Yamaha makes great musical instruments (my first flute was a Yamaha, back in the days when you could actually afford them), but while many of their products have evolved over the years, the YRF-21 has refused to change with the times. Ever since its debut decades ago, players have been screaming for Yamaha to release a real 6 holed fife, unlike this hybrid, which is not really a fife at all. For whatever reason, Yamaha has never done so and most likely never will. Talk about old school! Do you remember when PCs first hit the home market? They were all beige, but eventually were produced in a more appealing black. This fife recorder reminds me of 1993 all over again. That's why there are clones of this item out there, often at double the price, and people are buying them just to have them in B L A C K. Yamaha is shooting themselves in the foot and losing sales by not listening to the public and changing with the times. I made the instrument more fife-like by covering the first hole and back thumb hole with masking tape. That gave me the six tone holes, but because it's in the recorder style, the last hole was offset (!) which fife players are not comfortable with. The raised lip plate is only an asset for a beginner. An experienced player doesn't really need one and will adjust their embouchure to fit the instrument. The best thing about this item is the low price. You won't feel bad when you bury it in the cellar or give it away.
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