New Yamaha Fife Thread

plunk111 · Post by **plunk111** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:45 pm

I just got one of these little gems - it's a lot of fun even WITH the funky fingering! Anyway, here's my question... On mine, the thumbhole is offset quite a bit toward the player. Is this normal or is mine drilled improperly?

Thanks in advance!

Pat

mutepointe · Post by **mutepointe** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:20 pm

That's how my fife is. It's that low C note that I would like to be in-line.

I wonder why Yamaha doesn't make a simple flute.

plunk111 · Post by **plunk111** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:39 pm

For the price ($8.99 at Amazon), I'm really impressed with the quality...

Pat

XDVarenkor · Post by **XDVarenkor** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:16 pm

I used to like the Yamaha, then I tried the Angel AF10 - half the price and twice as good (IMHO). I get a much fuller and reedier tone than with the YRF21, and the Angel looks less like a toy as well.

Sillydill · Post by **Sillydill** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:43 pm

A search for your ANGEL turned up this picture:

It appears identical to my old AULOS. Does it have double holes for every other finger (to play semitones like a baroque recorder)? How many thumb-holes?

The two sources I found for the ANGEL were both in Australia and prices were $9.50 & $16.00 AUD.

My son has an ANGEL Recorder (made in Korea) from school and I was very impressed by the quality for such a modest price!

I thought it sounded better than the wooden ADLER Recorder I got him for Christman a year aqo.

plunk111 · Post by **plunk111** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:54 pm

Thanks a LOT! Now I have to get ANOTHER one!!!

Pat

MarkusH · Post by **MarkusH** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:01 am

Because of the other thread I got me one of these. It's too cheap for not trying it out. It sure is a nice little thing. But can playing this fife improve the embouchure on the "real" flute like the "normal" six-holed fifes?

Cork · Post by **Cork** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 8:45 am

MarkusH wrote:Because of the other thread I got me one of these. It's too cheap for not trying it out. It sure is a nice little thing. But can playing this fife improve the embouchure on the "real" flute like the "normal" six-holed fifes?

Yes, the little Yamaha has a real embouchure, and works much in the same way as most other flutes do.

For what it can do, and for the price, it's a great deal.

ChrisCracknell · Post by **ChrisCracknell** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:34 am

The radial position of the thumb hole on the fife (rather more towards the player) is the same place as the thumb holes on my flutes - it is where my thumb sits naturally. So it probably is intentional.

Chris.

XDVarenkor · Post by **XDVarenkor** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 3:03 am

My Angel is identical to your picture - so no, no double holes. It has one thumb hole.

Bridges-PdP · Post by **Bridges-PdP** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:03 am

Can I ask a fife related question that doesn't relate to the Yamaha?

I'm interested in the fifes sold by Little Woodwinds on eBay.

Here's a link to their eBay store http://stores.ebay.com/Little-Woodwinds ... idZ2QQtZkm

Their feedback is all positive, but I was curious if any C&Fers had tried their fifes.

Scott

Sillydill · Post by **Sillydill** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:13 pm

Hey Scott,

I had a set of WOSKER's Little Woodwind pine Fifes about 3 years ago. They did play and were certainly cheap, but not very well tuned. They improved much with a little elbow grease, but ultimately I gave them all away to interested kids (for which I deemed them appropriate).

All the Best!

Bridges-PdP · Post by **Bridges-PdP** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:13 pm

Thanks Jordan,

That's just the kind of feedback I expected. The prices seem right, but I hadn't heard much mention of them around here.

I thought I might like to play around with a fife a bit, but those seemed too good to be true.

Now, if I could find something decent in that price range... It's too bad those Angel AF10 fifes aren't anywhere in the States.

Scott

plunk111 · Post by **plunk111** » Sun Feb 03, 2008 9:22 pm

I just ordered the Aulos C21 from http://www.rhythmband.com/ for only $12.

Pat

P.S. I couldn't put a link to the actual page on the site, just do a search on "fife"...

plunk111 · Post by **plunk111** » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:27 pm

OK, now I've received the Aulos fife... No doubt about it (IMHO), buy the Aulos if you're looking for a cheap fife. It has a good F# (which the Yamaha doesn't) and sounds a little better. The only drawback I can see is that the joining of the embouchure tube and the main tube is just a simple slot arrangement whereas the Yamaha has a dovetail arrangement (similar to my Copley flute).

Also, I highly recommend Rhythm Band Instruments - super fast shipping and a GREAT price (roughly 1/2 of what I found elsewhere).

Now, I notice in their catalogue that they have a baroque flute for $215... Hmmmm...

Pat