Oh come on now. I can’t even contemplate a version of Early One Morning unless its done by a recorder chorus. Perhaps its the phallic shape that’s leaving a funny taste in your mouth (?).
You could defuse the situation for brewerpaul by substituting other instruments, or even suggesting aversion techniques to deter the acquisition of same. How about, for example, making a law that states that all shaky eggs must be treated with non-drying paint.
That is SOOO cool – I always wondered how they did garkleins. So as you might expect they do the opposite of what they do with long recorders. Make the lower holes bigger and lower, the upper holes smaller and closer to the ramp. This is probably especially important, as the higher notes will be weaker.
As expected, looks very unnatural. Eldritch even. As you said, lovely grain. Olivewood maybe?