I have a Yamaha ABS tenor and I'd like to buy a second tenore recorder, inexpensive but still of acceptable quality, to keep in my car.
I have seen Woodnote tenors (ivory colors) on EBay on sale for $ 35.00 including shipping. The seller told me that they are made in China in a factory who made recorders for Yamaha in the past (not anymore) and that they are still following the Yamaha design. They are Yamaha copies.
But I don't know if the quality is decent. I have read some (positive) reviews of the Woodnote bass, but never of a tenor. Is there some Woodnote tenor owner who can post a review ? Thanks!
I finally got a new Woodnote Tenor from the Woodnote E Bay seller.
All in ivory color. Upon examination side by side with my Yamaha Tenor, I can confirm that the Woodnote is an exact copy.Even the thickness of the ABS body is the same (i.e. quite thick and robust).
It looks really nice, and it comes with a bag that is better made than the Yamaha one.
This recorder surprises me because I believe that its quality is higher than its price ($ 35.00 including Priority Mail shipping from California to Michigan, got here in two days). I played it three hours tonight, and compared it side by side with the Yamaha.
In a side by side comparison, the Yamaha wins because it is louder and more resonant. But if you play the Yamaha and the Woodnote not side by side, but separately, they seems almost identical.
The only small negative that I could find is that the D#/Eb note is a bit weak (it is weak in most recorders, including the Yamaha, but in the case of the Woodnote it is particularly weak).Luckily, this is not a note that is played often. Apart from that, I think it is an excellent purchase for the price.
Would I recommend it to a budget conscious player who wants a decent tenor that can be brought everywhere and left in the car with no worries ? definitely yes.
I received the matte black Woodnote tenor from England a few weeks ago. I have never had access to either the Woodnote ivory version or the plastic Yamaha tenor, but for what it's worth I've heard that Woodnote's black tenor sounds superior to the Yamaha tenor, although taking into account the dollar/pound exchange rate, both cost almost exactly the same (and more than the ivory Woodnote).
<Added>
The vendor of my new Woodnote black tenor was Elida Trading, they have a website.
searching...
