My 6 year old recorder pupil has been learning on the all black Yamaha descant, presumably passed down from a sibling from school. I think (and my teacher agrees) the 302B series are the best series, but I don't know if there is enough difference to justify asking his mum to get the 302 instead. Does anyone know them both?

Also I was speaking to a well known recorder dealer who always dismisses the Yamaha as 'hard sound, tuning problems, underblowing' etc. and suggests Aulos, but somehow I can't stand the Aulos recorders. Any opinions there?

Speaking personally, I think that both Yamaha and Aulos recorders have their particular strengths. I find the Yamahas have a clear, piping sound with quite a weight of sound behind them. The Aulos voicings tend to produce a more rounder, sweeter sound. Each sound has its merits.

Some people prefer a recorder that speaks easily without too much puff. Others, perhaps used to orchestral woodwind, prefer more resistance.

The Yamahas are certainly voiced after the famous Rottenburgh models and suit solo work, whilst the Aulos models blend better with other recorders.

I like them both!

The all-black ones aren't anywhere near as good - I politely insist that all my beginners use the 302s. Yamaha 302s aren't expensive instruments anyway - a good student instrument for about a tenner - surely no-one could complain about that!

I don't like the Aulos range much, by the way - EXCEPT for the sopranino, which is far better than the Yamaha one.

The Yammy 302B series is definitely a step up from their 24B series, but to be fair, they represent the difference between a good entry level class instrument and a proper solo-capable model.

You're right - it's funny how Yamaha still haven't produced a decent plastic sopranino recorder - the Aulos wins every time.

The Dolmetsch Nova series also gets the thumbs up from many players, and it has its own distinct voicing too - perhaps a nice blend between the two Japanese protagonists.

I learnt on the Aulos recorders and know they make a reliable sound, but I prefer the sound of the Yamahas too, particularly the wood-effect ones.

What I don't like are parents who purchase recorders that do not play in tune with themselves. If I can not play them in tune, what hope have their children!

The reason Yamaha doesn't have a sopranino is almost certainly because that size is not used routinely in schools here...children start with the descant recorder, and the alto and sometimes tenor are added as they get older, but for some reason, the smaller sizes don't get a look in.

As for Aulos vs. Yamaha at entry level...you'll be happy to know that the battle rages back and forth here too!

I think it is a pity that the Sopranino does not get a look in.

When my parents realised that I was a reasonable descant player and thought I should learn an F recorder my hands were too small for the treble so they bought me a sopranino. It fitted like a glove, and soon I had completed the Michael Aaron recorder book on it, no squeeks other than the bright tone of the sopranino.

I was gutted therefore when the school forced me to learn the treble. I knew all the fingerings, I'd been using them for about a year on the sop. but I could not reach a bottom F. I was asked by the Recorder teacher to play a Treble Solo, because up until that time I was his star player and I declined as I did not want to make a fool of myself with my titchy fingers unable to cover the holes.

Nowadays, I can make a decent job of the treble, I think my Grade 7 proves that, but I am still drawn to the descant and sopranino. I have a Tenor, a Zen-on; it is the only one I can consitently get the bottom notes out of.

Had the school put me in for ABRSM Descant Recorder exams so I had something to be proud of, then it would have given me time to get over my disappointment over the the diddy finger problem.

I have an aged all black Aulos and it is a super little thing. A good round sound and good intonation. I am not sure of the model number; I am off to my studio in a few moments so I'll take a look. It is my grab-and-go soprano when I just need to demonstrate something and don't want to warm up a wooden one.
I was very surprised at how good the Hornby sopranos were when I troed some two or three years ago. I think that if Ii were to ask a youngster to replace a recorder I would suggest the Mollenhauer swing.