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150CN American Fife
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Purchase options and add-ons
Color | Nickel |
Brand | American Plating |
Material | Metal |
Style | American |
Item Weight | 3.2 ounces |
About this item
- Made in United States
- Package height :35.56 cm
- Package length :2.032 cm
- Package width :3.556 cm
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This Item American Plating 150CN American Fife | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | $29.95$29.95 | $18.75$18.75 | $45.99$45.99 | $8.78$8.78 |
Delivery | — | Get it Apr 10 - 15 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 | Get it as soon as Monday, Apr 1 |
Customer Ratings | ||||
Sold By | Harmon Music | Amazon Global Store UK | Fun Fun Hobby Japan! | 88 Market Street |
instrument key | — | C | C | A |
material | Metal | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Resin | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Resin | Brass |
style | American | Modern | Modern | Modern |
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Product information
Item Weight | 3.2 ounces |
---|---|
Product Dimensions | 17 x 4 x 0.7 inches |
ASIN | B002SCZRX8 |
Item model number | 150CN |
Customer Reviews |
4.1 out of 5 stars |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | June 8, 2005 |
Color Name | Nickel |
Material Type | Metal |
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What's in the box
Product Description
The American Fife has been part of USA history since the days of George Washington. This fife, in the key of C, is made of durable Nickel-plated brass for years of enjoyment.
From the manufacturer
About us
American Plating and Manufacturing Company (APM), based in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the largest domestic manufacturers of band instrument parts and accessories in the United States. It has been manufacturing items for the music industry with fine plating finishes for nearly 120 years. We are a third generation, family-owned business that focuses on craftsmanship and quality.
APM was founded in 1902. The first generation owner, Charles Urban Sr., had begun his career in the music industry at the age of 14 when he got a job at a music store in Europe to supplement his family's income.
APM originated as a specialist in plating and lacquering fenders for horse-drawn buggies and early model cars. With Charles Sr.'s interest in music, the business advanced its core skills of polishing, plating and lacquering in the 1920's into repairing brass brand instruments.
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Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, thickness and appearance of the brass and woodwind instruments. For example, they mention it's a nice solid instrument, it'll last a long time and it looks real nice. That said, some complain about the tune. Opinions are mixed on performance, sound quality, and ease of use.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the brass and woodwind instruments. They say it's a nice solid instrument, very good quality, and durable. Some say it is sturdy for camping and any outdoor use. They also mention that there were no bends or dents when it arrived. Overall, customers find the product to be a good stepping stone, decent practice alternative, or inexpensive option.
"...Plus it’s compact and sturdy for camping or any outdoor use. I’m very happy with my purchase...." Read more
"...It's thicker and slightly heavier than a $2 penny-whistle, and feels more solid than ANY recorder I've ever used...." Read more
"...It is a little heavy for my taste. Otherwise it really feels like a quality instrument...." Read more
"...I think it's a very good quality fife. Unfortunetly for me, I can't seem to get the hang of proper lip placement etc...." Read more
Customers like the appearance of the brass and woodwind instruments. They mention that it looks real nice, not cheap looking, and is well chromed. Some say that the instrument looks like an elongated flute head.
"...The plated nickel is very nice. It came well packaged and on time, with a little bit of sheet music to get me started...." Read more
"...seen many instruments in my life and I can see that it’s not a cheap looking stuff, it’s a nice solid instrument. I’m happy that I have it...." Read more
"The fife itself is very pretty but as someone who has played the fife their entire life and actually knows how to play this fife is not worth it...." Read more
"This fife is sturdy and cute! It looks like an elongated flute head...." Read more
Customers find the brass and woodwind instrument fun and interesting. They say it's perfect for a child's music class and has tons of free sheet music. Customers also mention that it can play simple musics.
"...I like it keyed in C, the sound is clear and it’s just fun to play, way more “voice/character” than a C tin whistle ...." Read more
"...So far, it's fun to play and it sounds good. I have a long way to go, but I'm off to a good start...." Read more
"...The fun with the Fife book was OK, but if you have no experience with reading sheet music..." Read more
"...before, I can say, with about 30 min a day for 4 days, I can play some pretty nice songs. The fife is solid and very well crafted...." Read more
Customers like the thickness of the brass and woodwind instruments. They say it's thicker and heavier than similar products, but well-made and solid. Some customers also mention that it has a nice weight and feel to it.
"...It's thicker and slightly heavier than a $2 penny-whistle, and feels more solid than ANY recorder I've ever used...." Read more
"...More $$$ but far far FAR better.If you want a small, light, toss-about flute-like instrument and aren't hung up on tradition get a..." Read more
"It's a nice fife that's inexpensive and packs ina purse easily to take anywhere." Read more
"...I really like how heavy it is, and the nickel plating really makes it stand out visually...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the sound quality of the brass and woodwind instruments. Some mention it's great sounding and easy to play, while others say it never sounds very good, has bad intonation, and is not a quiet instrument.
"...I like it keyed in C, the sound is clear and it’s just fun to play, way more “voice/character” than a C tin whistle ...." Read more
"...So far, it's fun to play and it sounds good. I have a long way to go, but I'm off to a good start...." Read more
"...Intonation was a surprise. Not very well tempered across the scale and pretty flat over all...." Read more
"...Of those attempts, about half the time I get a rich, satisfying sound. The other half the time I get honks, squeaks, etc...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the brass and woodwind instruments. Some mention it's easy to learn, play, and perfect for beginners with an easy-to-follow booklet. However, others say that it'd be too hard to play for their teenage granddaughter, hard to control, and difficult to play slow melodies on it.
"...Once the intonation issue was corrected the instrument became very easy to play and it is very easy to produce a good clear note...." Read more
"...However playing is difficult, the aperture unresponsive, overall tone "windy" and unsteady. I've bought $1 asian bamboo fifes that play better...." Read more
"...Its playable, but does not sound as good as when played right handed...." Read more
"...each scale is a little challenging, but once you can play, it is worth the effort. You can easily buy it as a gift or just for yourself...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the brass and woodwind instruments. Some mention that it plays very well with practice and patience, while others say that it barely functions and renders the piece useless.
"...No denying higher-star ratings on this, but the one I received did not play well. Returned it the same day." Read more
"...What I got was a solid instrument that plays better than I expected...." Read more
"Mine is barely functional, and I know how to play a flute, so it's not because I just don't know what I'm doing...." Read more
"...Could be fun. This thing plays well for what it is. More then happy with it!!!..." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the tune of the brass and woodwind instruments. They mention that it's out of tune, breathy, and has an inconsistent tone.
"...The fife is a little out of tune on a couple notes no matter how I adjust embouchure. Other than that, no complaints...." Read more
"...Its was out of tune when it arrived, as the stopper cork was way too far away from the embouchure, which was easily fixed...." Read more
"...Basically in tune..." Read more
"...It was amazing! Very solid and heavy. There were a couple notes that were slightly off pitch, but for my purpose..." Read more
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The finger positions are pretty easy, as opposed to some instruments, where my hands are too small. It wasn't difficult to find the correct position to blow, and I have a good feeling about this instrument. One thing missing from the description - it's in the key of C.
It's thicker and slightly heavier than a $2 penny-whistle, and feels more solid than ANY recorder I've ever used. One end is sealed with cork, so I'll need to keep it dry.
So far, it's fun to play and it sounds good. I have a long way to go, but I'm off to a good start. It didn't seem like much of a challenge to get a good sound out of it.
The packaging was pretty average. Delivery time was exactly on schedule.
It is a little heavy for my taste. Otherwise it really feels like a quality instrument. It is a little slippery, and therefore difficult to hold.
Intonation was a surprise. Not very well tempered across the scale and pretty flat over all. I used two dowel rods*, one long enough to reach the cork from the foot of the instrument and one short enough to reach from the head, and adjusted the cork until I could easily play the fundamental note in tune, and still adjust sharp and flat by "lipping" it. The surprise was, this also tuned the middle hole notes and made them better tempered with the rest of the instrument.
Once the intonation issue was corrected the instrument became very easy to play and it is very easy to produce a good clear note. I very much like the instrument and the sound it produces.
* NOTE: DO NOT use just one dowel rod, and try to get dowels very close to the diameter of the fife. Otherwise you run the risk of punching the cork out of the instrument completely and you will really regret that. Also note that the cork should be very close to the blow hole. The closer it is the sharper the instrument will be. I have a couple other fifes, and while the position of the cork is supposed to be more of a tone quality issue, it is an intonation issue, too. One of my fifes is one solid piece of wood. there is no cork. It is just drilled out up to the end and left solid. The blow hole on this fife is right at the stop. My other fife is a nice wooden fife in D in the style of a Civil War fife. It does have a cork to stop the end. I had to adjust that cork for intonation, too. That cork is also very close to the blow hole.
The thing is, that the sound this little fife makes when you do it right, is so nice, that I can't hardly put the thing down. But, I am on the verge of giving up on it. I'm giving it 5 stars for the sound I know it can make if played properly.
I had to move the cork to get the intonation acceptable
the flute needs a properly made cork not some random bottle cork
metal body is good, sound is good, just intonation was bad