I'm extremely lucky. I just finished my freshman year of college, and I got my first Heckel. It's a pre-war Heckel, in the 8*** series. In terms of its playing ability, it's in perfect condition - it has an amazing tone, no leaks, and the wood has not even begun to warp.
The only changes I'd like to make are cosmetic. The finish is off in a lot of places, and a lot of the nickel plating is gone. In addition, I played another Heckel and noticed that the keys seemed a lot tighter on the second one - they were firmer and didn't wiggle around so much. I'd like to send my new bassoon to someone to have them fix it (I know that sometimes, finishing a bassoon can dampen the sound. However, I have also heard that that usually occurs for the type of shiny finishing jobs used on foxes. If something like the finish used for violins is applied carefully, its possible to avoid the dampening effect).
I'm a poor college student, I could only probably afford a few thousand a year for fixing it up, so it might take me a while to save up enough to send it to someone really good. How much would it cost to get that kind of work done? (A ballpark figure is all I'm looking for. $1,000? or $10,000? Also, who would be a good person to send it to? I know Carl Sawicki is good - he fixed up my first Fox. Are there other people like him around?

The loose keys can fairly easily be cured but the cosmetic stuff is more major. If you embark on key replating a total repad will be involved as well. Being on a different continent I don't know much about costs in N America.

Some names of specialist repairers I have heard of in addition to Carl are James Keyes, Chad Taylor, Keith Bowen, Jim Kirker, Peter Landy, Michael Dicker.

Keith Bowen's web page is at www.fixbassoon.com

He has an online list of costs for various kinds of work.

He's got lots of experience and an excellent reputation.

Bill

Hello there, a good address to fix up your Heckel bassoon may is http://www.music-oldtimer.com/en/instruments/bassoons . they offering a great service and we bought already two Bassoons from them, a Fox and a Schreiber & Sohne Bassoon. also they have
overhauled / restored my husbands antique Monnig Bassoon. they did a excellent job wotiout going overboard.

I was going to suggest Keith Bowen as well - don't know where you are but mail service is always available from these guys.