings and an end cap. Has a beautiful, long-lasting, low-maintenance finish.

Pratten Model Keyless Irish Flutes

These are modeled after the best hand-crafted English flutes which caused women to faint when played by Charles Nicholson or R.S. Pratten in the early 19th century, and today are highly prized by players of Irish Music.

For modern Boehm flute players who play what they call "C" flutes: In Irish Style flutes, the key you need for playing Irish music is called the "D" flute by Irish, Folk, and Fife & Drum players.

These "Irish" models are preferred for jigs, reels, and other Irish and Contra Dance music. Larger tone holes and different bore provide greater power and superb intonation in the most-used keys of D, G, and A. The lower register is especially full-bodied. End plug and sterling silver rings are featured on rosewood models; turned wood rings and others.

Also available in Baroque flutes, Eb, low C, or 4, 6, and 8-key Irish flutes. See Sweetheart's web site -- www.sweetheartflute.com.