School has finally found a bassoon, and its alright, it could be quite good if it gets serviced. It says Buescher on the bell, any ideas?

It's unlikely it was made by Buescher. Could be an Amati or Schreiber stencil. So long as it plays OK it doesn't really matter.Good idea to get it checked over by a technician.
Get bassooning!!!!

why do you say its probably not a buescher? Thats the problem with bassoons-they last longer than the player does and they resurface under a different name

Also, my playing is flat, I have a NO. 2 bocal-do I have to get a one or something?

THX

Buescher was taken over by Selmer in the early 60's so it might even be a Selmer? Buescher were more famous for saxophones but I think made flutes as well.

Are you saying the bassoons more than 40 years old?

Never heard of Bueschers. But I don't know a whole lot about makes of bassoon, so...

But yeh, as long as it plays well it doesn't make a difference really.

I think you should go onto a number one crook. I've always been told that you should play on the smallest crook you can because it encourages you to play with a loose embouchure.

I shouldn't think it's more than 40 yrs old probably alot less than that.

I will try to go on a number 1 bocal, but how much should I pay for it? I know bocals are one of the most important parts on a bassoon, but they can get up to 300 pounds right?

And I have to pull my neck muscles back in order to play i tune, is that normal?

You pull your neck muscles back?? not quite sure what you mean but it definitely doesn't sound good! do you mean your throat and under your chin?

I'd get someone who knows what they're talking about to look at you when you play and see what they think. It could be fine, but you wanna be really careful.
I always used to pull my bottom jaw back to play (something everyone else finds is very uncomfortable). i was told to imagine i had a golfball in my mouth to create the openness needed in your mouth. But for the last year or so it's caused a real problem, there's something wrong with my jaw (it clicks all the time, and sometimes locks) and if i play for very long then i can be in quite a lot of pain. And now it's a hard habit to kick, and i'm seeing several specialists to try and sort it out. It's threatening my career as a bassoonist.

I don't want to scare you or anyone else, but it's really important that you're aware of how you use your body to play - move the instrument to suit your body, not the other way round. Don't get into a habit that can come and bite you in the ass when you least need it to.

I think what he must mean is that he's tensing up his muscles, and nowadays they suggest you play with a relaxed embouchure. It's obviously too hard for you to play in tune with a relaxed embouchure, so I'd agree that you need a shorter bocal. It may just be that horn, but at any rate, check out the Fox bocals. Their No. 1 bocal is quite short and I don't think you would run into the money you are talking about. Use a U.S. site and pay the extra postage to get it shipped - you'll come out ahead (I usually find things in the U.K. cost more than in the U.S.)

Thank you for the advice, I'll check out the fox bocal. What strap/spike should I use? Mine is a bit short.

With the reed, it seems to be closing up a bit-are there any wires you can adjust it with?

Do you soak your reed for 3-4 minutes before you play? This will open them up, but if your reed is still collapsing, get a pair of needlenose pliers and squeeze, very gently, on the sides of the wire closest to the end you blow on. This will open the reed. If you do it too much, it will be hard to blow and your notes will sound loud and "tubby." You can squeeze the other way if you do it too much.

As for a strap or spike, I don't think a spike is a great idea as you would be adjusting yourself to the spike, not the bassoon to you. Get a seat strap which will take most of the weight off you. Now you will have done everything you can to make it easy to play.

Oh yes I definately soak the reed before I play, and I accidentaly broke it with the pliers. oops!
I'll look into the seat strap

thx

Soaking the reed makes it a bit harder to play higher notes, but my music is just farting Music anyway

Yes, soaking the reed opens it up quite a lot, but it will go back down as you play. Don't try to play high notes at first, do warmups right around low F and such. The reed will gradually get playable in every range.

Did you actually break the reed when using the pliers, or just the wire? You can get copper wire - I think it's gauge 22 - someone may confirm this - and twist around the reed. Many internet sites showing how to make reeds will describe how to place the wire on.