Yamaha YRT-304B Tenor Recorder, Key of C , Black

This Yamaha tenor recorder is an outstanding instrument for about $80. In fact, it is likely better than any wooden recorder you could purchase for under $500. It is in tune and has a strong, clear tone over the full range. This should be your first tenor recorder.

Marvellously engineered, this is a beautifully sonorous instrument, solo or ensemble. At the top of the resin heap, the YRT304B has become my favorite out of the entire recorder family. It is also affordable at $59 - a fraction (10%-20%) of the cost of a wooden recorder of equivalent quality. Easy to maintain without the need for the initial "breaking in" process or need for ongoing oiling, it is immediately playable out of the box and easily replaceable should it be lost or damaged, though due to it's durable resin construct, it is an extremely hard wearing instrument which navigates temperature fluctuations well (not affected as with it's sensitive wooden counterparts). Washable, portable - what more can you ask. The only thing it is short of is: prestige value and the "edge" of exceptional handmade counterparts.Great utility and performance. Ideal spare or travel instrument or to bring on the road. Marketed as "professional" line.For the Adult Beginner seeking an instrument to play - this is ideal. Most relate to tenor recorder's sonorous tones and find it has a relaxing quality, calming even organic (wooden sound) - the only reason school children start learning those squeaky high pitched descants is because of reach limitations.Strain-free playing for smaller hands========================Out of the box, the YRT304B requires the widest reach handspanwise due to its unique hole positions (the Bass is easier to play because it already comes goosenecked and with added keys) and of those who manage to play the Tenor in it's straight unmodified form, there is talk about hand strains and sprains after prolonged play. All's not lost however, due to an emerging demographic of aging and arthritic tenor players, the Tenor can be now be professionally "custom modified" per individual requirements - so that smaller hands/shorter arms can now play it with ease and so that universally, the instrument can be played without undue sprains and strains, previously endured by tenor players.Well to start with my hands are too small for it, but I was determined to play the Tenor, so I had it professionally modified in the US prior to shipping at Bill Lazar's earlymusicshop based in CA. He simply added a gooseneck to the headjoint to shorten the instrument and two added keys at the 3rd and 4th holes on the body - in short, I had the works. Depending on your body's unique dimensions, each person has different requirements. In my case I needed all three mods, whilst for another it could be just the one of 3 and for another, 2 of 3 in varying combos. Bill did a great job - it wasn't cheap but I can now play the tenor EASILY AND ENJOY it. Well worth the investment. The total cost of a new tenor with full modification comes up to just a little over a quarter the cost of a wooden Mollenhauer. Well it may not have the prestige of a wooden European recorder but it fulfils it's niche function excellently.$59 from amazon, it is RRP$199 which is usually discounted down to $149 in oz. Hard to pass by. Buy with confidence as each instrument is of uniform quality which delivers a known reliable level of performance, unlike handmade gems which need to be painstakingly picked out from a bunch of instruments and difficult to replace due to it's unique handmade qualities.The 3 top reviews have said mostly everything there is to say about the YRT-304B II. Hope this adds some further value to what is already said.

I have played this thing for 2 days over the weekend, about 6 hours or so. It does get clogged easily, but its not as obvious as it is on a soprano. When there's a clog, at least for me, I have a hard time hitting the lower register notes below E. The recorder wheezes and squeaks like your not covering a hole somewhere. it took me time to figure it out, so I wanted to mention it in my review. Just blow it out, and your back in business.I usually fill my kitchen sink with soapy water to fix the problem. The soap causes moisture to not condensate on the recorder, i'm not sure why. But when I treat the recorder with dawn dish soap and water, the clogging becomes a non-issue. I havent done it yet because, well, id rather just play the thing. It has instructions on how to clear the clog. Just hold the whistle part with your hand and blow through the opening to clear the clog.And Play it does! it sounds WONDERFUL! I may be an old redneck, but it sounds great to me. When I play with my kids I can definitely see the difference in sound between this yamaha and their recorders. The cheaper ones sound reedy and plasticy, or windy. This recorder sounds rich and full, assertive. It does not sound like a wooden recorder, for whatever that's worth, but I don't know if i could tell the difference to be honest.The fingering is exactly like the sopranos, but sounds an entire octave lower. Comes with recorder grease, cleaning rod, instructions, caps for the middle part, fingering chart, and a nice canvas bag with dividers for all the pieces. its a 3 piece recorder, and has a lever for the last (low c) key.As for the fingering reach, it is a stretch for me. Over the past few days I can only play for about 30 minutes until my right hand starts to ache. I believe in a week or so It wont bother me anymore after I get used to the position. I find that tilting the recorder 20 degrees to my right helps with the fingering and the bend in my wrist. Its more comfortable that way. Distance between my index finger and my pinky is 5.5 inches.