Hello,
I am still looking into buying a bassoon.
One of the things I haven't figured out yet is the importance of
extra keywork often not available on student bassoons.
I wonder if the extra keys are worth buying a lesser quality bassoon
or if it is better to go for a higher quality bassoon equiped with
(a few) less keys. I have the impression that I won't be needing
the extra keywork as a 2nd year student and since I am already 59, perhaps I will never come to the point that I will want or need them.
But, since I don't know how these thing evolve, I welcome your
thoughts and insights on this matter.
Thanks in advance,
Willy

My view is that, provided you buy a modern instrument, you will have all the keys you need. Indeed many professional players use these bassoons without extra keys to get in the way & confuse the player. More important is to go for a recognised brand like Fox, Moosmann, Schreiber, or Adler - even their student models will produce good results. If you have more money to spend maybe look at Puchner, Mollenhauer, Leitzinger, Bell, Wolf or Yamaha. I am not convinced, even though the quality has improved over the years, that any Chinese made instrument is worth spending your money on.

Thanks for the response!
I currently play a Chinese bassoon, it is a school instrument that I rent.
I have to admit that it is not a bad instrument, and in fact, between the
both of us, the bassoon is (still) the better one :-)
Although I am convincent that Fow bassoons are excellent, I lean toward
buying a German made bassoon. Since I live in Belgium, this seems to be
the obvious choice. Fox doesn't have repair facilities in Europe and
it would be quite expensive should the instrument have to be returned
to the factory.
I think perhaps the Moosmann 100 would be a good bassoon for someone like me,
it has a good reputation and some options are available. This is the European
model, I understand that the US models are equiped with some extras by default.
Sincerely,
Willy

I get the impression that you are intending to buy a new bassoon but with careful choice & going to a reputable dealer a used one could fit your requirements at a lesser cost & it should last for many years. I don't know of any specialist bassoon dealers in Belgium but Maarten Vonk in Ammersfoort, Netherlands has a good reputation as a technician & he stocks new & used instruments. I don't know what the differences are between the US & european models of Moosmann bassoons but Fox have slight variations.
Good luck & enjoy playing the bassoon.
Ian

You are right, my intention is to buy a new bassoon.
But as you write, a good second-hand instrument could be a good choice.
I have already contacted Maarten Vonk, he has a few used bassoons on offer.
In any case will I take my teacher with me when I go shopping :-)
Willy

So it finally happend, my teacher and I went shopping :-)
The result is that I am now the proud owner of a Moosmann
model 100 with a few options such as silvered keys, protruding
"water tubes" a (removable) d-key for the left thumb and
what is called a Dutch kneerest (this is the way we play
at our school). I also tried a Légère reed and I must say that
these reeds play very easily. But I haven't bought one since I
want to master the technique of making my own reeds.
Willy

I hope you enjoy playing it - they are excellent instruments.

I am intrigued when you say you have a 'removable d key' - I've never seen or heard of one of those.

Ian

Below the low B and Bb-keys is often a second low C-key, simply located
on the beam to the of the low C-key besides the B an Bb keys.
On (some?)Moosmann bassoons, this key kan be removed,
it is fixed on the beam with 2 screws.
Willy

Ah - I understand now. A very useful addition to the low C key & standard on Moosmann bassoons - I use it most of the time rather than the main touchpiece. I don't know why it is not on all bassoons.

I also use the extra key almost all the time. On my (Chinese!)
school-bassoon I am able to go from D to C by "capsizing" my
thumb while still depressing the whisper key.
This is not possible on the Moosmaan since the key is located
higher and I can't reach it anymore using my usual technique.
I also had a Dutch kneerest mounted, this is the way we play
at our school. Very comfortable :-)
While choosing the instrument, I also played with a Légère reed.
Plays really well, but still quite expensive.
Willy