Aulos Recorder (A103N)

Great!

I have written reviews of several of the recorders I have bought on Amazon over the past several years. Although I have tried wood, and several of the Aulos upscale recorders, I find myself only playing the 103N these days. It is 1-piece, it has only single holes for low C and D, and it is the cheapest recorder I own. To get by the negatives: the single low holes mean that C# and D# are quite tricky to master, and 1-piece means it is more difficult to swab (you must judge just the right amount of tissue, or submerge the thing in soapy water). In return for that, you get the sweetest sounding of any Aulos I own (a half dozen or so), and, yes, it is 'made in Japan'. Low C and D (not the sharps) are not only easy to blow, they sound good. It is the only recorder on which I consistently hit high C (above the stave, as notated) without raising my blood pressure (or that of my family). It also has a built-in thumb rest, and I use a thumb rest (on all my recorders), so I appreciate that this one does not move or break. I also appreciate not having to use joint grease. This may not be the ideal start for a budding professional, but it is the best amateur recorder I know of.