FEHR recorder model series

H.C. FEHR offers the right instrument for every application and musical style.

On this page you will find a brief description of the model series produced to date.
You can easily determine which model you have with the help of the pictures.

The school flute. One of the strengths of Model I is its clear, warm sound, which blends well with the other instruments when played together. In addition, the instrument with its clear design language has become the model for a whole generation of school recorders. A unique balance between robustness, acoustic requirements and stylistic clarity has been found through the skilful choice of wall thicknesses. This gives the instrument its unmistakable character. For decades, teachers have relied on this model for teaching beginners - and have been rewarded.

Model II is no longer manufactured. We will of course carry out overhauls and replace damaged parts on your instrument on request.

Model III is one of the instrument designs that have made history. The model series has been continuously and carefully developed over the years. Our current range includes wonderful instruments whose bodies were made many years ago in the workshop in Stäfa from the finest wood scantlings. Each of these instruments reflects the consummate mastery of the Swiss FEHR instrument makers, who have spent decades perfecting every move. The result is unrivalled.

If you have heard of "the unique FEHR feeling". You'll find it in this model.

Model IV was developed in the early nineties by Swiss recorder maker Heinz Ammann for FEHR. In addition to a more delicate outer shape, the windways and blocks are even more finely designed, building on the acoustic advantages of the model series 3. A special type of voicing was developed for these instruments. Here, part of the voicing is carried out by an expert voicer. In this way, the instruments are gently acclimatised to the humidity that occurs during playing. The other part of the "breaking in" process - during which you familiarise yourself with the advantages and special characteristics of your new instrument - is understandably not something we can do for you. We leave the fehr-lieben to you. Enjoy the more elegant voicing of this model series.

With Model V, we offer you the top models from our workshop. We put all our knowledge and passion for recorder making into these instruments. Only the very best pieces of wood are used to make this model series. And not every instrument that is finished is allowed to leave the workshop. Strict quality control ensures that only the best instruments in this model series are dispatched.

The "S" in the model name stands for the name "Stanesby". The Stanesbys ran a recorder-making workshop in London that was famous far beyond the country's borders.

Our Model S is based on the alto (treble) recorder by Stanesby Sr. which belongs to the collection of Frans Brüggen. To this day, pioneering recordings and concerts have been played on this instrument.

However, Model S is not a copy in the strict sense, but a model design based on the special features of the baroque inner bores of the instruments from the Stansby workshop.