SAUNDERS RECORDERS

BRISTOL ENGLAND

VAT reg no GB 140 4633 02

john@saundrecs.co.uk

Orders by telephone, email, or post, welcome.
Please click this link for details.
Fax welcome at anytime.

Goods normally dispatched within 24 hours.

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Please see the News page for details of the changes to the business.

The business proprietor is now John Everingham F.T.C.L.

SAUNDERS RECORDERS stocks a range of good and better 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 a thousand pounds. Except for those with the price in brackets most of the instruments listed are in stock. They are listed by manufacturer. In these difficult times it is very hard to state a price for non-stock items. The price for such special order items may be agreed at the time of ordering.

All the recorders listed are baroque fingered models. 'German' fingering is not used in the UK. (Thank goodness!)

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.

Tax. The prices on this page include V.A.T. (UK sales tax, not charged on music or books) currently at 17.5%. On January 1^st. 2010, the rate increased from 15% and there will be some changes to my prices. Customers resident outside the EU, pay approximately 15% 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 against my preferred models. I have only done this for recorders at the low end of the price range (plastic and wood). They are my personal choice and you can find out more by reading my choice notes.

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, , and mp3 sound files, . If you would like to see what audio is available click here. If you are unsure about this, click here for help. Please explore the site fully, and do not ignore "Other Topics". There is a wealth of material on the "Information and Advice" page.

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. A Google tool bar makes searching easier.

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.

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 player. 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.

This is a link to the 2009 catalogue in pdf format from the maker of Aulos recorders. You will not be able to view it in your browser unless you download Japanese character support. (You can avoid this, if you wish, by right clicking the link and saving the file to your computer. It should open in Acrobat Reader without any problem or extra download.)

I have produced a page detailing some old models here.

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.

The Conservatorium models are of high quality and full baroque styling.

(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.
If you need almost anything special in the recorder field he can probably make it for you, and it will be good. Gary is expert at design as well as construction and probably more able than any other maker to produce unusal pitches or other "one offs".
I no longer hold any of his instruments. Click here for representative pictures.

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.

I no longer stock these. They can be very good. Tim has a waiting list. You should deal with him direct.

Early in 2010 this most famous maker of recorders and other instruments found itself unable to continue trading. It is a matter of great sadness and loss to the recorder world, in England, and around the world. Some hand made instruments are available from stock and although my list is shrinking daily a few are still available. It is worth contacting me, or Dolmetsch, via the usual channels if you have a particular need. Arrangements are in place for the continued servicing of Dolmetsch recorders at Haslemere. The 'School', 'Academy' and 'Conservatoire' models continue to be available.

The name of Dolmetsch is inseparable from the recorder. They 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 recent production has been excellent and opinions based on instruments produced decades ago are not valid. The instruments are 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.

Dolmetsch "Nova" Plastic Models.

A consort of brown-black and cream imported recorders with attractive features. They are light in weight, need only a small finger spread, have easy top notes and well matched tone. Nice cases and the usual accessories are provided at very affordable prices. The tenor and bass are particularly good.

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. These two sizes are also sold under the Dolmetsch "Nova" name.

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 requirements 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.

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.

Sadly, the Classica range is being phased out. Tastes change. I will endeavour to re-stock my regular models, but the handsome and imposing sub-bass is no longer available.

"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.

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.

Moeck keywork has been revised recently. It is a very great improvement. Recorders have always tended to suffer from unsatisfactory keys but the new Moeck keywork is very different from previous designs. At last, lessons learned a hundred years ago by clarinet and other woodwind instrument makers have been applied to the recorder, with excellent results.

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 have now been re-designed along more traditional lines. 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. Small "Rondo" recorders come in black lightweight fabric wallets.

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.

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.

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 in a 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 coloured single hole versions, but a special orders are not a problem.) These sound more like renaissance models, but they have the standard full range. These recorders are generally well liked by folk musicians.

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.

The tone of these recorders gets progressively more individual as the instrument acquires wooden parts. The all plastic version does not stand out unduly compared to the usual run of better plastic instruments. The plastic heads are thinned at the windway and encourage a good lip position. Wooden parts are available to special order so the models with plastic parts may be converted to all wood. (Please enquire for prices.)

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 and I no longer attempt to stock them.

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.

Those made by Zen-On are no longer available. There is a Dolmetsch design based on the "Academy" model, for wooden descants and trebles. Mollenhauer also produce wooden instruments of this sort. The mechanism is differently organised.

These special recorders are not stock items, being generally made to order. The situation with the Dolmetsch models is under review and it may be possible to provide single instruments at short notice in the not too distant future.

These are very expensive items on account of their individuality and the amount of skilled work needed to produce them. There are also VAT issues as they are items for people with special needs (and not taxed), they may not be sold to an able bodied person.

I now have descant and treble recorders for those with unusual hands. Aulos have produced istruments in which the angular position of each hole may be set by the owner to accommodate short or missing fingers. It may be played either hand at the top and plugs are provided to block holes which cannot be reached. A very comprehensive guide is provided and the loss of a hole or two is not the disaster it at first seems! Click here to view a pdf copy. There is another page, of fingerings here. This instrument makes recorder playing possible for many who have thought it beyond their physical capability. The price of the descant is £24.95 and the treble is £44.95. Details of the treble model will follow soon. Contact me if you would like to try either on approval.

I do deal in good quality used instruments. Few of these make it onto this list. A small separate list is maintained. I am very fussy about quality and I do guarantee the second-hand stock, though I prefer to sell it to personal callers. Please enquire if you have a specific need or interest. I do not handle commission sales but I now have a 'small ad' page.

My stock of music is very large. Try me first, it could save you a lot of bother. I know the field and only keep recorder music, flute music playable on the recorder and a selection of interesting folk music. It is very rare for me not to have a syllabus piece in stock. I also keep recorder interest books, and examination publications such as scale books and aural tests.