anyone heard of them? Apparently they're NOT chinese and they look ok, but i've heard someone say don't even consider chinese nor japanese. true or what?

As far as I know Takeda was a pro bassoonist in Japan. He designed a range of bassoons from entry level upwards which are made in China, that's why they're so cheap.They're meant to be better than the standard Chinese model,but it's still made in China.

What do you think would be better-Takeda or Amati? cause right now, Fox/Renard, Moosmann and the rest of them are just a bit up there.

Takeda bassoons are not made in China, they are made in Japan, and you are right, oldfagott, the company was started by Mr. Takeda, a professional bassoonist in Japan. There is one website that rates the Model 4 as an "intermediate bassoon" along with the Fox 220 and 240 bassoons. I know they are cheaper, and, having looked carefully at the pictures, I think I can see that they do not have several of the newer innovations the Foxes have, but they do have finger hole liners (which is something I'd love to have.) These bassoons are all "gentlemen's cut" which means the bass joint and the tenor joint are the same length. I have never tried one, however, and have never heard any bassoonist's opinion of their worth.

I was told by the owner of a shop that sells them that they're made in China,shipped to Japan where they're completely stripped,repadded and pillars reset in epoxy resin and sold as Takeda made in Japan.This apparently happens with a lot of well known brands, Sax's etc.

I've been suprised at how well Chinese bassoons play when new (I have a new Compact model that Drew describes).I've also been suprised at how quickly they fall to bits.
Amati on the other hand are more solidly made and take more abuse, but don't play as freely.They cost more too.

I'd love to get hold of an eminent bassoonist's opinion of the different makes of bassoons, old and new, German, American, and other. I guess one of the big concerns is the wood, and that's why the Chinese ones don't hold up. Their posts fall out of the wood, etc. Perhaps the re-working of the posts with epoxy, etc., would help some. But when you have a good OLD bassoon that plays well, I guess that's some testament to the hardness of the wood. Wonder if there is such a comparison anywhere?

Hi,
the Takeda bassoons are copies of the Puchner bassoons.( Mr Puchner told me )
Takeda is manufactured in China.On this low price can`t be made in Japan.It`s a trick:if you would start to make "Thunemann" bassoons in Afghanistan,the most of bassonist would think it`s made in Germany.