Yamaha YRA-302B Professional Alto Recorder with Baroque Fingering

 Great instrument for a beginner
To my ears this instrument sounds almost as well as some of the pro wooden ones I've heard on recorder music CDs. I second many people's opinion that Yamaha's are the best plastic recorders out there.
My only gripe about plastic recorders in general (including this one) is that moisture droplets quickly accumulate on the surface of the windway and start distorting the sound. This is especially true for the notes in the lowest and highest parts of the range. I find it hard to practice for more that 10-15 minutes before I have to dry up the instrument. I think, periodically switching between two recorders might address this.

 The best buy in quality recorders
I have been playing recorders for 40+ years and have recorded 2 CDs using the Yamaha 300 series recorders. I own and play all the recorders in this series - SN,S,A,T,B. These recorders respond and sound like the finest wooden recorders. They are perfectly in tune with themselves, other sized recorders in this series and other instruments. They have a lovely tone quality. The upper instruments - SN,S and A - have a reedy quality and the lower instruments - T and B - have a haunting hollow tone quality. You can't go wrong with any of the fine recorders in this series. Good luck and happy playing!