AulosA507B Sopranino 3-Piece Recorder

This is a Sopranino, not a Soprano recorder. It is a higher pitched recorder. It plays one octave above the alto recorder. This is what I wanted and this is what I got.I have been wanting a Sopranino for a year or so, doing research on different brands. Originally I was thinking Yamaha but then I started seeing some reviews of Aulos recorders and was impressed.Pro: this little recorder has great sound without being too shrill. It is easy to tune and once tuned all notes are in tune. It is good quality construction without any noticeable defects. The case is simple but effective but is soft so it could be crushed if care is not taken. It is lightweight but feels sturdy in your hands. Just as the Alto recorder it is in the key of F ( expected if you know about recorders). I love this recorder and am so glad I got it.Con:It is plastic, but I already knew that so this is not really that much of a surprise. There really are no cons.If you are actually looking for a Sopranino recorder this one is great.

I purchased this instrument along with an Angel Sopranino to scrutinize the differences in quality between the two brands. The Angel was a much cheaper sopranino, coming in at just $8.49, so I didn't really expect it to beat the Aulos in terms of quality. To be fair, Angel makes very nice recorders, but their cheapest sopranino (the Angel 301N) is really just a promotional item with no real quality control. It wasn't worth the money, so it turned out that the comparison was not a fair shake between the two companies. I just want to be clear, I'm not knocking the Angel company because they make some nice stuff. I have an Angel Alto recorder whose sound is just fantastic, no other brand has matched it yet.The Angel 301N, bless it's poorly constructed little heart, is a piece of junk. This Aulos A507B on the other hand is very well put together, has a rich sound, is very responsive, and the highest notes sing out clearly and easily. I'm very impressed with it. It's sound may even be better than the Yamaha Sopranino I've had for a few years now.As always, I'm impressed with Aulos. They still make very nice plastic recorders. Maybe even the best.

I'm pretty impressed with the quality of this little Sopranino. Its the only one on Amazon that comes in 3 pieces, which is really pretty nice if you have large hands like I do and want to get the right pinky in just the right position. The sound is also very good, it compares well to the Susato tin whistles that I have, though it of course has the benefit of all recorders of being chromatic versus the diatonic tin whistles. I have heard good things about the Yamaha Sopranino 2 piece recorder via the lady that does the Team Recorder videos. She prefers the Yamaha for a plastic Recorder, so be sure to check out that one too.

As the satisfied owner of the Aulos Symphony Series Alto (509B) & Aulos (keyed) Tenor (511B), I thought I'd purchase the 507B Sopranino purely for fun.As with other Aulos resin recorders, the Sopranino offers a surprisingly clear, rich, sweet tone.I'm finding this to be more of a "serious" instrument than initially expected, and am actually applying myself with similar exercises (etudes, etc.) as I do on my Alto & Tenor models.Of course due to its handy size (9-3/4"), the portability-factor makes it more of a constant-companion than my larger recorders. I often pop it into my day-bag and find myself playing it while on a break, a short hike, etc.While a resin recorder will never replicate the warm, mellow tone of a wooden, handmade instrument, the savings (often several thousand $'s), and the ease of playing/maintenance will handily make-up for the deficit.The Aulos line is a very good compromise.Re: the difference between Yamaha and Aulos...While both are quality Japanese companies, and while Yamaha may have better name-recognition, once you've played an Aulos you'll understand the preference for their recorders.I began on a Yamaha Soprano as a child, but once I began playing Aulos, there was no turning back.It is often said that Yamaha is a better instrument for modern music, while the Aulos excels in the Classical realm. Not necessarily so. Much of the "end-tone" is dependent on the player. As an experienced recordist, I'm able to play both Renaissance/Baroque and contemporary music equally well on my Aulos recorders.I have no intention of putting-down Yamaha recorders, but I find them to naturally produce a more shrill sound vs. Aulos.Clearly my preference is for Aulos, and this 507B Sopranino is a sweet little addition to my collection.Thanks for reading,- CC, Amazon Prime Member-Reviewer

I have played flute and recorder for many years. This is not my first sopranino -- I have a Hohner "Ensemble" in maple that I bought in 1985-ish.The Aulos is a tiny little recorder, constructed in three pieces, with a curved windway and a fairly tight voicing.The sound is surprisingly good, round, not super loud, and actually both softer and less shrill than my old maple sopranino. Doing some testing with the digital tuner shows the recorder is well in tune with itself through its range at A=440.This should not be your first recorder. And don't buy this for a child. <smile> But if you play recorder and you are wanting a sopranino, this is one hell of a nice little recorder for the price of a pizza.

I have had for thirty years the older 207 version of the Aulos sopranino which was considered at the time the best alternative to expensive wood instruments, and was happy enough with it. This 507 model has a new design with much narrower bore, arched windway, and it is really well constructed. The tone is excellent and in tune in the whole range, articulation is smooth. You get a professional instrument for less than $20. Kind of unbelievable. The 207 was great for practice, the 507 could be used in the concert hall.