I wonder if anyone has played any of the Hohner recorders recently? I have just helped two pupils in buying two sopranos and an alto for very modest prices and they have been very pleased with them. The alto cost about £65 I think and was a nice looking instrument, well turned wood, maple, and had a good tone. It had one really bad note but a further £12 spent at the EMS in Bradford to get it tuned has put the matter right and she passed her grade 7 on it, gaining a very creditable merit. That pupil had a maple soprano too which she also used in the exam. This cost just £12 second hand! The other soprano was in cherrywood and cost £35. and this was used in a grade 8 exam and its owner passed with honours. The examiner who was also a woodturner in his spare time was very interested in them. Often the most expensive instruments are beyond the budget of young players and I find that these are very good, even if they need a little adjustment from a good technician.