I was ordering some strings for my mandolin the other day, and I might have accidentally thrown a Yamaha 300B series soprano rcrdr in the shopping cart… 
After playing it a bit, I’ve decided that it’s useful, but not very much fun. It will probably take me a while to really develop a facility.
On the other hand, mandolin is coming along nicely… 
Holy Smokes !! Aren’t you worried about the wrath of the Celtic Whistle Gods descending upon you ??? I sure would be !! 
Have a Great Day and Fun Whistling !!
More that one should fear the wrath of the rr gods. While the Yamaha is the most commonly sold inexpensive rr, it simply can’t compare with Zen-On’s Stansby Jr. soprano or Bressan alto in terms of quality or “bang for the buck.” Why, it would be like comparing a Meg to a Mellow Dog!
Reminds me of the electric shaver comparison.
I agree 110% on Yamaha vs Zen-On. The Zen-On plastic recorders I’ve tried have been incredibly good.
By the way, to really appreciate the unique abilities of the recorder, trying playing something in E-flat or even A-flat major. On recorder it’s quite simple once you have the fingerings down and have played scales a bit. The same instrument can play in C major, D major, A major, etc… That’s really pretty cool for an instrument with no keys!
–James
Listen to some good Renaissance recorder fantasias and then tell us the instrument isn’t fun.
I can’t take credit for this insight (It was PhilO who pointed it out, if I’m not mistaken), but a cheap soprano recorder easily turns into a D+ whistle. If you’re not too fussy about intonation and the recorder is baroque-fingered, you can pretty much ignore the right pinky, keep the thumb hole covered and play it like a whistle. But you get that C at the bottom when you need it. I’ve noticed that it’s harder to get the second octave by simply overblowing on a wooden recorder, but it’s really easy on my plastic yamaha soprano (not the 300 series, which are actually pretty good, I think - I have a tenor, and it’s really nice). If you are fussy about the intonation and don’t mind ruining the recorder, you can enlarge the R1 hole if you like. I didn’t bother. All those years of playing rock and blues made me a lot less particular 
Actually, I have noticed that the D scale is exceptionally easy on the recorder. I have not been playing irish tunes on it, though, for fear of inciting the wrath of powers beyong my comprehension.
Ah, maybe that’s my problem! I’ve been wondering what’s been causing me to lose my visual acuity and grow hair on my palms lately…
Hmmmm… It was our experience with the Zen-On that drove us to the whistle. We were quite underwhelmed by them.
Eeeeek!!!
(see me backing away from the group to avoid the lightning when it strikes)
Mummy! They’re using bad words in here!
Of course, the only reason I avoid r*******s like the plague is that I know I haven’t the ‘stuff’ to figure out how to play one right now.
I forgive you.
I use a tweaked JHS CL200
http://www.jhs.co.uk/jhseducation.html
The tweaking consisted of buying 3 (one of each colour), swapping heads and bodies around and tuning 3 holes with wax.
I play it at sessions and it’s the best one I’ve found for the price £4.99
John S
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Of course, the only reason I avoid r*******s like the plague is that I know I haven’t the ‘stuff’ to figure out how to play one right now.
Actually, as a schooled musician, I cut my eye teeth on a r******r (almost literally) and am just now finding out that two of the eight holes are entirely not needed! My first impression of the whistle was the lack of those holes. It took me only half an hour to have figured out the fingering on the low octave, but I’m not sure I’ve found the right combination for the 2nd one just yet.
Now, when I play the r******r, I’ve got two “extra” holes that I no longer know what to do with. But I regress…
Slán agus beannacht
Oh, hon, let me save you some time . . . it’s the same as the first. Just lift up one finger after the other. Presto!
It only has six holes, after all . . . but I feel a strange sense of unease . . .
I use rec***er a lot on Bb major.