Sub-bass recorder head "Direct-Blow", Master, black lacquered, Paetzold by Kunath

General information

The recorder from the MASTER model series with the model designation: 479DBK-AS built by Paetzold by Kunath is a musical tool that always gives pleasure when playing.
The instrument owes this characteristic mainly to the clever combination of the ingenious model in combination with the expressive possibilities of the birch plywood material used.

The unique sound characteristics of this instrument are strikingly fascinating. The properties can be characterised as follows, whereby it is in the nature of things that sounds can only ever be inadequately described in words. Therefore, the typical sound of recorders is perceived and described in slightly different ways by each person: Wooden and warm.

The scale

The inner bore of the instrument is cylindrical and wider. This type of bore gives the instrument its typical sound.
In principle, recorders with a wider bore sound warmer, fuller, more fundamental and therefore more suitable for ensembles than instruments with a narrower scale.

Which musical styles are best suited to the recorder

Birch plywood is ideal for instruments used in folk music and for beginners to recorder playing.

Who is the instrument aimed at?

It follows from the above that birch plywood recorders are particularly suitable for ambitious amateurs and advanced players. Another basic rule worth noting is that a higher-quality instrument naturally makes playing easier than a seemingly inexpensive bargain.

The windway of the recorder

The windway is the area in the headjoint of the recorder where the air is moulded into a sheet of air. This air blade is the determining element in the sound production of the instrument. In interaction with the labium, this air blade creates the fundamental vibration that generates the flute tone. The shape of the windway is therefore extremely important for the musical expressiveness of the instrument.

The model 479DBK-AS from Paetzold by Kunath has a windway that is straight and conical in shape.
Conical windways accelerate the air more than cylindrically shaped ones.
Windways are of course extremely complex in their design and many parameters influence each other.

Fingering

The Paetzold by Kunath MASTER 479DBK-AS recorder is supplied in the following version: .

Keys

It is not always possible to drill tone holes in places that are easy to play with the fingers. Particularly on larger instruments, tone holes are located in positions that are not ergonomically accessible for acoustic reasons. On such instruments, the instrument maker installs key mechanisms that make playing easier or even possible in the first place.
The 479DBK-AS instrument has the following keys: . This means that it can also be played by players with smaller hands. The key shape is unique and legally protected. Especially in Taiwan and Korea, these models are often used in youth ensembles by well-known teachers for young players.
But alto players with a reduced grip range also appreciate the advantages.

Construction method

The construction of a woodwind instrument with multiple parts has a fundamental influence on the way in which the recorder is easy to handle in terms of ease of grip on the one hand and compact to transport on the other.
This is a point that should not be underestimated, especially when transporting larger (and sometimes multiple) instruments.
Directors of large ensembles know how useful good and compact recorder cases are. Provided the instruments can be easily disassembled.

Packaging and accessories

The instrument is supplied as standard with an optional bag/case and the following accessories: grease tin, fingering chart, care instructions

Hygiene tips

If the recorder is borrowed frequently, it is advisable to sterilise the headjoint if necessary for your own protection. Flautisept has proved its worth in such cases. Flautisept is available in our collection.

Advice on finding a new instrument

How to find a new instrument safely
Ask friends!
Never let "expert" opinions put you off playing a new instrument yourself. Your musical sensibilities are as unique as you are. Therefore, only you can decide which instrument inspires you.
Our recommendation is therefore: Test unknown materials that you may never have tried before. You can only gain new experiences.