Mollenhauer TE-4118 Dream Edition Soprano

I've played on Mollenhauer "Dream" recorders for almost fifteen years now, and decided that I wanted a soprano with a more refined sound for a concert I was giving back in December. Compared to the pearwood version, this instrument has a much smoother, sweeter sound with a fairly good response. The top few notes require more finesse and precision from the player (they don't just "pop out" like they do on a baroque instrument) but unlike a Renaissance replica recorder, they do come out with attention and practice. The only caution I would give is that if you're trying to be a soloist with more than a couple of quiet instruments, you might want a more assertive sound; I played with guitar and harpsichord and it worked very well. Perfect for consort work though!

I like this recorder. It has a different sound to, for example, a moeck rottenburgh. The tone has softer more rounded "edges" but still retains focus and a bit of bite and edge unlike, for example, a maple renaissance or ganassi recorder.

Volume is good. Intonation is good. I can produce an in tune top C# with an adjusted fingering and a little effort. I like the way it has been voiced, the windway is not so curved and narrow as on the alto which sounds more or less just like another baroque recorder and has weak low notes like a baroque recorder. This descant (soprano) still isn't incredibly loud but it does have good volume and I just find it a very likeable instrument and would recommend this but not the alto due to the shape of the windway and the way Mollenhauer chose to voice it.

A nice instrument that totally fetches my demand of performing some folk music pieces. It speaks a wonderful tone that full-filled soft and tiny representative particulars. The trick is that much bigger tone holes and a much wider inner diameter than my Denner one so that can produce a wide dynamic range sound seems like I'm in a mild corn field hah. Made by plum wood means it speaks a warm and soft sound, It fully catches me all over. Highly recommend for trying, really different from Denners or Bressans whatever sounding or the method you playing. Just one thing for you to notice is that the right hand controlled tone holes are not so "standard" in the distance compared to the Denners, you may need less than ten minutes to get used to it for fully controlled.
Not only for the sounding, the appearance is excellent too. The plum wood structure has a very beautiful looking. The maple decorative ring makes a Renaissance style looking, really elegante and no harm to elephants or my wallet.
Not so GOOD is that I can always find some small build scratches on the Mollenhauer recorders (This time even appears on the window!), Moeck usually does better on the recorder but have more crappy accessories. So, call it even, Not an important thing ha-ha. Just a little complain to that.
The delivery is quick across overseas. Great Thomman servicing, environmental-friendly product package, the best experience buying instrument online.