Does pulling out the crook (to flatten pitch) affect the stability of some notes?
Particularly the B flat, a tone below middle C. This note can be temperamental to say the least on my bassoon.
Thanks

Well you create an opening in the wing joint thus creating a "bubble" that will indeed affect notes. The degree to which it affects them may vary, but there it does occur. That's why most bassoons come with two bocals or more of different lengths.

Thanks for the reply.
This is what I have been thinking.
Ive since been told a 'well-balanced reed' will solve this also.
The trick is knowing how to balance a reed? haha

Cheers

lol. I used to be afraid to bring a knife to my reed to achieve the effect of a well balanced reed. It always looked so difficult. In truth though, its sooooo simple!
I took a reed class this summer, and found this:
All you have to do is know the parts of the reeds, then remember what they do if you shave them down. You can find this information on almost any diagram of a reed. After that, its just trial and error.
Its not hard...just time consuming.
Well worth it though, when trying to hit low/high notes more easily and get your sound in tune.
And the whole reed knife thing? I use a razor blade and file more often then I use my knife...they even work better in some respect. 0.o