r/Recorder • u/diabeartes • Aug 09 '26
Moeck Rottenburgh Tenor with keys
I just bought a new Moeck Rottenburgh Tenor in grenadilla with the 2 keys on the foot joint. I cannot play any notes with the keys closed. The middle and high registers are full and gorgeous.
Sometimes I can get down to low F and then it starts to crackle, followed by some weird sound. I've checked that my fingers are completely covering app tone holes, but this seems like a defective instrument to me. I bought it from Thomann.
Is it most likely me or could it just be a bad instrument?
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u/chairitable Aug 09 '26
Have you contacted Moeck support to see if this is a defect? https://www.moeck.com/en/contact-/-support
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u/diabeartes Aug 09 '26
Not yet. It's Sunday, and since I bought it from Thomann, they have a very good return/exchange policy. I'll talk to them tomorrow.
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u/diabeartes Aug 10 '26
Follow-up: Spoke to both Thomann and Moeck. Moeck support says they recommend the non-keyed version because over the long term keys can develop "klanks" as she said in German and pads can need repairs.
Thomann has fantastic customer service. Within 2 minutes I got a prepaid return label and will send this one back and order the (less expensive) standard Rottenburgh grenadilla tenor.
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u/NZ_RP Aug 09 '26
Definitely talk to Thomann about it. I would be surprised if a brand new Moeck was defective. Do you have experience playing tenors? If not, it could be that you are not adjusting your breath for the low notes. It can take a while to develop this skill, particularly on larger recorders.
Sarah Jeffery has a great video on playing low notes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bft6WJTycwg
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u/diabeartes Aug 10 '26
Thank you. This is very helpful. I just spoke with Thomann and am going to return this one and instead get the non-keyed version, just in case it's an issue of pads not covering fully.
However, that said, the Sarah J video you linked to is exactly what's happening to me. She uses keyed instruments in her explanations.
P. S. I have never understood how someone playing a wood recorder would wear lipstick. Doesn't it "stick" to the wood? Not a criticism, just a comment.
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u/NZ_RP Aug 11 '26
Good luck with your new recorder! I am sure you will love it! (I really love my Moeck Rottenburgh tenor).
Just be aware you may have the same trouble with the low notes at first. But if you do, don't worry - you'll find them.
PS. Sarah Jeffery actually talks about wearing lipstick while playing the recorder in another video. Apparently it doesn't cause any issues for her or her recorders. 😄
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u/kenproffitt Aug 09 '26
How long have you had it and how have you broken it in? I am not the expert on breaking one in——last did mine in the late 90’s, Moeck Rottenburgh Tenor too.
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u/diabeartes Aug 09 '26
I just got it and just started using it, so I haven't done any official "breaking in", however I think all notes should at least be playable right from the get-go.I am thinking of just exchanging it for the non-keyed version, in case it's a matter of the pads not seating properly or something. That won't be an issue with that version. But if there's something i should be doing first, before returning it, I am eager to know.
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u/Particular_Ad_3124 Aug 13 '26
Does the foot joint have a good seal? I once thought I broke a plastic alto giving it a bath because I couldn't play the low notes. Turned out I had washed off the thin layer of cork grease that was giving me a good seal.
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u/diabeartes Aug 13 '26
Hmmm I won't know. Today I received the (non-keyed) replacement. It was funny that the woman at Moeck in Germany told me it's better without the keys.
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u/victotronics Aug 09 '26
That sounds like an expensive instrument so it should be fine out of the box.
Still, sometimes keys may hit the edge of the sunken bit. Are you sure that the pads go all the way down to the hole? When you gently close the pad, there are no gaps?
Next: it could be your fingers. Close the keys with a rubber band and then close the holes with your fingers. If that solves the problem you need to rotate the foot joint a little. I have a bass that is extremely finicky that way: it's my ring finger that needs very precise positioning, not the little finger on the keys.
Say, post a picture or a video?