Help on Buying Bassoon

[DSK]

My sister is looking to buy her husband a bassoon. He played one in high school and is now 65! I'm responsible for the purchase and prefer to buy used, even considering eBay or online retailers. She has a budget of $2,000, and he plans to pass it down to his son someday.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions for specific instruments or models to target. That would be incredibly helpful! He can get maintenance done if necessary. As a semi-pro trumpet player, I’m familiar with brass instruments, but I know very little about woodwinds. Any assistance would be fantastic!

 

[pete]

I am not a bassoon player. I have known bassoon players, though. I also was a clarinet and saxophone player. (Bassoons aren't woodwinds. They're double-reeds.)

Bassoons are made from a bunch of different materials and have at least two fingering standards. As an example, while I think it'd be great if my wife came home and gave me a brand new clarinet, I'd have a bunch of problems if she gave me a brand new Oehler system clarinet. I don't know how to play one. Now, if I had a clarinet that I've been eying every time we go to the music store and she surprises me with that clarinet, that'd be different.

So, my advice would be to tell the brother-in-law that you're taking care of the bill for a bassoon. Just pick one and you'll get it.

Otherwise, I think Fox is a big name in the bassoon world. Heckel is arguably the biggest name, but also the most expensive name. If you're looking at used instruments, go to ebay closed ads for an idea of how much a particular make/model is worth. $2000 is about $3000 too low for any new bassoon, unless it's Chinese. You don't want a Chinese instrument.

You're in the US, so you might want to check https://napbirt.org and ask a tech how much a full overhaul might cost. We have several techs that occasionally come by here, too. You probably need to check for cracks, pins, splits, etc.

 

[Gandalfe]

Yeah, sigh ... bassoons, even used, cost a lot of money. And the reeds for them are a major expense too. Used instruments almost always require a trip to a repair tech, so factor that in. If you got a used instrument you can most likely double the cost to get it in playing order. Maybe there is a reason he doesn't have a bassoon now? Good luck, but do your due diligence so that things have a chance of working out.

Here are some options from the best shops in the world for price and service:

Woodwind Musical Instruments For Sale

Explore our large selection of woodwinds at The Mighty Quinn. New and used flutes, clarinets, saxophones, oboes, bassoons & more! Find it. Play it. Love it. ♩♬

www.brassandwinds.com

Bassoon Archives

kesslerandsons.com

And then there is eBay, which can be a dice roll: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1313&_nkw=bassoon&_sacat=0

 

[Mike M]

My sister is looking to buy her husband a bassoon. He played one in high school and is now 65! I'm responsible for the purchase and prefer to buy used, even considering eBay or online retailers. She has a budget of $2,000, and he plans to pass it down to his son someday.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions for specific instruments or models to target. That would be incredibly helpful! He can get maintenance done if necessary. As a semi-pro trumpet player, I’m familiar with brass instruments, but I know very little about woodwinds. Any assistance would be fantastic!

I have a Schreiber Bassoon that I purchased (from a high school) in the late-80's. At that time I took lessons, learned to make my own reeds, etc.
I still play it from time-to-time...I actually think that it's fun to play.....

To point:
This is the best time of the year to buy a used instrument as people are unloading insts to get $ for the Holidays.
Here is what turned-up on my local Marketplace a minute ago:

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If you go the Ebay/marketplace/Craigslist route, you'd be best to have a tech look at it prior to purchase....or take someone that plays it to try it out.

...maybe: Check with a local university's bassoon teacher to see if he/she has any former students with one to sell...
...besides pad, cracks, you should be on the look out for "boot rot".

To be honest, I'd ask a local tech/wind instrument repair shop to keep an eye out for what comes through his shop. (That's how I purchased my A clarinet, Eb clarinet, and Mk VI tenor.....)

You just gotta be patient...

Good luck!

 

[Bari Sax Guy!]

Has anyone tried a Kessler Bassoon? I realize that it is a bit over your budget, but it is new and it should play well out if the box.
I have one of their BC's and it is great.

Kessler Custom Composite Bassoon​

Retail: $5,995.00
$3,499.00 Original price was: $3,499.00.$3,299.00

 

[Bari Sax Guy!]

I see Gandalfe has already suggested Kessler.

I will also 2nd his other suggestion:

I have bought / traded for my Yani Tenor & a Yani Bari with Quinn the Eskimo/Brass & Winds,
& it was a very pleasant experience.