Plastic and wooden alto recorders. Mollenhauer Denner pearwood and Yamaha YRA-314B III side-by-side

[@raddyxx]

It is so nice seeing such a good looking man play the recorder so beautifully. A pleasure both for the ears and the eyes. Thank you!

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Oh thank you so much 🙈

[@rishthefish7781]

Oh you thirsty 😭😭😭😭

[@superdeluxesmell]

Lol

[@Ara-60]

Love the way you show differences between 2 recorders. Without words, only by playing.... U R fantastic. Thanks! Greetings from Chile 🇨🇱

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Oh, you are so kind ☺️ thank you! Greetings from Greece 💙

[@Michajeru]

This is an excellent comparison between plastic and wood recorders. I own both, but frankly I find myself using my Yamaha most of the time.

[@Maria-lt3lu]

Da ich gerade eine Yamaha mit einer Zen-On und Zen-On Bresson vergleiche, ist es interessant zu hören, wie die Yamaha im Vergleich mit dieser Holzflöte klingt. Wirklich kaum ein Unterschied. Sehr überzeugend. Schön auch, dass die Vorführung für sich spricht, ohne große Worte!

[@skycaptain4911]

Great video and very insightful. I have the same plastic Yamaha and a Moeke in pearwood. I'm amazed at how good the Yamaha is. Whilst it's not as flexible tonally, as a beginner I find it easier to play, and therefore in some ways more enjoyable.

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Thank you very much ☺️ I love both, and indeed, Yamaha sounds very good. Even professionals practice on this instrument, and sometimes maybe perform under specific circumstances.

[@GT-fx8fd]

Amazing review - Even better playing. Thank you for the effort to make this it REALLY helped me out 🙏🏽

[@ranradd]

Thank you. Wonderful playing! Think I'll start with the Yamaha.

[@avataranadi]

This was very educational, I did not expect the difference to be as drastic as it was.

[@chrislabish]

Excellent review and performance. I love playing this piece.

[@chiron14pl]

thanks for the comparisons. I have both wooden and plastic recorders and this was helpful in understanding their differences

[@anthonymccarthy4164]

I had a cheap 1960s era pear wood alto recorder that was surprisingly good.

[@-gordon3817]

This was EXTREMELY insightful to see/hear the difference between the plastic/wood recorders!! I played the recorder as a teen. Now in my adult years (15+ years later, I have a desire to play it again, esp.. during worship at church. I hope to remember how to read notes as well as it has been years since I played an instruments! My goal is to also buy a clarinet, which I played in high school (back then it was the school's instrument). Overall, I gained useful info from this video, & you played the recorders beautifully. It is encouraging, as it reignited my love for playing wind instruments!! All the best, from the U.S.A.

[@nickperpirakis2211]

I’m glad I helped ☺️ thank you. Greetings from Greece

[@TheKiwibird321]

Plastic is a little edgier but sounds so close in reality. I prefer plastic so I don’t have to worry about messing up a wooden one and I can play for hours. You sound great on both. Plus plastic is cheaper and you don’t have to worry about humidity or sunlight.

[@nickperpirakis2211]

In my opinion, every recorder player, in every level has to have a wooden and a plastic as well. Yes, the plastic is a bit edgier.

[@user-JM1967]

I have a Yamaha 314Biii alto plastic recorder. That's nice!

[@manymatts8719]

The wood Denner sounds nice and buttery compared to the plastic. This makes me glad I have chosen the Denner.

[@maaikegras775]

I am astonished by the sound of the plastic one. Never played plastic, just wooden recorders. But the sound of the Yamaha is really good. Even think of buying one now (easy to take with you on a holiday)

[@nickperpirakis2211]

It’s very helpful for many reasons to have a good plastic one. For practicing, for playing outside, for quick rehearsal, even to take it in luggage for holidays , you never know what opportunity may occur 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@wapolo1974]

It is surprising how good the plastic recorders are able to sound! And the resin recorders made by Bernolin are supposed to be even better!

[@TheKiwibird321]

@@wapolo1974 haven’t been able to hear many recordings of them. People should perhaps share it’s sound

[@davidgonzalez368]

@@wapolo1974 they're much better than any injection molded plastic recorders. They are more like hand made instruments that happen to be made out of plastic instead of wood.

[@wapolo1974]

@@davidgonzalez368 Oh, I have no doubt their much better than the injection molded recorders. However, since I'm still very much a beginner on the recorder, my Yamaha will probably serve me well for the next few years. ; )

[@meredith18352]

The wooden recorder is so clear and sweet.

[@jeaninekolasa8113]

great. thanks for sharing ! lovely playing

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Thank you!

[@patrickmorgan7913]

I’ve just ordered a Mollenhauer Denner in grenadilla 415Hz. Very excited! Thanks for the excellent video.

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Wow! I can feel your excitement. Thank you very much.

[@andrean.8585]

So beautifful! 👏👏👏

[@Caramel5367]

Such an informative video! Thank you

[@luckybarrel7829]

This was an amazing comparison!

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Thank you very much ☺️

[@samelliot9186]

Love my Yamaha ecodear has good response ,sounds great

[@Ratwoman5000]

I have these exact 2 recorders and found everything in the video true myself. I still love both as well. I actually use the plastic in performing music that requires a louder, broader tone, the Denner is so warm, gentle, mellow and Baroque-y... they both have their uses! I started on the Yamaha (and have the descant as well) when I came back to playing recorder last year after 17 years, and couldn't afford both sizes in wood and I gotta say these Yamahas are incredible value for money at £30 and £25 and are also very ergonomic and comfy to handle. I upgraded to the Denner this year, and am very pleased with it too although the playing in period was frustrating and now I have banned myself from playing the Y for a few weeks so that I can 'bond' properly with the D lol 😆 I am about to upgrade my descant too. I am torn between a Moeck Rottenburg in either Palisander or Grenadilla/Ebony and the Kobliczek Praetorius 1618 replica model... !!! My budget is 3-450 £'s... I want to be sure I spend that wisely! I will be over the moon with any of those honestly just choosing is so difficult when you adore recorders and ideally would take home the entire collection!

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Yes,Yamaha plastics are a very value for money choice. Now as for your soprano upgrade, I have the Moeck rottenburg in palisander and my sopranino is in grenadilla. If I could I would change my soprano to grenadilla too, but this doesn’t mean that my palissander isn’t a good instrument. I just like the feeling of grenadilla while holding it more.

[@Ratwoman5000]

@@nickperpirakis2211 Thanks for that help! I think I am going to see about getting all 3 on trial from Early Music Shop. You can never really be certain until you hold them and play them in the flesh-wood! 🎶

[@johnsonferrufino5568]

Bone, is the best sound I've heard on a flute. But I never seen a bone flute again.

[@petrkolman2904]

Thank you much for compare !

[@wapolo1974]

Lovely playing on both recorders, Nick! I thought that they would end sounding more different from each other than they actually do. The Mollenhauer does sound a bit more refined, but it’s debatable whether it that alone justifies the much higher price compared with the Yamaha. I also own the Yamaha in the rosewood finish, and find it enjoyable to play, even if I’m nowhere as talented as you are. ;) Cheers, Wilson

[@nickperpirakis2211]

The feeling while playing is different. But I’m playing only for 3 years now 😅 so I think, in that level, the instrument sounds like the player 🤷🏼‍♂️ you are so kind ☺️😁 thank you very much.

[@wapolo1974]

Btw, could you tell where I could find the sheet music for the theme and variations you played in the video?

[@nickperpirakis2211]

@@wapolo1974 it is from the “division flute “ volume one, Amadeus edition. Green sleeves to a ground

[@wapolo1974]

@@nickperpirakis2211 Hey Nick, Just another question for you; what do you do to prevent your recorder from clogging? I have the same model Yamaha as you; and I find it clogs very quickly even after warming it for 10 -15 minutes before playing. Any suggestions? :)

[@nickperpirakis2211]

@@wapolo1974 be careful the way you articulate. It maybe not clogging, but just saliva coming out from strong articulation.

[@DieterLo1]

Very good video! Thanks!

[@jeanbousquetos8262]

Super Merci beaucoup.

[@20Hikecdt23]

Thanks. I’m trying to decide if I want wood for my second alto recorder. I’m turning towards plastic I fear.

[@lisaweber1865]

Thank you for this very helpful video. I am thinking of buying a tenor recorder at the moment. I do like to play my wooden soprano recorder much more than the plastic Yamaha, even the sound of the Yamaha is really good and the higher notes easier to play. It’s just the feel to it. But I don‘t know if I am willing to pay the price for a wooden tenor yet....

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Yamaha tenor it really good 👍🏼 you can check it out on this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6jSfGannM11n5Y New video about plastic tenors coming in few days 😉

[@lisaweber1865]

@@nickperpirakis2211 thank you. I obviously watched your tenor comparison video as well . Much appreciated 🙂. I will keep my eye open for your upcoming plastic tenor video 👍🏻. Soundwise plastic tenor will be probably absolutely fine for my level of playing. I am aware of that. It is just when I play on my wooden soprano recorder it feels so much nicer (rather than necessarily sounding better, although I can play around with the strength of air much better on the wooden one...). I can’t shake this feeling and this is what keeps me from buying a plastic tenor at the moment even it would be so much more sensible... Maybe it is because I learned on wooden recorders when I was a child and never played anything else until my children started recorder lessons with plastic Yamaha ones. I am just used to the feeling of wood. I just try to figure out if I just have to get use to plastic not actually being that bad...

[@marcelo90z]

So wooden recorders are more refined and detailed in sound, but plastic recorders are easy to maintain and are ready to play at all times. Not to mention plastic recorders (depending on the model) are more affordable than wood. So one can choose either something with an exceptional sound quality but it's more expensive plus it's tricky to take care of, or you can pay less for not-so-refined sound colors but still decent, but have the easiness of a plastic instrument, in both care and transport. I guess it depends on how much a person could invest in a recorder and how often/where they would use. I have an Eco-dear Alto and Soprano set, plus a Sopranino and a Tenor plastic recorders from Yamaha and it's more than enough for me at the moment, since I'm just playing recorder as a hobby and I cannot invest in a decent wooden recorder yet. And it's enough for me that I can take any of them anywhere and don't worry about humidity or the climate.

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Plastic recorders are fine, especially models like the Yamaha you mentioned. Even professional recorder players are using plastic instruments not only for practicing but also for performance. The wood yes, it’s more refined. And the feeling when playing is different. But, as Sarah Jeffrey says, the recorder sounds like the player no matter the material is.

[@marcelo90z]

@@nickperpirakis2211 True. Most of the time, we forget 80% of the gist of it is skill, so it's no use having the best Mollenhauer model from the market, costing a dozen thousands of euros/pounds/dollars, and making it sound like a squeaky toy x_x

[@Marianofrv]

Totally agree

[@pedrohbrinck]

What do you think about models? Could you please tell me the difference between Bressans, Denners, Stanesby and Rottenburghs? I always wondered what the differences are.

[@nickperpirakis2211]

That’s a very good question! I wish I could answer. I want to check it out too. I think that is a very nice idea proposing to a professional player, like Sarah Jeffery, to make a video about it😁

[@535Salomon]

Actually, I believe the following. Since those makers lived in different periods of time then they created their instruments based on the demand of the musical era 🤔

[@meeguu]

How do you feel about the intonation? I have a plastic and wooden soprano, and though they sound almost the same on a recording, the intonation of the plastic one is much worse than on the wooden one. As in, it takes me considerably more effort to play in tune. How is that for the yamaha? Thanks I really like your videos, very clear and concise and the sound is good!

[@hachirocom-eb3fw]

I also use the same instrument. But with these two instruments in particular, the height difference between the thumb and index finger of the left hand is quite different, right?　Doesn't that bother you?

[@davidm1922]

That's a great comparison. How long had you been playing when you recorded that video?

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Thank you. I started learning the recorder in 2018

[@john21percent]

Answer quickly: You have to go somewhere for a month and u can pick just one recorder. Which one would you take with you?

[@nickperpirakis2211]

The plastic 😁

[@john21percent]

@@nickperpirakis2211 40 euros wins!! 😂😂

[@kc0dxf]

How do you think Moek Rottenburgh would compare with Mollenhouer Denner?

[@nickperpirakis2211]

I planning a video comparing my Rottenburgh and my denner alto ☺️

[@johnylopez]

Sound wood is perfect

[@luluflowers9277]

Thanks for sharing! Are both of them chromatic?

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Recorder is a chromatic instrument

[@BevMattocks]

To be honest, not much difference between them? But why oh why do they make plastic recorders look... so plastic... and shiny? Like school recorders. ☹️ Why don't they replicate the look of a typical wood recorder?

[@kosiekoos9408]

Wood for best sound

[@rosesez3428]

My wooden tenor Mollenhauer broke at the joint. 😭

[@nickperpirakis2211]

Oh my 🤭 how? Fell down?

[@rosesez3428]

@@nickperpirakis2211 sadly, yes. Fell off a table. Not many repair options, might need someone with good woodworking skills to just gorilla glue the two pieces plus the small chip into place and secure it long enough for the glue to hold. Open to suggestions as to how to repair it, or shops in the area. Covid making that option less probable.

[@nickperpirakis2211]

@@rosesez3428 I wish knew something that could be helpful. Just try to find an instrument technician and ask him. I wish to find a solution soon

[@lisaweber1865]

@@rosesez3428 try the Early Music Shop. You can call them and they can give you at least advice. They have a very good recorder guy who might be able to repair it. You just have to send the recorder in, no need to drive all the way there. You can find more information on: earlymusicshop.com/pages/repairs

[@makelovenotwarful]

[@lukerowley700]

What is the name of this piece?

[@nickperpirakis2211]

It’s the “Green Sleeves to a Ground” from the Division Flute vol 1

[@lukerowley700]

@@nickperpirakis2211 Thank you Nick!