Yamaha Ecodear Alto Models
Model 402B vs 302B
The Yamaha Ecodear Alto recorder, as sold in the USA, is model 402B. Yamaha's publicity said that it was the same as the regular brown 302B model, a very popular, high-quality alto (with various cosmetically different models with artificial woodgrain finishes), except for the "ecodear" plastic that it was made out of, featuring its very unique yellow color. Playing the 402B, it was immediately noticeable that it sounds different than the 302B. The 402B is much more muted and mellow ("Mellow Yellow," like the old hit song). It seemed remarkable that just the change in material should make such a difference. Well, it didn't take long for folks to notice another difference between the 302B and the 402B besides the color - the 402B has a much thinner (top to bottom) windway. In my opinion, that narrow windway is almost surely the reason the 402B sounds more muted than the 302B.Another Ecodear alto Model - the 48B
After awhile, people in the USA became aware of a different yellow alto Ecodear model, the 48B, that shows up on various non-USA websites, including Yamaha's. It is for sale in the UK for about the same price as the 402B, and often sold by the same music stores that sell the 402B. But no one knew what the difference was between them, and Yamaha wasn't saying anything, just offering both models (but not in USA). Well, I finally got my hands on a 48B, so I now have all three and can offer up some info about them, especially some images showing the differences. Basically, the 48B is an entirely different model, with a Denner beak-like mouthpiece and different styling on all the joints and the foot. It has a much thicker (top to bottom) windway than even the 302B, being somewhat like an Aulos in this respect. Click here to go to the pictures of the recorders.Playing Them and Conclusion
I usually use an Aulos 509B ("Symphony") as my plastic recorder, because I like it but also because it matches the size and feel of my Bernolin resin recorder, so it is easy to switch back and forth. When I tested all 3 Yamaha models, all 3 sound markedly more muted than the Aulos 509B (or Bernolin), so take my words as being from a non-Yamaha player. I do think that the Aulos sounds slightly more "like a plastic recorder" than the 3 Yamahas, which is probably why Yamaha has designed them the way they have, but I'm not used to that Yamaha sound at all. (The Bernolin sounds much better than any of them, of course). Anyway, generally speaking the 302B and the 48B sound very similar, with the 302B seeming somewhat more even in the middle register (where the 48B seems to vary more from note to note), but it is subtle difference. Even though all 3 sound muted to me, the 402B once again surprised me at how muted it is, even compared to the 302B and the 48B. I REALLY like the Denner-style mouthpiece on the 48B. There is more room for your chin for someone like me who tends to hold their alto at a pretty steep angle. You can see this in the pictures. I also really like the Ecodear color, so if I wanted to play a spiffy-looking plastic instrument (instead of a brown plastic-fantastic), I think I might very well use the 48B.Pictures
Below are some images of the 3 recorders. If you click on any image, you'll see a much higher resolution version (use your browser "back" button to return).
Here are 2 closer shots of the mouthpiece, showing the Denner design on the 48B
Here are 2 closer shots of the first joint and the foot joint
