I was just bidding on a "Heinz Schmidt" wooden bassoon... does anyone know this brand's reputation? I couldn't find anything on Google. The starting bid was 399.99 and it's apparently 20 years old, about $3,000 new. Could someone (a bassoonist that's better than me - I'm starting college this year :P) check it out and tell me if it's a good buy or not? Thank you SO MUCH.

here's the link -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=370053119205&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=024

'Heinz Schmidt' is not a known maker. My guess is that it is, or was, a store that bought a batch of bassoons & stamped them with their own name or invented 'Heinz Schmidt' as a brand name. I cannot say who the maker was but as it is German it should be a reasonable bassoon - maybe a Schreiber. Most of the stencilled instruments these days are inferior instruments & originate from China.

Ian

ok, thanks! i appreciate it.