The visual design of our wood Traditional  Model fifes is patterned on museum pieces, and this simple shape with the swell at the mouth hole,  a soft taper to the foot, and long brass ferrules is appropriate for 18th and 19th century representations. It is a powerful instrument for field music, and will provide both the authentic look and sound needed for this type of performance. For material and key information, see Basics.

These one piece fifes have a straight bore; that is, the tapered look of the fife is only external.  This is the classic fife design, illustrating the most widely accepted definition of a fife as an instrument with a straight bore and six finger holes.  All fifes have some lack of agreement among the registers, and with a six hole fife, you will have to cross finger and half hole to get a chromatic scale.  The Traditional Model fife is usually chosen for its historical authenticity, and for its marvelous performance as a bright, loud field instrument with a powerful upper register.  This student version of the fife is made of persimmon wood, with an ovaled embouchure hole and plain-edge finger holes.  Also known as “American ebony”, persimmon wood is a domestic hardwood that has the tight grain needed for a good woodwind bore, at a lower price that the exotic hardwoods we choose for our professional level fifes. 
TRADITIONAL Bb PERSIMMON FIFE  $45.00

We use FDA approved black plastic for our student model plastic fifes.  Plastic is actually a very good choice for a student instrument; it is inexpensive, durable, washable, and plays easily.  This fife is of contemporary design – a simple black cylinder design with short brass-plated end ferrules, round embouchure hole and plain-edge finger holes. For material and key information, see Basics.
$7.00