MTGuru wrote:
ecohawk wrote:
The Yamaha 3XX series has no tuning or fingering issues and it is considered one of the most reliable plastic instruments, particularly the wood grain which is very comfortable to play.
Yep. Re. Yamahas, I can only speak to the Rottenburgh woodgrain YRS312B soprano and YRA312B alto. Neither has any idiosyncratic tuning issues whatsoever, at least as far as I can tell.
Disappointed that my Woodnote "312 clone" would be so satisfactory except for that "short" high F (and a slightly stuffy high register overall), since I take it that the genuine item has no such issues up there. Anyone know of a DIY fix for this? The Woodnote was cheap enough that I don't mind risking an experiment or two if it means possibly making the thing more playable. I suppose the fault might be some extra flashing, as has been suggested, in the thumbhole or window. something that would only affect the half-holed upper notes. Or maybe it really does come down to a slight difference in the ABS plastic used to make the matte black model. I'll entertain any theories....