BRISTOL ENGLAND
VAT reg no GB 140 4633 02
Orders by telephone, email, or post, welcome.
Please click this link for details.
Fax welcome at anytime.
Goods normally dispatched
within 24 hours.
Please see the News page for details of the changes to the business.
This store is run by John Everingham. F.T.C.L
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Saunders Recorders stocks a very full range of good and best quality recorders. I try not to adopt an elitist stance, but there is no rubbish. I have very musical and playable recorders from around five to several thousand pounds. Except for those with the price in brackets most of the instruments listed are in stock. They are listed by manufacturer. These pages are the result of adapting the paper price list, with comments, that had always been a feature of this business. Gradually the influence of the web has taken over and the features extended. I have taken a lot of trouble to keep everything printer friendly. Indeed, if you really want a paper version of any of the pages I am able to produce one (free of charge) and mail it to you. When the business was young there was no internet or home computer. How different things are now! The planned changes have gone through, but I do not think of myself as running an 'internet business', and I will continue to be available, in person. I still regard these pages as one of several forms of advertising. The service relies on my personal expertise and experience and you may visit me by appointment. I have a stock room and it is rare for listed items to be unavailable for immediate delivery. Please do not overlook the music pages. I have almost everything you could possibly want and I am very happy to help with items that other dealers tell you are 'impossible'. They are usually in stock. The prices include V.A.T. (UK tax) at 15%. Customers resident outside the EU, pay approximately 13% less than these prices. V.A.T. is refundable to most "over the counter" non-EU customers, please ask. Official (L.E.A.) school orders are welcome, instruments purchased this way for curriculum work may be sold on to pupils, by schools, less the V.A.T. amount. There is no need for prior consultation. Click here for details. Items with bracketed price, no price or struck through price are not in stock.
In response to requests for recommended models I have introduced a cute little icon Many of the less expensive wooden recorders are available with single holes for the lowest notes. I have chosen not to stock them and they are not mentioned in the list but I would be able to supply them to special order. All cheaper wooden descant recorders are made in two pieces only, most plastic descants are made in three. I do not regard the difference as significant. The moveable bottom joint should never be turned to facilitate 'left handed' playing. The price at which wooden descants start to be made with a separate foot joint is about £100. If you find a new instrument with a separate foot joint for significantly less you are likely to be very dissatisfied with the tone and finish. For those of you who are viewing this electronically, there are hyperlinks in the list which will produce images of the recorders, I am not sufficiently skilled to add a search button to my pages (except for 'Netscape' and 'Firefox' users). However, if you click on the page of data (the right hand side of your screen) and then hit Ctrl F your browser should bring up a search box for that page. |
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The production of Adler recorders has ceased. I no longer have any.
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ARIEL / ZAMIR These comments are more for reference than anything else. The production of these recorders has ceased. I have been able to acquire a few of the rather nice "Soloist" keyless tenors. There will probably not be any more. These are nice, low cost, recorders from Israel. The Zamir models are very plain, sweet toned and good tempered. The tenors are particularly good value. The bass is more suitable for players with small hands. The ZSB 105E was the best of the really cheap descants I could get. It was excellent value and of good musical quality, being well tuned and resistant to hard blowing. |
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There have been many changes to this range of plastic instruments. The popular but rather strident 205 descant has been replaced by the 205A which will surely meet with approval from teachers and children alike. It is slightly shorter than before and just as easy to play, but much sweeter in tone. It still comes in the famous yellow bag. A new tenor 211A, of similar appearance to the 205A descant, replaces the old 311N. All new Aulos models now come with a thumb rest. The other models listed here offer alternative characteristics for the discerning performer. Where "E" appears in the model number I believe it signifies "English" (or "Baroque") fingering. Some previous instances have been removed, they were a source of confusion. I do not stock "German" fingered recorders at all. The new, sweet toned, all brown 303 descant is low priced, but seems to me to be a poor thing indeed. I do not like the tone of lowest notes of the new 503B model descant. The matching sopranino, 507BE, is good. The all black 803 descant was not at all nice and is discontinued. The new models are very similar to the previous ones, but have a concave end to the bell. I do not think that this is a significant design feature. (Except for bell stopped notes, which become nearly impossible to execute cleanly.) The 309A treble is completely new and my recommendation for adult beginners and new players who do not mind the extra cost. I no longer have any of the reedy sounding 509E treble. The tone of the "B" model is smoother but it I do not care for the intonation. The latest version of the straight bass, 533EE, is a noticeable improvement. There are also two instruments after Richard Haka, descant and treble. These have very tightly focused and slightly reedy tone, and the treble a delightful attack. Both are simulated rosewood, very convincing, nice to play and hold. The latest versions of these models seem to me to play in the same way as the previous ones. The baroque flutes are very playable. I have produced a page detailing some old models here. |
| 501S |
garklein. |
£29.95 |
| 207 | sopranino nla (all gone) | |
| 507E | sopranino (white spot) (all gone) | |
| 507BE |
sopranino (no white spot) | £12.95 |
| This new model has no white spot, but sounds the same as the outgoing model. | ||
| 303 | descant (blue bag), all brown. |
£6.50 |
| 205A |
descant (yellow bag). |
£11.95 |
| 503A | descant (white spot) nla (all gone)
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| My attempts to obtain this discontinued model have come to nothing. | ||
| 503B | descant, new model, no white spot! | £17.95 |
| 703W | descant, Haka model rosewood finish. |
£27.95 |
| 204AF | Special descant, for unusual hands, see note. | £19.95 |
| 209B |
treble, |
£17.95 |
| 309A |
treble, |
£27.95 |
| 509B | treble, (no white spot) |
£34.95 |
| 709BW | treble, Haka model rosewood finish. |
£44.95 |
| 211A | tenor, (keyless). |
£49.95 |
| 511E | tenor, with keys for C & C# (white spot).
| £79.95 |
| 511W | tenor, as above rosewood finish nla | |
| 521E | knick bass, F/F#. |
£259.00 |
| 533EE | bass, F/F#, fat mouth pipe (white spot). |
£299.00 |
| direct blow cap for bass | £22.50 | |
| clip-on thumb rest, for descant | £0.90 | |
| clip-on thumb rest, for treble | £1.40 | |
| clip-on thumb rest, for tenor | £2.00 | |
| Some spare parts are available (not 'silver' tenor keys). New spares for long discontinued models are not obtainable but I may have something in my box of bits and pieces. | POA | |
| AF1 Grenser | A440 | shiny, black/cream | (£249.00) |
| AF2 Grenser | A440 | matt, black | (£299.000 |
| AF3 Stanesby | A415 | matt, ivory/white metal | (£399.00) |
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The Dutch factory which produces Aura recorders also produces the Coolsma and Zamra models. Dolmetsch Conservatoire models are also made there. The low priced descant models listed below are a small part of the range. In the past I have sold the all plastic (Far Eastern) descant under the Roessler brand name. In some regions it is branded "Angel". These are nice recorders of traditional Renaissance shape but good baroque performance. They are an economic and attractive alternative to the ubiquitous brown and ivory plastic. The plastic headed model is slightly longer, having the same body as the Zamra descant. This version seems to me to have a more lively and vibrant feel. |
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CARMENA A budget descant produced in Germany to replace the Zamir descant. This new model is beautifully made from pearwood, has a lovely clear tone and should catch on in a big way once it gets known. It is supplied in a basic cloth bag (with velcroed flap), complete with fingering chart, joint grease and cleaning "widget". |
| CR01 |
pearwood |
descant | £35.95 |
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GARY COOK (Malvern Recorders) I am no longer an agent for these individually hand
crafted instruments. Gary has had to move to the USA and it will be some time before he is back in production. |
The tone of these is very bright and clear, and the top notes easy. The design and turning is very crisp, like the sound. These recorders score very well when checked against a tuning meter. |
| CSP | palisander | descant | £255.00 |
| CSG | grenadilla | descant | £320.00 |
| CAP | palisander | treble | £395.00 |
| CAG | grenadilla | treble | |
| CST | palisander, "Terton", A=415, 2 piece. | descant | £295.00 |
| CBE | boxwood, "Bressan" A=415 | treble | £730.00 |
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I no longer stock these. They can be very good. Tim has a waiting list. Deal with him direct. |
The name of Dolmetsch is inseparable from the recorder though one should not forget that this family firm makes other instruments as well. All are of the highest musical quality and workmanship. Dolmetsch instruments now reflect very closely the authentic sound of the period when the recorder was modern and not an historical curiosity or child's toy. The current production is really excellent and opinions based on instruments produced decades ago are not valid. The present quality of the instruments and service is outstanding, and the prices represent exceptional value. Dolmetsch hand made recorders have a clearer and more open sound than most others, and are less liable to clog and develop problems with use. Hand made models are produced in very beautiful woods. The "Stanesby" models have a clear open sound in the English tradition, while the "Bressan" model is close and dark, as preferred on the continent. In addition to exotic hardwoods Dolmetsch "Stanesby" recorders are available in untreated pearwood and maple. These are relatively inexpensive and are very sweet and light, yet with good carrying power. However, they must be regarded as instruments for recreation and performance as they will not stand up to the demands of prolonged practice. To meet the demand for good wooden instruments without incurring the high cost of individual craftsmanship, there is a range of very good imported instruments, factory made, (in Holland), of good wood, design, finish and performance. The pearwood "School" instruments are plain. The "Academy" range is more refined and the turning is more elaborate. The boxwood and real Brazilian rosewood trebles are particularly nice. The "Conservatoire" range is of standard baroque shape with thumb-hole bush, sweet toned, and with easy top notes. They are all supported by the unmatched expertise of the Dolmetsch workshop in Haslemere. Single keys (for the body) and double keys (for the foot) can be fitted to almost any wooden recorder to accomodate small or ageing hands. The cost is about £60 and £119 respectively. |
| N 501 | sopranino (three piece) | £7.99 |
| N 601 | descant (three piece) | £6.99 |
| N 151 | treble | £15.99 |
| N 301 |
tenor, two keys C/C#, thumb rest & strap. | £49.95 |
| N 1501 |
knick bass, four keys F/F# | £205.00 |
| Special Offer | all 5 of the above | £235.00 |
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The Dolmetsch expertise with harpsichords is being applied to the construction of this range of new instruments. These are craftsman made from veneered laminated flat timber. The keys are made of metal and they close onto boxwood "chimneys" set into the body. Toggle catches secure the joints. |
To special order, the prices are for guidance only. Your best plan is to contact Dolmetsch Musical Instruments direct. (Link) There is a long waiting list for the established models, the more unusual ones are only 'projected'. | ||
| Great Bass in C |
A=440 | (£1034.00) |
| Great Bass in C | A=415 | (£1292.50) |
| Contra Bass in F | A=440 | (£1551.00) |
| Contra Bass in F | A=415 | (£1809.50) |
| Sub Contra Bass in C | A=440 | (£2068.00) |
| Sub Contra Bass in C | A=415 | (£2326.00) |
| Sub Sub Contra Bass in F | A=440 | (£2585.00) |
| Sub Sub Contra Bass in F | A=415 | (£2843.50) |
These inexpensive plastic descants from Israel are real
recorders and excellent value. Their tone is strong and
their tuning good. They are made of dark brown ABS in three
parts and are supplied in a plastic wallet together with a
cleaning stick and a fingering chart. |
| plastic | descant, (three piece) | NLA | |
These are, unfortunately, no longer available. The renaissance models are available from Kobliczek. Secondhand "Meister" trebles are well worth considering, they have an unusally small stretch for the right hand. See Kobliczek for the metal recorders. |
A range of very inexpensive plastic instruments. I have serious reservations about the musical quality of the small sizes, particularly the cheapest models, which mimic Aulos. However, the brown/white tenor and bass play well and are excellent value. The two sizes below (only) are also sold under the Dolmetsch "Nova" name. |
| tenor, two keys C/C# Unavailable at present. See Dolmetsch, 'Nova' N 301. |
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| bass (knick style) |
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Kobliczek make all levels and kind of recorder, also panpipes, transverse flutes, and various funny whistles and things. We cannot stock everything but do ask if you need a "Papageno" flute, cuckoo, or other oddity, I may well be able to get you what you want. The recorders are good and come in many pitches and designs. The best known range are wide bore and uniquely for this type play the full two octave range. Two shapes are available, "Renaissance" and "Praetorius". The "Praetorius" are the more ornate and more popular. The bass now has an authentic style key for hole IV. Zapatero boxwood is also available. Two shapes of baroque recorder are produced, "Studium" and "Meister". The "Studium" is smoothly curved in a plain but slightly modernistic style, while the "Meister" is ornate, with spherical bulges, based on an un-named French recorder. The olive wood "Studium" sopranino is particularly good. The "Studium" maple descant is sweet and has very easy top notes. There have been also brilliant recorders for buskers and folk groups. The "Silberton" also sold as "Gruber System" is of all heavily silver plated brass, descant, and sopranino, while the treble has a wooden body and keys for F/F#. These instruments have a wide parallel bore and something of the sound of a flute. The unusual moveable windway enables one to vary the voicing and produce husky "ethnic" effects, which "mic up" well. I am not able to obtain these to order. The best source these days is probably through the internet. Key your rquirements into Google and see what you can find. The "Concerto" had a wide bore and thin wall giving it a robust but not coarse tone well liked by folk musicians. |
No longer available. | |||
Cylindrical Metal Recorders, occasionally available second-hand. |
These fine instruments, produced in Switzerland by Andreas and Thomas Kung and their staff are so well known to regular players that they need little introduction. New order numbers are now being used, the instruments are unchanged. It will serve well to quote from their catalogue:- "All our instruments are finished by hand and played to check sound and tuning. "Our instruments are fashioned from one piece of wood, thus ensuring a uniform structure and grain; they are never assembled from various pieces, except the instruments in grenadilla and sub-bass recorders." Besides the well known general purpose instruments, historical models are produced after originals by Denner, Rippert, Haka and others. The range is very wide. Kung have organised their range into four streams:- "Studio". This is a very attractive style, derived from the usual shape of a baroque instrument, but simplified and refined. The tone production favours the low and middle range though the highest notes are not difficult. The tone is full, and needs a good stream of air. They are not for soloists, but excellent for group players as the sound blends so well. The keyless tenor is a delight and fits the hand easily. "Superio". An historical range, naturally finished and of true baroque styling, with curved windway. These models have a refined, rich tone and attractive baroque styling to the instrument and keys. The extra expense is amply justified by the very high quality which is evident in their materials and performance. "Classica". Franz Kung's design of more
than thirty years ago, available in all sizes. The
sopraninos of this range are very popular, easy to play and
not too small for an adult's hand. The No.3407 grenadilla
treble is particularly good, having a very strong and
brilliant tone. The tenors are well liked too. Although
they take quite a lot of air they blend well and are easy
to keep up to pitch. Key work is an attractive bronze
finish. "Historica". These are replica quality instruments, made to order in boxwood, palisander, or grenadilla. The range includes a voice flute (tenor in D) and a bass. A treble costs around £600. Kung documentation is more comprehensive than many and I have copied their instruction sheet to .pdf files. You may click for multilingual instructions or fingering. You will need to employ the magnifier as the view starts off very small. The best plan is to select the page and print it. (Return to this page with your browser "Back" arrow.) The instructions are those of Kung. Please do not draw me into a discussion over differences between them and those which appear in my care section. We have both written what we have written. |
| 1101 | pear wood |
garklein | £65.75 |
| 1201 |
pear wood, two part | sopranino | £74.95 |
| 1203 |
cherry wood, two part | sopranino | £117.50 |
| 1301 |
pearwood, two part |
descant | £59.95 |
| 1303 |
cherry wood, two part | descant | £74.95 |
| 1901 | "Folklora" Bb descant, pearwood, two part | ||
| (equivalent to A=392.) A rich new sound. Click here for notes on transposing instruments. |
£115.00 | ||
| 1401 |
pearwood |
treble | £134.95 |
| 1403 |
cherry wood | treble | £199.95 |
| 1501 |
pearwood, keyless |
tenor | £219.95 |
| 1502 | maple, keyless | tenor | (£219.95) |
| 1503 |
cherry wood, keyless | tenor | £325.00 |
| 1581 | pearwood, keyless |
knick tenor | £285.00 |
| 2301 | pearwood, two part | descant | £109.95 |
| 2304 | plum wood, two part | descant | £150.00 |
| 2306 | palisander, two part | descant | £199.00 |
| 2401 | pear wood | treble | £260.00 |
| 2404 | plumwood | treble | £340.00 |
| 2406 | palisander | treble | £400.00 |
| 2603 | cherry F/F# | knick bass | £899.00 |
| 2722 | maple, stained C/C# | knick great bass | (£1775.00) |
See the note above. | |||
| 3108 | rosewood |
garklein | £89.95 |
| 3201 | maple | sopranino | (£79.95) |
| 3205 | bubinga |
sopranino | nla |
| 3207 | grenadilla | sopranino | £179.95 |
| 3208 | rosewood (tulip) | sopranino | £179.95 |
| 3305 | bubinga, three part |
descant | £154.95 |
| 3405 | bubinga | treble | £285.00 |
| 3407 | grenadilla | treble | £394.95 |
| pearwood, C only |
tenor | (£285.00) | |
| 3505 | bubinga, two keys, C/C# | tenor | |
| 3605 | bubinga, direct blow F/F# | bass | (£599.00) |
| 3705 | bubinga, C/C# | great bass in C | (£1550.00) |
| 3805 | bubinga, low F only |
sub-bass in F | nla |
| Keys for low C# or F# may be fitted to older instruments for about £100.00 | |||
| You may click for multilingual instructions or fingering, for the Kung sub-bass. | |||
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These are perhaps the most widely used wooden recorders, they come from the factory of Dr.Hermann Moeck at Celle, near Hanover, in Germany. The range covers most needs, and other early musical instruments are also made. Moeck recorders are, like any other, made to be played, but the Moeck recorder is at its best when played to be heard. They are not for the timid. The Moeck baroque recorders have a unique bloom to their sound, which gives them great appeal. This, coupled with a good standard of workmanship, makes them very successful. For the beginner Moeck produce the wooden "School" model and the "Flauto I", which looks like wood, but is in fact, plastic. The "Flauto I" has an interesting tone which is vibrant and husky. The sort of sound you might expect from a wooden instrument if you didn't know better. They are very popular with folk musicians. Now also "Flauto I Plus" with a plastic head and wooden body. They have a sweeter sound. The "Flauto
Leggero" range, which replaced the old "Tuju" range has
been restyled, and named "Rondo".They now have a small bell and the head is
completely smooth. Musically they seem to be very much the
same. These recorders are vibrant, slim bodied and light in
weight. They are usually natural, clear varnished, but can
come with a mid brown translucent varnish (D). Small "Rondo"
recorders come in black lightweight hard cases. For the advanced player there is the "Rottenburgh" range designed by Friedrich von Huene, who founded a notable workshop in America, and has trained many of the new makers of fine recorders. Various woods are used, each having its own particular sound and feel, the palisander (rosewood) and ebony are the most popular. (Only the terminology has changed, the palisander is red/brown and the same timber as has been used for the past fifteen years or so. It is finished with a red/brown translucent varnish. Recent deliveries have included very dark palisander so there may be a move to a new source of timber. Ebony models have not been varnished for some time. ) The maple is usually natural but may be dark (as above). The pearwood has a clear, or alternatively, a dark translucent varnish. (Colour leaflet available.) The trebles modeled on originals by Thomas Stanesby are beautiful and likely to find favour with players who require an mature instrument (especially at A=415), for trio sonatas and similar mixed ensemble baroque music. (Colour leaflet available.) Besides the baroque recorders there are the renaissance models, wide bore and with a loud and pungent tone, very suitable for dance music. Their compass is limited to a twelfth. There are also "Kynseker" style descants and trebles in plumwood. Their tone is beautifully even and sweet, with just a touch of bite and reediness. All Moeck recorders come in nice cases, hard cases are replacing the cloth or leather wallets. Current production now has gold plated keys rather than the previous nickle silver. |
| 1021/021H | plastic, light (dark nla) |
descant | £17.75 |
| 1023 | wood body, blue plastic head | descant | £22.95 |
| 1210 | maple (121) |
descant | £42.95 |
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1212/121B |
pearwood |
descant | £43.95 |
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1213/121BG |
pearwood, dark finish |
descant | £43.95 |
| 2100/211R | sycamore, (double holes) | sopranino | £83.50 |
| 2200 |
maple, (two part) new shape. |
descant | £58.95 |
| 2201 |
maple (stained), (two part) new shape. |
descant | £58.95 |
| 2300 |
maple, new shape. | treble | £138.95 |
| 2302 |
pearwood, new shape. |
treble | £144.95 |
| 2400 | maple, keyless, new shape. | tenor | £217.50 |
| 243R | sycamore two keys (C/C# foot) |
tenor | £265.00 |
| 2520 | F/F# foot | bass | £685.00 |
| 2540 | (knick style as above, to order) | bass | £6859.00 |
| 2620 | sycamore (D#,C/C# foot) | Gt. bass in C |
(£1130.00) |
| 4100/219 | maple | sopranino | £117.00 |
| 4104/319 | boxwood | sopranino | £132.50 |
| 4105/419 | palisander (rosewood) | sopranino | £165.00 |
| 519 | ebony | sopranino | £205.00 |
| 129 | maple, two parts | descant | £82.50 |
| 229 | maple | descant | £112.50 |
| 4202/229B | pearwood | descant | £124.95 |
| 4203/229BG | pearwood (dark finish) | descant | £124.95 |
| 4204/329 | castello-boxwood | descant | £169.95 |
| 4205/429 | palisander (formerly 'rosewood') |
descant | £210.00 |
| 4207/529 | ebony/grenadilla | descant | £255.00 |
| 4208/929 | rosewood (tulip wood) |
descant | £260.00 |
| 239 | maple | treble | £180.00 |
| 239B | pearwood | treble | £200.00 |
| 4303/239BG | pearwood | treble | (£200.00) |
| 4304/339 | Castello-boxwood | treble | £279.95 |
| 4305/439 | palisander (rosewood) |
treble | £375.00 |
| 539 | ebony/grenadilla | treble | £465.00 |
| 739 | olive | treble | (£459.95) |
| 939 | rosewood (tulip wood) | treble | £480.00 |
| 249 | maple, keyless | tenor | £285.00 |
| 249A | maple, two keys (new style keys |
tenor | £369.95 |
| 349 | boxwood, keyless | tenor | £350.00 |
| 349A | boxwood, two keys | tenor | £440.00 |
| 449 | palisander (rosewood), keyless | tenor | (£470.00) |
| 449A | palisander (rosewood), two keys | tenor | (£559.95) |
| 549 | ebony, keyless | tenor | (£599.95) |
| 549A | ebony, two keys | tenor | (£689.95) |
| 259 | maple | bass | (£939.95) |
This range has been replaced by the "Renaissance Consort" at about twice the price. The first batch featured original fingering and mean tone temperament, which is still available, but there are now other options. These are special order items. | |||
| 8250 | plumwood | descant | £270.00 |
| 8350 | plumwood | treble | (£399.95) |
| 5323 | Indian boxwood, plain, A=440 | treble | (£649.95) |
| 5326 | Indian boxwood, patina A=415 | treble | (£810.00) |
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Conrad Mollenhauer produce a very wide range of recorders, all beautifully made of very good wood. The characteristic sound of their wooden instruments is more robust, and with more overtones than most. They are well worth trying for this different sound, which has a lot of character. For the beginner the "Swing" and "Prima" model descants are a good choice. They are clear toned and easy to play, with a delicately shaped beak. The new black model Swing descant is set to be the standard colour way. The "Student" descant is very similar to the old "Chorus" model, but slightly more plain in styling. The sound is well rounded. The new "Canta" models are beautifully styled and have a clear, brighter tone than the traditional Mollenhauer production. The treble is a real winner! The "Denner" range is of traditional baroque design and tone, similar to Moeck's Rottenburg range. The new style descants are very elegant in tone and appearance. The voicing of the trebles has been revised so that they are more sweet and even toned, with very good top notes. The tenors have a impressive rich full tone. The "Kynseker" models retain a quirk of the original fingering, (F# on the C and B on the F instruments need the little finger in both registers). This is no great problem and they play well, over the two octaves. There was some production of this model with standard fingering. The "Dream" models inspired by Adriana Breukink are unlike any other recorder. They have a renaissance profile and come natural wood finish as well as dull red and dusky blue. (I have changed my original description so as to reflect the colour of the instruments supplied rather than those illustrated in the brochure.) They have now been joined by all plastic and plastic headed soprano models. (See below.) The bore is unusual and gives a robust sound similar to a renaissance instrument, but there is no restriction of compass. This is a fun recorder, great for children and theatrical performance. Both double hole and single hole versions are available. (I have decided not to stock the single hole version, but a special orders are not a problem.) These sound more like renaissance models, but they have the standard full range. Following the untimely death of the Australian maker Fred Morgan there has been an increasing degree of collaboration between the two workshops. The Denner range is the first in which this is really evident. The 5222 boxwood treble now has "Design: Fred Morgan" and some other woods "Mollenhauer & Morgan" on the label. Those instruments in my stock where this occurs are now flagged "F.M." or "M.& M." as appropriate. This is not to say that there is not Morgan influence on the earlier Denner models. I have noticed design changes over the past year or so. It is since the 2002 Frankfurt Musik Messe that the collaboration has been made public. The "Morgan Edition" treble has a beautiful appearance and tone. It is elegantly profiled, stained, orange/brown and thumb hole bushed. They are in short supply. Most Mollenhauer recorders are supplied in unusual and practical zippered soft cases of padded fabric, or leather. The largest sizes (and some smaller ones) are supplied in deluxe hard cases. |
| 1074 | red plastic head 2 part |
descant | £23.50 |
| 1094 | beige plastic head 2 part |
descant | £23.50 |
| 1225 | dark green plastic head | treble | £60.50 |
| 1295 | beige plastic head | treble | £60.50 |
| 1042 | pearwood 2 part |
descant | £40.00 |
| This range is no longer in production. It has been replaced by the "Canta" series, which does not yet include a great bass in C. |
This model is no longer produced. | |||
| ME 1202 | stained zapatero boxwood | treble | £699.00 |
The most well known instruments from the workshop of Herbert Paetzold are his square section great bass and sub-bass recorders. These have a strange appearance (I know one called Frankenstein!) but they work superbly well. The air column is folded in a way that organists will recognise, and this makes for a compact instrument, without detriment to the tone. The supply of these is rather uncertain, but an enquiry could be well worth while as they are about 2/3 the price of a conventional instrument. | |||
| great bass in C | (c.£1250.00) |
| sub-bass in F | (c £2000.00) |
Update, September 2005. Please see the article in Windkanal 2/2005. The firm has been sold to Mollenhauer who will finish some part made instruments and offer maintenance support. There is a possibility that the name will reappear. "School". These were basic, but generally well made with plain styling from pearwood. The instruments were also sold in the UK under the "Chester" name. "Dulcia". These were maple and very smooth in shape, similar the the old Moeck "Tuju" model but with even fewer turned features. Brass rings at the sockets. Rather nice but long discontinued. "Meister". This is Roessler's own design of high quality general purpose instrument. They came in many woods. Their sound is darker than most recorders, with a slightly nasal quality, much more direct and less winsome than the tone of a Moeck. The appearance is smoothly modernised baroque and the hardwood instruments are only polished, not varnished. All the basses have a double key for F/F#. The bass has a shorter head than any other and plays like a big treble, Telemann sonatas are quite playable, especially the one in f-minor, (originally suggested for bassoon), it was deservedly very popular. "Oberlender". The historic model from Roessler. The sound is dark and even, right up to the highest notes. These are lovely, distinctive instruments. These recorders turn up from time to time and make it onto my used list. | |||
This is a name that has disappeared from the instrument side of the recorder world. In the past they have supplied instruments with the Schott brand in various qualities and distributed Zen-On and Mollenhauer models. In the UK Schott were at the forefront of the recorder revival in the 1940's. You will find the dreadful kitemarked beech descants in junk shops and charity shops every where. There are at least two bakelite descant models, not very good, but collectable out of historical interest in the material. I have acquired a couple of these 1940's instruments, click here to see them. Many of the DDR produced Schott Concert and Prelude models are still about. The pearwood Concert range was fairly good in its day but only the tenors and basses are worth bothering with now. Beware examples with a metalised plastic key, they break and are not repairable or replaceable. The maple Prelude range was rather better. |
I now stock the "D" moulded plastic descant, black with ivory beak. The present production seems to be better than previous examples of this colourway. It is British made but un-named apart from the blackletter printed D on the head. It is nice to be able to offer a home produced product, of acceptable quality. This is a light, sweet-toned and well tuned instrument, softer sounding than other plastic descants. It is possible for an adult to dismantle the head for easy thorough cleaning. They are supplied in black draw-string bags, with cleaning rod and fingering chart (.pdf 143KB). I can offer significnt discounts to quantity buyers. |
| "D" Moulded Descant | £5.99 |
These very high quality recorders are after originals by Bressan. The finish is superb and they have refined tone to match. These are very good soloist recorders. At the moment I have only the three instruments listed below. |
| "Original" in pao rose. A=440 |
alto | £9890.00 |
| "Special Standard" in palisander. A=415 |
alto | £1050.00 |
|
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| John Willman made small numbers of recorders by hand in the traditional way. |
| Acid Stained boxwood "Bressan" treble A=440 | £595.00 |
|
Because of the changes to the way the business operates I am no longer able to replenish my stock of Yamaha instruments. (Yamaha's decision, not mine.) Those with bracketed price are out of stock and no longer available from me. The Japanese giant produces an amazingly good range of recorders. They cover everything from cheap plastic school recorders to a very expensive authentic A=415Hz Denner copy. It is my feeling that the smaller plastic instruments are rather sharp, and should be pulled out, as I like to feel a bit more resistance to my breath. The plastic tenor and bass put many older wooden instruments to shame but the sopraninos are relatively poor, those from Aulos being very much better. New Yamaha 20 Translucent plastic. Shocking pink, green or blue! Better than the YRS24. Yamaha 24, 28, cheap, but well produced, "chorus" type tone, not for strong blowers. Yamaha 302B, once advertised as being "Rottenburgh", (I can't think why, can you?). Baroque styled instruments. The simulated wood versions, are more expensive, but worth the extra because of the feel. I prefer the very convincing rosewood version, the ebony has prominent light streaks. The new wood finish trebles are different from the immediately previous production and much better. I should point out that the beauty is but skin deep and wears away with diligent practice. (Perhaps this could start a fashion among students, a bit like frayed jeans!). The tenor now has keys for low C/C#. The descants and trebles need pulling out. The tenor and bass are very good. Yamaha 43, maple instruments, varnish finished. These notes are for reference only, the instruments are no longer available, but, I have one YRS43 and one YRA43, and I am open to offers. (These are my earlier comments:- "The descant and treble are rather ordinary but the tenor was good if you didn't mind its high gloss finish. I regard the new YRS44 descant as being very poor value, but it does have a separate foot joint. The new production tenor (with the more usual mid-brown varnish) has serious intonation problems and I am not stocking it. The bass has been good too, and excellent value, but difficult top notes on recent production prevents me from stocking it for the time being. The tenor's tone is full and reedy, and the bass, which is light in weight and nicely varnished, is pleasantly resonant and not at all ponderous. Not a recommended range at the moment.") Yamaha 61, 62, 64, Middle priced instruments of considerable appeal. They have very even tone, perhaps a bit too even, and are nice recorders which work very well. The trebles are a bit weak at the bottom for some players, who are troubled by "burbles", but this does not happen with the descants. The maple large recorders are a separate stream and very good. They are light in weight and have a beautiful, focused "flutey" tone. The Gt.Bass is superb, of handsome appearance, with fully chromatic keys and very agile and secure tone production. The profile is like the Bressan bass at Chester, with the globular bell and a choice of hollow pegs for playing while sitting or standing. Yamaha 82, 83. These are a different design again. Yamaha like to change the design with the material. These are real recorders in the best authentic style. They are not puffed up modern instruments but feel right for baroque music. To me, these have the nearest feel in a modern pitch instrument to that of a baroque pitch instrument. I like it very much. If ordering by reference number note that the third letter is critical, even Yamaha themselves get confused by this! The "B" at the very end indicates "Baroque" as opposed to "German" fingering. (See the glossary page.) I will have nothing to do with "German" fingered instruments. If you fancy trying the sideways sort of flute, the Yamaha fife is just the thing. It plays very like a descant recorder, and the fingering is, where different, like the modern Boehm flute. Of course there are a few snags, but at the price one can't complain. It is very playable and musical when you know how, and a good introduction to this sort of instrument. | |||
| YRN 22B | brown | sopranino | £5.49 |
| YRS20B /P /G /B | pink, green or blue, |
descant | £5.99 |
| YRS 24B | white | descant | £6.49 |
| YRS 24BUKII | brown | descant | £4.99 |
| YRA 28BUKIII | brown | treble | £16.49 |
| YRA 28BIII | white | treble | £15.49 |
| YRF 21 |
fife in C (white) |
£5.49 | |
| "The Fife Book" by Liz Goodwin (2nd. edition) | £5.95 | ||
| Click here for an extended comment on this instrument. | |||
| "The Rough Guide to the Flute & Piccolo"
All you need to know! But unobtainable at the moment. |
(£6.99) | ||
(brown & white except where noted otherwise.) The new models, proudly display the famous Yamaha tuning fork trademark. The new new cases are different, made of fabric rather than vinyl. | |||
| YRN 302BII | sopranino | £9.49 | |
| YRS 302BIII | descant | (£9.99) | |
| YRS 312BIII | sim. rosewood descant (green bag) | (£15.49) | |
| YRS 314BIII | sim. ebony descant (blue bag) | (£15.49) | |
| YRA 302BII | treble | £21.49 | |
| YRA 312BIII | sim. rosewood treble (green bag) | (£23.49) | |
| YRA 314BIII | sim. ebony treble (blue bag) | (£23.49) | |
| YRT 304BII |
tenor, two keys C/C# | £66.99 | |
| YRB 302BII |
bass, four keys F/F# (knick style) Click here for the fingering chart. |
(£199.99) | |
| YRS 44 | light (3 part) | descant | NLA |
| YRA 43 | brown | treble | NLA |
| YRA 44 | brown | treble | NLA |
| YRT 43 | brown two keys C/C# | tenor | NLA |
| YRB 42 | four keys F/F# (pipe style) | bass | NLA |
| YRS 61 | boxwood | descant | £195.00 |
| YRS 64 | rosewood (palisander) | descant | £225.00 |
| YRS 62 | kingwood | descant | £2459.00 |
| YRA 61 | boxwood | treble | £269.99 |
| YRA 64 | rosewood (palisander) | treble | £299.99 |
| YRT 61M | maple | tenor | (£599.00) |
| YRB 61 | maple, pipe, (F/F#) | bass | (£879.00) |
| YRGB 61 | maple, fully chromatic. | great bass | (£1649.00) |
| YRS 82 | kingwood | descant | NLA |
| YRS 83 | ebony | descant | NLA |
| YRA 82 | kingwood (rings & thumb hole bush) | treble | NLA |
| YRA 83 | ebony (rings) | treble | NLA |
| YRA 901 | Stained Boxwood A=415 | treble | (£899.00) |
|
see under Ariel. Plain instruments for the budget conscious. |
| VS 500B |
descant | £23.50 |
| VA 500B |
treble | £74.95 |
| VT 500B |
tenor | £169.95 |
|
Zen-On distribution has changed and they have become unavailable. I now have none left. The high quality plastic recorders have a following in spite of their relatively high price. They are made in Japan and modelled on named originals. Their tone is true and suitable for the serious student. The simulated wood models are good value and convincing. The big wooden instruments are quite light and blend well in an ensemble. Zen-On wooden recorders are unusual but of good quality. |
| CASES & ACCESSORIES | |
| Music Cases | |
| Proofed fabric, various colours and designs. (Mapac brand). | £4.99 |
| Recorder Cases | |
| Descant recorder bags. Tough, padded, and colourful. | |
| Various designs, similar in style to image above. | £3.50 |
| As above but plain soft colours (grey or green). | £2.60 |
| Plain bright colours, loop handled, Emerald Green, Royal Blue, Red, Purple. | £3.00 |
| Moeck Roll Bags These will take baroque models up to tenor. | |
| 8 Pocket (86800) | £39.95 |
| 12 Pocket (86801) | £49.95 |
| Hard Cases de luxe cases, wood frame, black vinyl covered, with handles. Cases marked * have a music compartment in the lid. With the one for sopranino, descant and treble it is just too small to be much use. Approximate dimensions in centimetres. | |
| sopranino, 27 x 11 x 6 |
£30.00 |
| descant, 27 x 11 x 6 |
£30.00 |
| treble, 34 x 3 x 6 |
£42.50 |
| tenor, 44 x 15 x 8 | £49.95 |
| bass, 51 x 25 x 10 | £75.00 |
| descant plus treble, 31 x 22 x 7 |
£67.50 |
| sopranino, descant, treble, 35 x 25 x 8 * | £75.00 |
| sopranino, descant, treble, tenor, 45 x 28 x 9 * |
£110.00 |
| case for four trebles, 40 x 40 x 9 * | £105.00 |
| sopranino, descant, treble, tenor & bass, 55 x 44 x 11 * | £125.00 |
| Odds and ends. | |
| plastic thumb rests, see Aulos | |
| metal thumb rest (inc. fitting) | £5.00 |
| Aulos bass recorder beak. The current, large diameter. | £4.55 |
| oil (not linseed) (for wood) | £1.00 |
| grease "lipstick" | £1.25 |
| descant brush | £0.60 |
| treble brush | £0.85 |
| tenor brush | £1.25 |
| bass brush | £4.25 |
| sling for bass | £8.50 |
| maintenance kits (Moeck) | £4.99 |
| Flute rods are ideal for tenor recorders. | |
| Flute cleaning rod, Yamaha, plastic. | £1.00 |
| Flute cleaning rod, wood | £4.95 |
| Flute cleaning rod, aluminium | £3.95 |
|
MISCELLANEOUS MUSICAL GOODS | ||
| Wallet, royal blue, with treble clef motif. | £3.00 | |
| Book style holder for 10 CDs (without jewel cases). | £3.25 | |
| Manuscript Paper, 200 sheet 12 stave block. | £4.95 | |
| "Musicland" manuscript book, A4, 12 stave. | £0.95 | |
| The manuscript below is a new range for me and I will have to see what is wanted. Only those with the price in bold type are stock items at the moment. Others are obtainable with little delay. 10 stave sheets are preferable for wind music. The wider spacing gives adequate room for notes above the stave. | ||
| Manuscript A5 4-stave (wide) 24 pp (white book) | sr 31660 | £2.50 |
| Manuscript A5 6-stave 64 pp (white spiral-bound book) | IMP 9414 | £3.50 |
| Manuscript A5 6-stave 24 pp (cream book) | IMP 9416 | £2.95 |
| Manuscript A5 6-stave 24 pp (interleaved book) | IMP 9417 | £2.95 |
| Manuscript A4 Guitar Tab 8-stave 64 pp (white pad) | IMP 9412 | £4.50 |
| Manuscript A4 10-stave 64 pp (white spiral-bound book) | IMP 9912 | £4.50 |
| Manuscript A4 10-stave 100 pp (white pad) | IMP 9913 | £6.50 |
| Manuscript A4 12-stave 64 pp (white spiral-bound book) | IMP 9409 | £4.95 |
| Manuscript A4 12-stave 100 pp (white pad) | IMP 9410 | £6.95 |
| Manuscript A4 12-stave 200 pp (white pad) | IMP 9411 | £7.90 |
| Manuscript A4 12-stave 32 pp (white book) | IMP 9415 | £2.95 |
| Manuscript A4 12-stave 64 pp (spiral-bound book) | IMP 9418 | £4.95 |
| Manuscript A4 12-stave 32 pp (cream book) | IMP 9419 | £2.95 |
| Manuscript A3 18-stave 75 pp (white pad) | IMP 9413 | £6.95 |
| Manuscript Paper. Follow this link for "DIY" files. | ||
| Please note, music stands are heavy and costly to post. | ||
| Music Stand (best quality folding) | £13.95 | |
| Bag for above Music Stand (short, for above.) | £3.50 | |
| Coloured Music Stands, red/black/white/green/blue/multi, each | £25.95 | |
| Bag for above Music Stand (long, for above) | £4.50 | |
| Music Stand Extra Tall (bottom of desk 1.5m off floor) | £20.95 | |
| Music Stand Screws (German) for column, also wing nut, each | £0.50 | |
| Music Stand Lamp (13A UK plug) | £25.95 | |
| Table Top Music Stand (foldable)
|
£3.95 | |
| Also, lazy tongs style | £8.50 | |
| Lid Guard (to prevent slamming of piano keyboard lid) | £25.00 | |
| Folding clarinet stand (store in bell) | 9.25 | |
| Please see the folk music page for whistles etc. Click here. | ||
| 6 hole "penny whistles" in several models, Generation, Soodlum, Shaw, Eagle, Feadog, Susato, etc. Priced according to key. | ||
| "Swannee", or Slide Whistle, coloured plastic. | £2.99 | |
| Tuning Forks | ||
| A=440Hz | £6.85 | |
| E=329.6Hz (for guitar) | £4.95 | |
| A=415Hz (baroque pitch) | £14.95 | |
| Chromatic Pitch Pipe (circular) E - E' | £9.95 | |
| Electronic tuning meter (chromatic):- | ||
| "Diana" CT10 | £10.95 | |
| Wittner Clockwork Metronomes | ||
| Super Mini, clockwork. | £29.99 | |
| Cat, clockwork. | £49.95 | |
| Owl, clockwork. | £49.99 | |
| Electronic Metronomes | ||
| Wittner QM 2 electronic, A=440, earphone socket, click dial. | (£39.95) | |
| Yamaha QT 1, choice of wood block sounds and A440. | £29.99 | |
| other makes available, please enquire. | ||
| Combination Electronic Tuner/Metronome | ||
| MT-50 | £15.95 | |
| Batons | ||
| Mostly with pear shaped cork handle, several lengths, one price. | £3.95 | |
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