Mollenhauer 2246 Canta Alto Recorder

ottima costruzione, la chiavetta per il fa-fa# è veramente molto funzionale e mi permette di raggiungere le note più facilmente che con il doppio foro tradizionale (io che ho le mani piccole), però nel complesso sono rimasto un po' deluso, il suono si sente che è di livello inferiore al prezzo che ha lo strumento, è meno ricco e corposo rispetto ad un Mollenhauer Denner che costa 100 euro in meno, quindi la chiavetta non può far alzare il prezzo così tanto... e poi l'apertura del becco è più corta rispetto ad altri modelli e l'aria che si riesce a far passare è poca, quindi si rischia spesso di fare troppa pressione col fiato e di "rompere" l'armonica e di produrre fischi, il suono insomma è più instabile di altri strumenti che richiedono più aria, è tipicamente fatto per principianti - l'ho rimandato indietro, rinuncio alla comodità della chiavetta, recupero 100 euro e passo ad un Denner normale (ho già un alto Moeck Rotthenburg in legno di pero che suona splendidamente)

After many years of happy playing my venerable wooden Aura A5A alto and my plastic workhorse Yamaha YRA-312BII alto, I decided to upgrade to a Canta 2246 alto with F/F#-keys.
It took me some months to really appreciate the sound of the Canta, but after two years of intensive playing, I can say that I am very happy with this instrument.
On all aspects: build quality, look and feel, playability, fingering, sound quality and price, the Canta 2246 alto is an excellent recorder.

On the positive side:

Fingering: the low E has the usual Baroque 01, but lacks the well-known Baroque alternative 023. I am a fervent 023-player, but I have discovered that I can do without it very well.

Keys: the F/F#-keys are positioned 'the other way around'. Seen from the player, the F-key sits right and the F#-key sits left. Initially this is very counter-intuitive, but after a while it appears to be a very clever idea of Mollenhauer.
First of all, the F is very easy to reach, as it sits exactly under the pinkie finger.
Second, pressing the F requires pressing only one key-spring at a time, and not both springs simultaneously as on most keyed recorders. Pressing F# requires a substantial movement of the pinkie finger to the left and pressing two springs simultaneously (thus requiring more force), but as F# is less often played than F this is a far better solution.
Third: the F#-key has a small roller in it, and this roller enables the player (after a bit of training) to play a perfectly smooth legato from F to F# and back.

However, on the negative side, and having nothing to do with the Canta itself:

Above everything else, I buy a recorder for its sound quality, and for that reason good sound samples are of paramount importance. In my experience, the sound samples as provided by Mollenhauer (and most other recorders makers) and Thomann on their respective websites are next to useless for making a buying decision. As a consequence, I think our suppliers have some homework to do.

And.... being so happy with my Canta alto, I recently decided to upgrade my Yamaha plastic tenor YRT-304B II, to -guess what?- a Canta C/C# tenor.
This Canta tenor made me just as happy as the Canta alto did two years ago, apart from one point: the F-key did not close completely. As I did not want to buy a brand new recorder only to receive a repaired one, I decided to return it. Leaving me with the question: if not my beloved Canta tenor, which tenor shall I buy?

By-the-way: the return-process worked out perfectly. Well done, Thomann!

I selected this model because the double keys would make fingering more convenient and rapid and secure. It is only available in pear wood, which is one of the plainer woods for Mollenhauer recorders. However, I am pleasantly surprised with how well it has played in over just one week and the upper register has grown more decisive/articulate and clear and bright while the lower register is solid and warm. At first my Denner model (also pear wood) sounded very superior, however this little one has improved so much in one week of playing that I am very content. Nicely made, quiet keys. Amazing sound quality in this price range. Mellow and clear.