Yamaha YRA-28B Alto Recorder, Key of F Baroque

8 reviews for Yamaha YRA-28B Alto Recorder, Key of F Baroque

1. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   >^..^< – April 5, 2018

   I already have the Yamaha Alto in the wood grain and the Ecodear. They both have the curved windway. I can feel a good bit of air resistance when playing. So, I read that starting with the straight windway is easier. So, I ordered this recorder. First, this is not some cheapy, thin plastic recorder. This recorder is made from the same stuff the more expensive Yamaha plastic recorders are made from (not including the Ecodear). It is heavy plastic – very solid. This is not a child’s toy. This is a quality instrument. It is top notch construction just like the others. It looks much better than the picture, too. It is not white – it is a cream color. Very nice looking. In fact, I like the looks of it better than the brown. It comes in a nice blue bag with a fingering chart, a cleaning rod, and some recorder grease. Don’t throw the plastic covers and joiners away! Use them when you dismantle the recorder and put it back in its bag. I do notice less air resistance in this one compared to the others. That is good. It is what I was looking for. As to reach, it is a little hard for my small hands (no different from the other Yamahas, though). The third hole from the top is offset ever so slightly and that is good. My problem is reaching the bottom holes with the right hand. The foot of the recorder can be turned and that helps. It also helps not the have a death grip on the recorder and I will relax some soon! I also think the more I play the easier my reach with be as my hands adjust. I am very pleased with the recorder!Read more

2. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Mr Jonathan A Field – October 12, 2018

   I’m an amateur musician, and don’t have much to compare this recorder to, so I can’t vouch that if you’re a professional, you’ll like it as much as I have, but I like it a lot. I’ve been playing penny whistle for fun. After getting this recorder and learning how to use it, I now find penny whistle frustratingly limiting. The range of music you can play on recorder vs penny whistle is vastly higher. All those sharps and flats, easy to reach. Play in a very large number of keys, easily, vs penny whistle typically gives you maybe two keys easily. This particular recorder feels very solid and well made. I like the weight of it. I never notice it being too heavy nor too light as I play it – I don’t even think of its weight as I play it – I simply naturally find myself enjoying the feel of it in my hands. I very much enjoy the sound quality in the upper two thirds or so of the lower octave, and find the sound quality in the lower two thirds of the upper octave very pleasant (but the upper portion of the lower octave is the most beautiful to my ear). Lowest notes are limiting, at least for me: It might be a fault with me as the player, or with me not having bothered to apply the lubricating grease that came with it, or perhaps somehow due to me never formally cleaning the instrument (although I look inside it from time to time, and it looks clean), but for some reason, I find the lowest notes difficult to play with pleasant tone at volume. I can play them very quietly with pleasant tone most of the time. But I was expecting rich, clear, reverberating lowest notes at decent volume, instead of very quiet to get decent tone. Again, the recorder might be well capable of it and me be at fault for this – I don’t know. I greatly enjoy playing this instrument, and have come to a deep appreciation of the recorder as a technology. The different ways you can finger to get the same note, allowing selection of most appropriate fingering for whatever note you’re going to play next (or you’ve just played). (Contrast the penny whistle.) The clean, clear sounds (contrast the distinctive penny whistle breath-y tone, which has its own charm, but it’s nice to be able to play something _without_ that breath-iness). The almost effortless production of notes and tunes that I enjoy playing and hearing myself play. Also, I love how wonderfully well this comes packaged. There is a case (a good one), and end caps, that allow the recorder to be broken down to approx half its length for travel or storage, and protected very well while doing so. Most of the time, the recorder sits on one of my desks, and I pick it up often a dozen or more times in a day and enjoy tooting out a little tune for a minute or a few. But when I travel, I can take it with me, without its assembled length being a problem.Read more

3. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Hush – August 17, 2020

   I already own the Yamaha 24B Soprano Recorder and while I enjoy playing it, I find it’s noise to be a little shrill at times. I’ve heard that the Alto Recorder has a very low, pleasant sound so I went ahead about this one. First off, this recorder is so much bigger than the Soprano and the finger holes are significantly farther apart. This takes some getting used to, but with my past experience stretching my fingers on a flute, this didn’t take too long. The sound is most definitely lower and more mellow than the Soprano which is exactly what I was looking for. The zip up bag is good quality and comes sectioned off in the middle to sepearte the Alto when it’s taken apart. I noticed that the back of the bag has a name tag sleeve which you can take out and write on. Other reviewers mentioned there being plastic caps on the ends. KEEP THOSE! There is even a sheet of paper included that explains that those caps are to protect the recorder. Other things included are the fingering sheet with care instructions, contact information, 2g worth of recorder cream (use very thinly and when joints get too tight), and a plastic cleaning rod. Overall, this recorder is quickly becoming my favorite for it’s more pleasant tones and with all the extra goodies, it makes the price for those recorder (which was $18.99) totally worth it.Read more

4. 

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Emma K – June 5, 2020

   Purchased this today and had a good play on it. I can read music but like to play by ear mostly. Flute (recorder) has a nice enough tone and is a full eight hole octave, in the normal British fingering Baroque Style with the handy half holes which is used by schools, music colleges, universities etc. It is of a sturdy, well made construction, rather like the Aulios but unlike other makes, this comes in a nice cheery cream colour, which makes a pleasant change to your usual dark tones. Accessories are a zipper fabric ‘protection case’ along with a fingering chart, tub of joint lube – which is obviously vaseline ! – a plastic cleaning rod, joint protection spacers and a contact list of Yamaha global head offices. Dropped a star cos it clogs quite easily which can affect sound quality, but that’s what you have to expect with plastic and for this price range. More expensive ones are more refined and don’t clog so easily, neither do the wooden ones; but bear in mind wood is harder to clean. If it’s an issue for you and you need to play reliably for longer periods of time, then it’s best to spend double this price at least. I’m happy enough with mine though, as it goes the distance for me before clogging (about half an hour) and serves its purpose. Comfortable for a teenager/adult to hold with an average to small handspan and easy enough to get your fingers around. I originally learned recorder in the typical key of C and this starts in F but it was surprisingly easy to make the adjustment AND I much prefer the Alto to those squeaky school Sopranos!!Read more

5. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Zarani – March 7, 2020

   It has a pleasant alto sound compared to the soprano version – hence we purchased this. My wife can play it brilliantly. Build quality is also excellent, it feels good to hold in your hands.Read more

6. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   lisajc3 – July 8, 2018

   Nice sound. I’ve enjoyed learning it.Read more

7. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   TRACEY M. – January 17, 2020

   Bought for Xmas present my son loved itRead more

8. 

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Marta – May 20, 2019

   High quality instrument with a nice sound.Read more