Even so, their instruments are also expensive. Fox seems to have gained a significant foothold on the market over the years and appears to have chipped away at Heckels, as they have been making fine horns since the early ’70s (or perhaps a bit earlier). Who can possibly afford that? Almost without exception, most of my students are playing on Fox bassoons – their less expensive student (plastic/Polypropylene) models. Interestingly, it appears as if Heckel has simply out priced itself as no one can afford them – I just noted that one of their relatively recent entries into the market, their “Heckel-Crest” which they claim is an “inexpensive instrument” which is “especially adequate for pupils, students and hobby-bassoonists” costs a mere $29,000 (yes, that’s just under thirty THOUSAND dollars)! Remember, that’s for their “student model” – a horn that they introduced in 1998. One of the interesting things I’ve been watching over the years are who the manufacturers of bassoons are, what design characteristics they’re employing, what materials they’re using, and the acceptance of their instruments among real bassoonists (doublers, i.e, those who play sax, clarinet, and/or flute as their primary instrument are not, and never will be included in that category). As far as I’m concerned, musicians are among the only sane group of humans remaining on this Earth and the thought of living, breathing, eating, and sleeping music all day long sounds blissful. Got to admit, if I didn’t have family, I would dearly love to do something as wacky as that. There have been many times, in the recent past, where I’ve just wanted to pack things up and move to a remote island somewhere in the South Pacific that has there own little musical society and play/teach bassoon all day long. Recently, I’ve been doing some Internet searches on bassoon-things: looking to see what other bassoonists I’ve known over the years are doing (sadly, not much – we’re a dying breed), reed making, instruments, latest recordings, etc.

I’ve got to admit, I enjoy them too – sometimes its about the only thing that I enjoy doing and that takes my mind off of everything else that’s going on. After all, I haven’t chatted much about music lately and thought it might be fun to do a mini-series on the topic. Interestingly, this is inspired by some of my students (I don’t have many but then again, there simply aren’t many to begin with) who seem to be enjoying their lessons. Once again, it’s very late and insomnia is setting my schedule for me so I thought I’d create an entry on bassoons.

Bassoon schreiber serial number