Popular Articles
Am I too old to learn the bassoon?
Why not join the select group of older bassoon learners?
Maple bassoon wood - an optical illusion!
Maple bassoon wood sometimes exhibits an astounding optical illusion called chatoyance. In this video we show how this effect can dramatically change how the bassoon looks, depending on which angle you view it from.
An eight ft tall contrabassoon!
An eight ft tall contrabassoon! When this almost eight ft tall (235 cm) contrabassoon was brought to us at Double Reed, it was known as the ‘unnamed contra’ - its maker was unknown, and there were no easily discernible markings that could be used to identify it. After some careful investigation in our workshop, however, we were finally able to reveal a hidden stamp: ‘J. Higham, England, Manchester, T.C. Camdens’.
Re-finishing a Püchner bassoon
The Püchner bassoon in the photo has been with its current owner for 50 years. During these last 50 years, as you would expect from a well-loved, well-played instrument, the varnish and colour had naturally worn, to an extent which could have caused harm to the wood if it were not restored. In order to preserve the bassoon, the owner asked us to re-finish it.
The old musician
We found this label in the case of a pre-war (1920s) Mollenhauer bassoon in our workshop - after translating it we discovered this beautiful poem about a man and his bassoon...
Heckel bassoon restoration - before & after!
I'm over 50 - can I learn the bassoon?
Over the years that Double Reed has been providing and restoring bassoons, some of the most inspired and dedicated musicians we have met have been in their 50s, 60s, 70s and older.
Hear a contra, two bassoons and a mini!
Bassoon quartet: Hear a contrabassoon, two bassoons and a mini bassoon!
Watch: Restoring a Heckel Bassoon
Watch our three part video series showcasing our recent restoration of a stunning Heckel bassoon.
Why did you choose the bassoon?
The answer to this question is always fascinating, so we took to Facebook to ask the bassoon community…
Overhauling a contrabassoon!
Over 16 feet of maple and metal contrabassoon tubing being overhauled in the Double Reed Ltd. bassoon workshop!
Five reasons why re-padding a bassoon is so complicated
Modern bassoons have one of the widest ranges in the orchestra, from B♭1 (below the bass staff) and go up to about G5 (above the treble staff). Plenty of instruments have mechanisms which allow the player to open and close all of its toneholes, but with the bassoon this is true in the extreme. In total, the average bassoon has 40 pieces of keywork, which if lined up end to end would stretch almost 5 metres! Here are five reasons why re-padding a bassoon is so complicated...
Repairing a rotten bassoon bore!
This repair is carried out on a bassoon with severe rot in the unlined boot joint bore. It is done only in extreme cases, but the results are astounding, restoring the bore back to its original dimensions. The new section will last as long as the instrument itself, and the boot joint is newly protected against future rot.
Re-discovering the French bassoon
The fate of the French and German systems of bassoon has, it seems, long been sealed. There is no longer much contest regarding which is more popular – the German bassoon has been dominant for several decades. But, in our bassoon workshop, we have just finished overhauling a Hawkes and Son French system bassoon for a customer. It is a beautiful instrument, made of rosewood, with a simple yet elegant design. In fact, we see these French system bassoons quite often, and enjoy bringing them back to playing standard – they have an otherworldly, historic charm to their sound.
Do you identify as a bassoonist?
Questions of identity are an increasingly important theme in our culture. For those of us who play the bassoon the question of whether we do, or should, identify as bassoonists can be very important to how we think of ourselves.
Discovered: A 250 year old 'Prudent' bassoon?
Discovered: A 250 year old 'Prudent' bassoon? Having a great interest in bassoons from all periods, we are very excited to have acquired an old bassoon which may well be only the 12th Prudent bassoon to be identified.
Discovered: first edition Galliard print published in 1733
Are you both a Bibliophile and a Bassoonophile? If so, you will be fascinated by a book in our collection – a first edition plate-print of Johann Ernst Galliard’s Six Sonatas for the Bassoon or Violoncello with a Thorough Bass for the Harpsicord published in 1733.