Yamaha Ecodear Alto YRA-402B Recorder. Unboxing & Review.
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2021
- As a keen beginner recorder player, I’m always happy to try out different recorders to see what they offer... this time it’s Yamaha’s Alto Ecodear YRA-402B, based on a Rottenburgh design.
Overall I really like this recorder, but I would like to see more info on it’s environmentally friendly credentials!
The video isn’t sponsored. These are my views as a player with only a few months experience, which hopefully other beginners may find helpful 🙂
Find me on Instagram: @claythorpemusic
Thanks for watching!
![Lp. Последняя Реальность #107 РОДНОЙ ДОМ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IK3QKzKUlHM/mqdefault.jpg)
The Ecorecorder has a lovely sound and I can tell you're advancing in your
playing
It has a pleasing tone I have a Treibert
Alto recorder which is more difficult to
play at times and not satisfied with it
but I just ordered a Haka treble and I'm
sure I'll be delighted
I love watching your videos and Sarah’s videos as well y’all are so cool
Glad you enjoyed your purchase, I've just bought one too, perhaps to rediscover my youthful recorder playing days, but hopefully without those shrill school recorder tones of the '70s. I didn't buy it for the supposed eco benefits. I believe you can't go wrong with Yamaha as I know from all the Yamaha synths I've bought down the years. This isn't so much ecodear more ecocheap, it's at a very affordable price to begin my journey, box ticked. Its appearance also reminds me of white chocolate, which is no bad thing in my books! Loving all your fantastic videos, taking note of any recommrndations (no pressure) and I can't wait for more of your recorder vids; subbed and liked x
This is the first recorder I purchased and I love it.
Thank you for such a good quality and detailed review for Ecodear Tenor recorder
I enjoy watching your videos and feel you are progressing nicely on your journey. You mentioned condensate building up easier with the curved and narrower windway. This is a common performance issue regardless of whether you play wood or plastic recorders. Imagine dealing with it during a performance of a sonata and you have 20 measures till the end of the movement with a few hundred people in the audience. To solve when you take a breath, start with you lips sealed on the beak and draw through the windway opening your lips immediately to finish your breath. That small amount of air backwards through the windway will dry it out. My may need to repeat to the end. I practice this when preparing for performance because you must be ready for little issues to popping up. The reason for the condensation is a cool instrument meeting your warm moist breath. Warm your recorder up before playing. If your recorder is body temperature the moisture of your breath will pass on through. Stay dry.
Thanks for the tip! Of course at the moment I just practice at home, alone, so I have the luxury of simply stopping, sorting it out and carrying on! Sounds like a good method for working with the problem during a performance. I’ll add it into practice! For some reason I religiously warm my wooden recorder before I’ll play it, but never bother to do so for the plastic ones 🤔 But then this Ecodear clogs far more often than any of the others. But not the end of the world. I’ll have to get into the habit of warming it first, too!
Actually, it's not quite true that wooden recorders have the same issue. A wooden block is designed to absorb moisture, something plastic can not do. The "solution" you mention, the sucking back/up of moisture, is at best an emergency measure - one which only prolongs the problem, because by doing so, you're sucking colder room air into the windway and that means your warm breath will condense even more readily. The best solution for preventing condensation is to warm up the instrument properly before playing. It should at least be at body temperature.
I really like this Ecodear range of recorders, As you said, it can be unforgiving of breath pressure and thumb placement, but I find this is no worse than the Aulos Haka range.
This isn't the only Ecodear alto recorder in this range, as they also make the YRA48B model. This is not a Rottenburgh copy, but Yamaha's own design based on their many years of recorder making expertise. I own all 3 of the Ecodear recorders, and the most used is the YRA48B. It is easiest to play and best sound for the music I like to play, with an ever so slightly mellower tone than the 402B model.
When it comes down to it, it's all down to personal preferences and the skill of the person playing it that counts.
I do wish Yamaha would make a Tenor version in this range. Until then I'll stick with my Aulos Symphony 511B Tenor and the Ecodear soprano and Alto's.
I bought the YRA-402B and am so pleased with it too.
Thank you for a balanced review. Bio-friendly credentials aside, I really like the feel ( a tiny bit heavier) and the sound (darker, rounder) of the Ecodear alto over the 300 series Yamahas. Haven't tried the Aulos line yet, though. The Yamahas always have great intonation, which I really notice. Just got a Kung Studio Comfort tenor. So far I like it, and the keywork makes it so much easier to play than the Yamaha tenor. I couldn't afford a Denner, but I loved the sound of a Mollenhauer Canta comfort tenor I tried. The sound just sings in the upper register, but the Kung's keywork worked better from my hands.
I agree, I do enjoy that darker sound from the ecodear.
I am grateful for the keyword on my tenor every day- makes it a joy to play!
Great review. CONGRATULATIONS. I also enjoy playing the yamaha ecodear.😀👍🥰
Thanks! I’ve seen you with your Ecodear, lovely playing 🤩👍
I have the soprano version of this recorder and I really like it. I'm a beginner with not much money and I think these recorders are really good value. I've ordered the alto version for Christmas and can't wait to unbox it and have a go. Poor neighbours.
Happy to sub, and well done; thats proper British English eye dew believe? My 1st ABS noise making unit will be arriving just in time four Charlie Browns Great Pumpkin airing. Very serious & my boring attempt at humor, great video! Audio, visuals, all just very fine. The additional editing and tech. options you've chosen are what makes this a excellent production. Great work! Now, since this is my first viewing on your channel I'm off to explore, many thanks I know it takes so much time and much success to you. Jesus wins. SS from MI.✝
It's "green" credentials are vastly overhyped. Only 30% of the material used is plant-based. 70% is exactly the same as other recorders. Not a game-changer. But it's a very good plastic recorder!
Yes, I definitely have my suspicions about the green credentials. I found out as much I could about it and saw no concrete evidence that this material is any better for the environment than conventional plastic. But I didn’t want to go too in depth in the video (after all, I might be wrong!) But I hope folk do their own research, if they’re interested, and make their own conclusions. I totally agree, eco stuff aside, it is a great plastic recorder!
Why the offensiveness? Isn't something better than nothing? Jeez.
thanks for this video! got the 312B instead for my first recorder ☺️
You’re welcome! First recorder- exciting! Hope you have fun!
I ordered this based on other reviews and side by said comparisons with other plastic/resin recorders. Then I found this video. Just more confirmation that this was a sound purchase for my first "real" recorder. (My first one was a crazy cheap piece of bleep.)
You made a good choice! It’s gonna feel so much better than your piece of bleep… happy playing!
My first alto, and my faithful workhorse! Doesn't need any pampering, unlike my diva of a Fehr palisander alto.
I’m not sure I’d like the responsibility of caring for a palisander, I haven’t gone beyond softwoods yet! 😅
Me: Immediately goes to Amazon to purchase upon hearing sound described as: has a “meaty umpf”. 😂
Ha, I’m waiting to be headhunted by Yamaha’s marketing department any day now!
I bought the Yamaha Eco dear in soprano and alto as well, and vastly prefer the Aulos Haka in soprano and alto. These Yamaha are great for traveling, though, and are what I'll have my children practice with at first.
I agree, so far I’m definitely preferring Aulos over Yamaha in general. But there is lots to like about this Ecodear… Wish I could combine all my favourite bits into one magical recorder!
I think it has a nicer, creamier sound than other plastic recorders but it really doesn't sound like wood.
I agree!
Well, it's not.
@@MarkEWallace well, obviously. I was responding to Yamaha's claim that it has a sound similar to wood.
@@MarkEWallaceVery astute
Thanks for the review! How do you like it compared to the Thomann? For plastic recorders, which one would you best recommend for newer players? Thanks again!
You’re welcome ☺️ For only around £10 the Thomann is very good! It has a particular sound, quite reedy, and a little soft, which I like. But if you’re happy to spend around £30 to get the Yamaha, I would recommend it as the best all rounder for a newer player. It feels very good quality, and is more reliable (in my opinion) across a wider range of notes than the Thomann (I think it is more difficult to get the higher notes to play well on the Thomann). Hope this helps!
What a lovely video, girl
🧡❤
Helo! If possible, make a comparison between the YRA-302B III model (or any of the 300 series) and say if it really sounds smoother and more harmonious than yours. Thank you very much.
Hi! I currently don’t have a 300 series recorder... but I will do a comparison- it just might not be for a few weeks! If you haven’t already seen this video, there is a nice little sound comparison of an Ecodear and a 300 series by @RecorderFun: ua-cam.com/video/f5GKTZ3rWp0/v-deo.html 😊
Yeah
I noticed plastic gets condensation quicker too.
I suppose wood can absorb a bit of moisture 🤔
I have several alto recorders... and this one compared to the "classic brown/white ABS" definitly sounds colder... feels like "dead" in my hands. I would strongly recommend to try and compare before you buy one - sorry my bad english // Sie ist schwerer als die gute alte Yamaha ABS, klingt vergleichsweise kalt und flach... fühlt sich unter den Händen tot an; das Material ist zu steif... vielleicht im Diskant ein bisschen klarer... aber ihr fehlt die Wärme.
Looks like you are able to play the highest F 🥰
I’m slowly getting there with the high notes... slowly 😅
how often should u grease ur recorder?
Hmm, no hard or fast rule, I think. I put some on whenever I notice the recorder parts aren’t sliding together very easily. Maybe once every three weeks or so… it maybe depends how often you dismantle/ assemble/ wash the recorder. I use it sparingly because I imagine it gets claggy if you put too much on!
I'm not fond of their recorder cream unless it doesn't seem to go together.
Oh it did the job, that was just my awkward assembly in front of the camera 😅 I did put it together properly before playing. It is actually a different texture from regular cork grease, I thought they’d just tried a fancier name!
@@ClaythorpeMusic I have found that Yamaha's recorder cream can become like glue if the recorder is left together so I stopped using it and I have no problem putting instruments together without it. I haven't had the sticking problem like many people have, especially on their bass.
@@davidmdyer838 ah I see, thanks for the heads up! It’s rare that I leave my recorders assembled, but I’ll keep an eye on the state of the cream!
You should affiliate market for Amazon so we can click a link in the profile. :)
If I can figure out how to, I will. If only so people can click and read what I’m waffling on about 🙂
But…GMO corn ?
Nope, plant based plastics are still plastics. And the measly amount of CO2 locked in by the plant is not going to be very helpful. On the bright side, their plastic products are really good and whichever you buy, ecodear or not, a yamaha plastic recorder will prolly last you for life and you can even hand it down to reduce waste. They're good instruments and one where I'd not mind the use of plastic cause wood is just prohibitively expensive for beginners.
Yep, this is a decent recorder, at a fair price, and I reckon they should concentrate on marketing that, rather than any eco ‘credentials’.
@@ClaythorpeMusic Precisely!
@Black Bamboo Amen
But ...is it a SOLID PLASTIC...???✨🤔✨
To me, this very recorder was a disappointment (the way it sounds) - but for practicing is OK
Yamaha YRA-300 Series recorders are much better instruments
It is hard to take environmental credits seriously when Yamaha award them to themselves... For me, this is still plastic, it is now on this planet forever unless it is burnt which is why I wouldn't buy one. It sounds nice and seems cheap at 28 pounds.
Appalling music spoils a good review.
I don't see any point in using plastic instruments as a beginner. You can get a very good used wood instrument, e.g. Moeck Rottenburgh for the same price, so there is really no need to play that plastic crap
There are definitely some good quality plastic instruments around now, personally I enjoy swapping between plastic and wood. I’m pretty sure I’ve caused some damage early on to my pearwood soprano by clumsily forcing out higher notes while playing on it for far too long. Sometimes I appreciate some indestructible plastic! Each to their own, though 🙂
@@ClaythorpeMusic I bought a soprano recorder in wood (Hohner), at the price of the ecodear alto, and It seems that some notes are not in tune... So I think the plastic ones are more reliable... compared to cheap wooden recorder. But I would like to know where one can find Moeck Rottenburgh at this low price... I don't think it is so easy to find these recorders at low price, even used...
@Black Bamboo I have three of them. And two Mollenhauer Denner. Each for less than a new plastic. Just look on the used market.
@Black Bamboo Germany
Definite benefit of a plastic recorders is they take a lot more abuse. I'm clumsy (they've been dropped down the stairs etc) and I tend to go through phases of practicing manically and neglecting them for weeks. I can decide I want to play, pick them up (hopefully not drop them down the stairs), throw them in a sink with some washing up liquid, leave them to dry for a couple of hours and they're good to go. A wooden recorder would never survive me.