Double Reed Ltd. at the Big Double Reed Day 2013

The Big Double Reed Day has evidently become one of the most important events in the British double reed calendar. The exhibition hall in the Guildhall School of Music and Drama is large, but the Big Double Reed Day could hardly be contained!

Double Reed Ltd. bassoon stand BDRD 2013

The number of people in attendance was phenomenal (can anyone provide the exact number?) During peak times the entire hall was so packed it was difficult to move. However, thanks to excellent planning this wasn't a problem as events were staggered throughout the day so that oboe and bassoon recitals, master-classes and so on usually commenced half an hour apart.

Managing the Double Reed Ltd. stand were Martin and Oliver Ludlow. We had barely set up our stand when people began filing in and coming to chat with us. Martin is pictured here during a rare break when there was no one at our stand. Throughout the day there were people at the Double Reed Ltd. stand trying bassoons, browsing our bassoon accessories and asking some good questions.

The reputation of Double Reed Ltd. as a place to go to for good advice on bassoon related matters has really blossomed and it was particularly nice to talk to so many parents who are in the position of needing to purchase a bassoon for their child. Through this blog we have dedicated a whole series to parents in A Guide on How to Buy a Bassoon for Your Child for precisely this reason.

Oliver - bassoon specialist Double Reed Ltd.

A particular popular item was the Ludlow Mini-Bassoon. This was the first time we have exhibited our mini-bassoon and, perhaps not surprisingly, a number of people fell in love with it. The quality, set-up and price of the Ludlow mini bassoon made it a strong topic of conversation on the stand.

Many of our bassoons are purchased through our Approval Loan Scheme, whereby we will send bassoons out on trial for a week. Our trial scheme works well for those looking to purchase a bassoon, but the downside for us is that we do not get to meet many of the happy customers who buy our bassoons. However, at the Big Double Reed Day this year we had the pleasure of meeting a number of people who had a bassoon supplied by us. 

Much of the day was spent answering questions and offering specialist advice on bassoons, their history, which bassoon to buy and why, bassoon accessories and so on. The service we offer is based on the provision of expert knowledge about bassoons and the Big Double Reed Day 2013 demonstrated that there is a real need for well informed advice and information about bassoons.

We would like to say a big thank you to all those who bought bassoons, accessories and came over to talk to us on Sunday at the Big Double Reed Day. It was an enjoyable day and we look forward to seeing you all next year.

Need more information? Take a look at our website here: www.DoubleReed.co.uk

             

A Guide On How to Buy a Bassoon for Your Child Part Two - Mini, Short Reach or Full Size Bassoon

Buying a bassoon for your child can be a daunting process. Bassoons are high value instruments and whether you are buying a new or second hand bassoon, there are risks involved - not all bassoons are good bassoons, and even a good bassoon won't necessarily be the right bassoon for your child. However, with a little guidance this process can be made simple and your child can look forward to many happy years of bassoon playing. This blog is Part Two in a series written for parents or anyone else buying a bassoon for someone else.

by Artist Gek Tessaro

The Keys to a Successful Bassoon Purchase

Begin by considering the size of bassoon your child needs. How old is your child? What size hands does he/she have? The bassoon is a large instrument that requires relatively large sized hands to play (note that there are also many adults with relatively small hands so the same advice applies). This is partly due to the large size and weight of the bassoon, but also due to the large stretch between keys and open holes for fingers. In order to facilitate those with smaller hands bassoon manufacturers have designed bassoons and key work to fit people with different hand sizes, from very small to large. 

For those with small hands the options are:

- Mini bassoon / tenoroon (roughly half sized) up to the age of about 9 or 10. The Ludlow Mini-Bassoon is in the key of G and has a brighter sound than a full sized bassoon. It is a fantastic tool for getting your child started at a very early age on the bassoon. It's tiny size and key work mirroring that of a full size bassoon make it a great instrument to start a child on. The mini-bassoon has been utilized with great success by bassoon teachers at schools for some time now and has become something music services cannot do without

- Short reach bassoon - often ages 10 to 13 - these are full sized instruments but with extended key work for those with smaller hands. Short reach bassoons have been around for quite some time with just an extra key for the left hand third finger (the traditional open hole can be hard to reach), but these days there is a lot more help than just one extra key. This help comes largely in the form of 'stretched' or elongated key work that falls within easier reach of the fingers, in particular the left hand thumb.

For those with larger hands the option is:

- Full size bassoon - This is the standard size bassoon for adults and young people with larger hands. Usually once most children have reached the age of twelve or thirteen they are beginning to outgrow the short reach bassoon they have been using. Upgrading to a full size bassoon is then necessary to allow the fingers to spread out so they can keep playing comfortably. 

The best way to decide which size bassoon is most suited to your child is to let your child have a go on his/her teacher's bassoon or alternatively speak to us.

Consider your Budget - New or Second hand. Once you have decided which size bassoon your child needs, your next step will be to consider your budget. Buying a second hand bassoon can cost you significantly less but you need to know what you are doing. In our next blog in this series (Part Three) we will discuss the 'dos and don'ts' of buying both new and second hand bassoons. Follow our advice and you won't go wrong! Part Three coming soon

Ludlow Mini-Bassoon in G Arrives for Budding Mini-Bassoonists

It's arrived! The recent development of the mini-bassoon is revolutionary. This little bassoon is making a big difference by allowing children as young as six and seven years old to learn the bassoon, at last putting the bassoon on an equal footing with the other woodwinds of the orchestra.

Ludlow Mini Bassoon

Historically young people have had to wait until roughly the age of twelve before they could have their first lesson on the bassoon due to the bassoon being too large for smaller children to handle. For a seven year old the finger holes are unreachable and the bassoon is too big and unwieldy (the full size bassoon is taller than most seven year olds!) This has resulted in the bassoon, one of the most beautiful instruments in the orchestra, being one of the rarest. 

Not only did the bassoon player have to wait until roughly the age of twelve (depending on their size) before taking up the bassoon, but they then had to catch up with players of other orchestral instruments who had been playing since the age of seven. This has inevitably put countless children off starting to learn the bassoon.

The recent development of the short-reach bassoon (a full-sized bassoon with modified key work) has allowed young people to start bassoon lessons a couple of years earlier, at the age of about ten years old. But short-reach bassoons are still too large and unwieldy for six to nine year olds.

So what is special about the Ludlow mini bassoon in the key of G?

• Plays in the key of G, five notes higher than a full-size bassoon - bassoon like in sound but naturally brighter
• Suitable for age 7-11, until ready for a full size bassoon
• Almost identical key work to a full size bassoon makes for easy progression
• Accurate intonation and tuning
• Special dense ABS plastic resin body has highly resonant acoustic properties, just like maple. Requires no maintenance; rot-proof, crack-proof and very tough
• Durable nickel silver plated keys and mechanism
• Unique high register vent key which allows the instrument to sing in the top register
• Strong, light hard case half the size of a standard bassoon case
• Comes with everything you need to get started
• Can be used with full size bassoon reed or special mini-bassoon reed

Is there music for the mini-bassoon in the key of G?

Yes! Take a look at the specially written music at Anselma Music . Many teachers also like to transpose music for the mini-bassoon so it can play in ensembles alongside full sized bassoons. More and more music is being written for mini-bassoons as their place in the bassoon curriculum is being universally recognised. In lessons though, the Ludlow mini-bassoon can play standard bassoon music. It plays a fifth higher but as long as your keep it a 'mini-bassoon' lesson it works a treat and the transition to full size bassoon is smooth.

The mini-bassoon is designed as a way into bassoon playing for children from the age of seven. The Ludlow Mini-Bassoon retails at £1,450 and can be trialled through the Double Reed Ltd. website here:

http://www.doublereed.co.uk/index.htm

A Guide On How To Buy a Bassoon For Your Child Part One

A Guide on How to Buy a Bassoon for Your Child is a short series to address some of the questions we are frequently asked by parents who have decided to (or have been told they need to!) buy a bassoon for their child. For a parent who is not a bassoon player, as most aren't, this can be daunting. Bassoons are high value instruments and it is a decision you will want to get right.

The first thing to say is that you're not alone. Here are some scenarios we often hear:

Vance Lee is late! Hong Kong Philharmonic

• My son has been using a county-owned bassoon but they have asked for it back
• My daughter has been borrowing a bassoon from the school but this instrument is in such poor condition that it stops her from progressing
• Our son has been playing on a mini-bassoon but has now outgrown it so we need to find a full-sized bassoon
• My daughter wishes to learn the bassoon but the school do not have an instrument they can lend her.

So you need to buy a bassoon. At Double Reed Ltd. we have a wide range of makes and types of bassoon for sale. But where do you start when it all seems so complicated?

Part two of this blog will discuss what type and size of bassoon you need. The options are mini bassoon, short reach bassoon, or full size bassoon. Read on to see what we have to say - Part Two coming soon!

If you have a specific question you would like us to answer then please ask and we will include it in our follow up posts on this series.


www.DoubleReed.co.uk

Amati ABN41 / Lafleur Bassoon - Brilliant Value Second Hand Bassoon

On a budget? Want a used bassoon that packs a punch? High spec key work and a good sound? Then check out this second hand Amati ABN41 / Lafleur bassoon - beautifully overhauled, ready for you to fall in love with.

RH Thumb Rollers 

Helpful Info - This second hand Amati ABN41 / Lafleur bassoon (stamped Lafleur) was made by Amati in the Czech Republic and imported by Boosey and Hawkes in the UK. It is Amati's flagship model bassoon and has for some decades been one of the number 1 best selling bassoons in the UK.

Why so popular?

These instruments can be excellent value for money. At £1450 this is one of the lowest cost instruments we sell, and we can assure you, they don't come much cheaper without significantly less key work or compromising on quality (which we will never do).

The Amati ABN41 bassoon sounds nice. Whilst this bassoon is clearly placed in the lower end of the student bassoon range in terms of quality of sound, this instrument does sound nice. It is not quite as even as a more expensive counterpart, such as an Adler Sonora, but with a little more effort this bassoon performs remarkably well, with a nice rich tone, and is the perfect instrument for a bassoonist on a budget.

High D and Whisper Lock

High spec key work - this bassoon has some really great key work, including nine rollers! Right hand thumb rollers are usually only seen on professional bassoons in the top price band, but this bassoon has them. It's true - some of us have slow thumbs (myself included), and these rollers can make life easier if this is an issue for you. Other impressive key work also includes high D key, left hand thumb whisper key lock and two trill keys.

Technical Stuff - This Amati ABN41 / Lafleur second hand bassoon is also mechanically well designed and has been built to last. The key work is very comfortable to hold. It also has rubber lined tone holes on the wing and butt joint open finger holes to protect against water damage to the wood. These linings also extend past the inside edge of the bore so that water runs past them, rather than into them, which stops bubbling.






If you are interested in this second hand bassoon you can have a look at it on our website here: http://www.doublereed.co.uk/Bassoon_Lafleur_28033_For_Sale.htm

Alternatively we sell this instrument new on our website here:
http://www.doublereed.co.uk/Bassoon_New_Amati_ABN_41.htm

If this particular used bassoon is sold (as these blogs are written on an historical basis), and you don't see anything similar on our website, then do get in touch as we often have bassoons not yet advertised i.e.  undergoing a pre-sale overhaul and ready for you to try soon.

www.doublereed.co.uk

Second Hand Amati ABN41 / Lafleur Bassoon

Merry Christmas

We have been so overwhelmed by the support we have received in the past year that we decided to commission this Christmas painting to say thank you! Painted by our own director, Alison Ludlow, this little Santa is really worn out :)

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

www.DoubleReed.co.uk

A Treasure of Rare and Interesting Bassoons at the Royal Northern College of Music Wind Weekend 2012

Double Reed Ltd. exhibited at the Royal Northern College of Music Double Reed Weekend on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November 2012 just gone, in Manchester, UK. It was lovely to meet so many bassoonists and to hear some beautiful bassoon playing. 

We are a specialist bassoon company and as such we had some unusual and rare bassoons to show off on our stand, which caused much intrigue and delight. To start with we had three Heckel bassoons on our stand which, perhaps not surprisingly, were tried by most of the professionals and students at the event. Many students had never before had the opportunity to play on a pre-1945 Heckel, and so this was a rare opportunity to see for themselves how beautiful these bassoons really sound. Needless to say, all three Heckels are now reserved for customers to try on approval.

We also had a Soulsby bassoon, made by the British maker Jeremy Soulsby in 1988. Soulsby made about 80 bassoons, which gained a world wide reputation for their sound and quality, and then he retired and never made another bassoon. We have Soulsby bassoon number 41 in stock - a very rare instrument, in perfect condition, that produces a delightful sound.

Another special bassoon we had was an Ernst Riedl, made in about 1940 (a dark coloured bassoon pictured on a stand at the far end). Some of the professional players at the day (BBC Philharmonic and others) had heard of Riedl bassoons but had never actually seen or played one. The sound of this instrument is astonishingly rich and even throughout. I am an Ernst Riedl player myself, having an identical instrument with a close serial number, and I am a huge fan. Famously, Will Jansen was a Riedl player, writer of the well known five book anthology 'The Bassoon'. He is photographed with a Riedl bassoon just like this in his book.

You can see all these bassoons, plus many others, on our website here:

www.DoubleReed.co.uk

A special hello to everyone who was there on the day!

Oliver Ludlow - Director and Bassoon Specialist at Double Reed Ltd.