Yamaha YRA-314B Alto Recorder, simulated Ebony finish, Key of F

This recorder uses the Baroque (not German) Fingering convention widely used in most countries esp the commonwealth.+: Produces beautiful warm sonorous tones ... reliable intonation and highly responsive - a joy to play ++ much more.Easy to maintain - washable. Durable. High standards of manufacture guarantee consistent homogeneous quality between each instrument - you can be confident whatyou are purchasing. Selection becomes a non issue. Losses can be replaced by simply purchasing another one and you will know that you will be purchasing similarperformance capability. Professional quality made affordable to the masses.-: Does clog somewhat after extended play but the instrument can be prepped beforehand with anti-clog solution available from recorder specialist. This was providedto me when I purchased the YRT 304B but I haven't used it yet.I am very happy with my purchase of the Yamaha YRS, YRA 314B and 316B (yes I purchased all four) which I think is at par with branded wooden recorders 6-10 times the price. A great second instrument or spare for travelling.I can personally attest that it is true that the simulated woodgrain finish versions YRA 314 & 316 (strangely enough) produce a superior tone to the normal ABS resin finish 302 model - perhaps this is due to the outer coating that resonates better. For not a lot more, the simulated wood-grain version IS well-worth paying for.YRA 312B in simulated Rosewood has a rich warm reddish brown colour whilst YRA 314B in simulated Ebony is a quieter yellow brown - both with attractive printed woodgrain finish.Yamaha did a real service to the world by making this attractive gem so affordable.

I purchased a different recorder, (the Yamaha YRA-28B Alto Recorder), and struggled to play low F. My teacher (yes, I decided to take lessons with a wonderful teacher on skype) said she could help me learn to play the low f, but I still struggled. It was NO fun at all. On a whim I purchased this recorder. It wasn't more money, in fact it may have cost even less than the YRA-28B, but I could play the low F fresh out of the box. I love the feel and look. I don't really think it looks like wood, but I still really love it. Perhaps because I can actually play it! I hope you are enjoying your hobby of playing the recorder as much as I am. I'm very happy with this purchase. Yay for the YRA-314B recorder and the ease with which I can play low f on it. I feel so technical having numbers to go with my little instrument. Like my husband, with the numbers on his bit fishing boat (engine size, footage, etc...)

I already had this in the rosewood finish so I am not sure why I ordered this one, but I liked the look of it better. When it arrived and I played it, wow! What a difference. The rosewood finish recorder is the same recorder on the inside so there shouldn't be a difference but there is. The only thing I can figure is that the rosewood finish recorder I have is 9 years old. They must have made some improvements since I got that one. This one has a nice, clean pure sound. The old one sounded more airy or something.I liked this one so much I ordered the soprano, too. I don't normally play soprano because they are so high pitched. But like the alto, it has a clean pure sound and I don't find it irritating - at least in the lower register. I haven't tried it in the higher.I would highly recommend this recorder.

I have small hands and have difficulty playing this instrument. However, it is a quality piece and has a sweet sound. Making the low sounds is challenging since I can barely cover all the holes. If my hands were bigger it would be no problem. It is pretty, and not pitchy like some recorders. Worth the money.

Having purchased the Ecodear and the 312 Yamahas, finding the Ecodear the more satisfying, as well as the Zenon Bressan and the Aulos Haka, I had given up on finding a truly satisfying plastic recorder to supplement the Moeck and Fehr and Mullenhauer wooden altos that can only be played a few minutes at a time to spare the wood. I was dubious this one would be any better, but I was pleasantly delighted with it. The tone is bright yet resonant; the low and high notes sound easily. Well worth the few extra dollars. Have the same recorder in the soprano version--it is good, but not as much better than other plastic sopranos as this alto is compared to the above group. The Bressan is probably the closest to being truly on pitch, but this one gives me pleasure. Grateful

Nice looking recorder. I finally got a tuner to see if it was in tune and most of the notes were slightly out of tune. It was very difficult to play the upper notes. All in all I was not impressed. Ended up buying the YRA-402b and it sounds much better and is much more in tune also hits the higher notes easier.