Yamaha YRA-402B Alto Recorder Eco

I was impressed with the soprano version of this recorder and ordered this alto model. The first I ordered was flat and the sound wasn't very focused requiring large breath pressure to play at 440. It was loud (organ-like), indelicate and slow to articulation, requiring large breath speeds for the highest notes- I really didn't like the sound much, particularly when playing it up to pitch. The second instrument I ordered a month later was very different, without the problems I had before and I really like the warmth and fullness of it's sound, it is sharper in pitch under the same breath pressure and has a more focused sound. Both instruments weigh the same 212g and they look identical, so it is very peculiar for the variation in performance. The only thing I have noticed is the actual part numbers on the back of the top, middle, and bottom sections are different, and perhaps the instrument has been improved in newer stock.