Garklein Flötlein

Standard (Baroque) Sopraninos

Standard (Baroque) Descants (soprano)

Descants - Suitable for Beginners

The 'school' recorder. The much maligned instrument that comes to everyone's mind when the recorder is mentioned. These are cheap and cheerful. Many others are instruments of musical torture. The Aulos 'Robin' is far better than you would ever expect from the price.

Descant - Suggested for Improvers.

The Haka descant has a more 'refined, tone quality more suitable for solo playing than with a group of beginners. It is not 'easier to play' but players above the 'novice' level appreciate the expressive possibilities it presents. All Aulos plastic recorders are better than the cheapest wooden recorders. The Haka models are serious competition for very costly wooden recorders.

Standard (Baroque) Trebles (alto)

Trebles - Suitable for Beginners.

All recorder players interested in classical baroque music should play the treble (alto) recorder. It is the solo recorder. Do not be put off by the change in fingering from the descant (soprano). Start with one from this group. My comments about descants and choice apply equally to trebles.

The 'Robin' Treble has the same characteristics as the 'Robin' descant. It is a very good treble to start on, especially if you are young and play in a group. If you are an adult it would be worth considering the higher priced 'Bel Canto' treble as you are more likely to want to play baroque solo recorder music. While the 'Robin' treble will enable you to enjoy Handel sonatas, you will have more fun using a 'Bel Canto' treble when it comes to Telemann.

Treble - More suitable for Solo Players.

The 'Haka' treble is an interesting alternative to expensive wooden recorders for advanced and improving players. Their more individual tone quality, which favours the higher notes, may not appeal to a novice. Many advanced players have one in their collection for use in relatively unsafe conditions so that they can keep in practice when away from home.

Tenors

The 'Robin' tenor is shorter than most, and has no keys. It has double holes so all the low notes are possible. (Not having any keys keeps the price down.) It is marketed as being 'short' and 'easy to play'. It certainly is short, but I doubt the veracity of the statement that the shortness makes covering the holes significantly easier, especially for adult beginners. There are other issues as well. I don't care for the intonation and tone variations that result from the shortening. Naturally, there was a demand for this model and I had to keep it in stock despite my reservations. You will find some comments on keys in general, mostly written decades ago before this model became available, here... key info.

The 'Symphony' tenor is very good. It has refined refined tone and good intonation. A strong plus point is that spare keys are available at a fraction of the cost of those the market leader. (The big 'Y'.)

Bass

Aulos Thumb Rests

SPECIAL RECORDERS
FOR
PROBLEM HANDS

I have plastic descant and treble recorders for those with unusual hands. Aulos have produced instruments 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 some fingers is not the bar to playing that it seems at first. It is possible to play with only six digits. Click here to view a pdf copy of the descant setting up instructions. This instrument makes recorder playing possible for many who have thought it beyond their physical capability.

Only the lower hand of the treble version has the holes on separate parts. Full details of the treble model are here. There are three versions of the treble. I have the 'English' one in stock. There is a rubber ring around the bell of the trebles. Its use is not explained but when I tried one out I found myself resting the end of the recorder on my desk. Query answered! The 'German' trebles are playable with one less finger than is usual and come in 'right handed' and 'left handed' versions.

Contact me if you would like to try either on approval.

These items have been moved here from my previous descriptive recorder list.

CASES & ACCESSORIES

Recorder Cases

Hard Cases   de luxe cases, wood frame, black vinyl covered, with handles. Approximate dimensions in centimetres.

Odds and ends.

Sling for any bass (simple hook.)

MISCELLANEOUS MUSICAL GOODS

ONE HANDED RECORDERS

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.

One handed recorders to the Dolmetsch design are made by Peter Worrell.

These are very expensive items on account of their individuality and the amount of skilled work needed to produce them.

SECOND-HAND INSTRUMENTS

I used to deal in good quality used instruments. Few of these made it onto my web pages. 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. I do not handle commission sales but I now have a 'small ad' page.

MUSIC

As I approached retirement, I 'downsized', and sold most of my large stock of music to Recorder Music Mail. (I kept the beginners methods as these are often needed by first time recorder buyers. The few that I now have left are at half price and I am open to offers.) I still have recorder interest books a selection of folk music and some used recorder music in excellent condition .

SAUNDERS RECORDERS
BRISTOL ENGLAND

john@saundersrecorders.com

Orders by email (preferred), telephone, or post, welcome.
Please click this link for details.

Goods normally dispatched within 24 hours.

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

The business is no longer VAT registered.

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