recorder friendly comments only please

ysgwd · Post by **ysgwd** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 6:30 pm

I tried a search so I might find the answer to my question and remain anonymous here, but I'm not looking for recording equipment!
I know there are some very knowledgeable recorder players here who love the instrument, so please advise me.
I play in a group that normally does all Irish trad, hooray, but now that it is the holidays and we can get gigs to play holiday music, my whistles aren't as useful. I do half hole and cross finger when I can, but there are times when I need a loud clean note that happens to be an accidental that doesn't sound so great coming out of my whistles. Our guitar player tends toward jazzy stuff when we let him choose....I think for next season I need, gasp, a recorder. I think I need an alto. What are some nicely made ones with good volume?? I had a Yamaha tenor once that was too quiet. I am willing to pay extra for wood. I don't want to pay over 300.00 if I can help it. I did think about ordering Colin Goldie's ten hole whistle, but for some reason I think a recorder would be more practical for my purposes....
Lisa

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: ysgwd on 2002-12-17 19:31 ]</font>

MandoPaul · Post by **MandoPaul** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 6:40 pm

Not sure I want to really admit knowledge of recorders like this...

Best buy of sound vs price in a soprano or alto is to get the Zen-on recorders that Lee Collins tweaks: http://www.leecollins.com/custom.htm.

Pretty nice sound for sub-$400 recorders and they're plastic, so you don't have the maintenance hassles of nice wood ones.

Lee is also a nice guy to deal with.

ysgwd · Post by **ysgwd** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 7:20 pm

MandoPaul,
Thanks so much for that link to Lee Collins. Many of my questions are answered because that site is full of information and advice. The improved Zen On sounds like a very good choice especially since I would be playing this instrument only for the odd tune once in a great while.
Lisa

MandoPaul · Post by **MandoPaul** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 7:34 pm

Yup. Lee's site is quite useful.

I also figured that for as much as I played, the $60 soprano sounded as good as anything up to about $300. For that $240, I could get a really nice whistle.

Tim Hall · Post by **Tim Hall** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 7:35 pm

Another very good choice for a low cost, low maintenance instrument is the Yamaha 302B series. You'll find these many places, including, usually, Ebay, but you can get them easily and quickly ($35) from Boulder Early Music at http://www.bems.com. I have the whole set from sopranino to bass, and they are very satisfactory.

Good luck

Tim Hall

mvhplank · Post by **mvhplank** » Tue Dec 17, 2002 8:31 pm

I have right in front of me an "Ideal" brand alto recorder, wood, in pretty good shape except I can't get it apart right now (and won't force it).

The finish is a bit worn off on the top of the mouthpiece, but not chewed on. The bottom two finger positions are double-drilled (or whatever you call it) for easier half-holing, I suppose.

Anyway, I never play it and was thinking of sending it off to eBay but haven't gotten around to taking pictures.

Make me an honest offer and it's yours. (If you want to check my eBay feedback, I'm "mvhplank" over there, too.)

M

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 3:07 am

Tweaking recorders, uh ?

I have this Aulos Tenor with an F which is undecided about playing true F or F#... I had to tape it for an F.
Now it keeps jumping up to high register on low notes (C to E), or has to be played extremely quiet on bottom end.
Should I flatten the blade (labium) a bit ?

BTW, is Zen-On just another commercial brand for Aulos ?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Zubivka on 2002-12-18 04:08 ]</font>

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 3:14 am

Incredible! The security is zilch on this board!

Now someone takes my own registered (TM) 100% PC natural ethnic pseudonym to ask silly questions on --gasp!-- recorders ???

Couldn't he pick someone else?
I change my password immediately...

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 6:32 am

I agree on the revoiced Aulos. My good (expensive) Von Huene was out for repairs for about a month, and the Aulos I got years ago filled in VERY nicely on some difficult solo work. Plastic is a good, safe choice for outdoor playing eg Caroling.
Also in a soprano, check out the cheap, clear plastic ones by Yamaha. I think courtlymusic.com carries them in pink, blue, and green. Very festive, funky looking and actually are very fine recorders for under $10

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 8:23 am

Lisa, I've got a big yamaha plastic recorder, an alto, I think. It's in Seattle but I will be too in a few days. I'd be happy to lend it to you to see if it's what you need. email me.

JohnMulgrew · Post by **JohnMulgrew** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 9:10 am

I am probably not suppossed to admit this, but I'm actually a recorder player who has become interested in whistles. If you're looking for plastic the best choices are Yamaha and Zen-on. I have both, and prefer the Yamaha (zen-on models can be slightly flat but I do have the older versions). I really like the Yamaha woodgrain soprano(still plastic) which would probably fit a d whitle range better than an alto. The straight plastic sound is very good, actually close to a wood recorder costing 10 times as much. I have really good wood recorders and nothing matches the warmth and rich overtones of (an expensive)wood recorder, but for alot less investment you can come very close. Check out http://www.vonhuene.com or http://www.courtlymusicunlimited.com

Rob S · Post by **Rob S** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 9:43 am

The Antique Sound Workshop sells tweaked versions of the Yamaha 300 Series plastic recorders. The Yamaha 300 Series is generally considered one of the very best of the plastic recorders. I have a soprano with the imitation "Palisander" woodgrain. The physical appearance is much better than most other plastic recorders. Their website is at http://www.aswltd.com

Rob S

brianormond · Post by **brianormond** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 10:05 am

-The Zen On alto is pretty nice, even before Lee Collins does the cedar windway voicing
for the "Improved" model.

burnsbyrne · Post by **burnsbyrne** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 10:21 am

I checked out the web sites mentioned above. I have one question, why do recorders cost so much in comparison to fine, hand made whistles?
Mike

TubeDude · Post by **TubeDude** » Wed Dec 18, 2002 10:43 am

On 2002-12-18 11:21, burnsbyrne wrote:
I checked out the web sites mentioned above. I have one question, why do recorders cost so much in comparison to fine, hand made whistles?
Mike

That is PRECISELY why we play whistles!

TD22

PS - Susato makes recorders, too. http://www.susato.com/recorders.htm