non+plus

No confusing you, m'dear! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, kind sir.

Woodwind players topped string players (7)

Direct on the right

Think about what it means when a tree is topped

cvcvccc

I keep thinking the answer might be bowists (string players), but I cannot work out what the "topped" woodwind players would be unless perhaps there is a US spelling of oboists as obowists...

You're on the right track, Lex. The "topped" word loses its first (top) letter.

The answer feels a bit Medieval to me.

The woodwind in question used to be made of wood but modern ones are typically metal

Another interesting spelling (and pronunciation) difference: in Britain for some reason the more usual word would be flautists - not only medieval but probably Teutonic

Helmer plucked that one out! ===[**CDM**]===

Thank you, Pandora.

Daughter of son Henry makes money (4)

Dosh = money (abbreviation of first four words of clue)

It's your payday, Lex: ===[**CDM**]===



PS: I used abbreviations from a very helpful list appearing in the book you'd recommended. As a Yank, I'd guess Henry=H has something to do with a King Henry (although, in the book, the h is lower-case). With some of the other abbreviations in that list, I could not even guess, heh.

Thanks, that'll help deal with inflation!

Rate main social works for Browning (14)

Direct on the right

Caramelisation - anagram (rate main social)

Made the assumption that it probably ended in "ation" then kept throwing the letters in the air 'til they made something sensible

PS - cunning ploy to use the proper spelling...

Correct: I thought I had already posted to that effect but the brain and/or the fingers obviously failed...
===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, Lex!

Warning chief to eat (5-2)

Apologies - looks like the most common spelling is (5-2), not (5,2)

Direct on the left
Wordplay 4 +3
Clue could also be "Warning chief to drink"

head/s-up

Indeed, m'dear - accept this as a tribute to your perspicacity!
===[**CDM**]===

Rog, another word like perspicacity and I'll be very impressed!!! (lol)

Thanks, Rog! I'm impressed with just the one word!

Pure cocaine's head rush (6)

chaste