Bocal issues

[SaxPlayer1004]

I'm currently using our schools renard bassoon (the black plastic one) and it plays much better then the olds i was using at my old school, but on both of them, the reeds have an uncanny tendency to come off of the bocal when i'm playing. is this a problem with the diameter in the reeds, or am i pulling on the reed unintentionally? i am going to this governor school for 6 weeks in NC for bassoon this coming summer. my band director decided to surprise me by sending me, then telling me i'm not going on bari or tenor sax, but on bassoon. newho, i'm half way decent at it. enough to make districts on it, and this gov. school, but if i can get rid of this reed issue it'd make my life much easier. any suggestions would be great. thanks

[Tim Price]

Get some plumbers tape or wax. Put the tape on the bocal and do not use to much. OR-rub some wax on the end to create some grit for the reed to lock on. Either will help.
Some bocals are just slippery and new and don't get the reed right for a bit.
Also- keep on...the would needs bassoonists.
Remember what Frank Zappa said ; "The bassoon is one of my favorite instruments. It has the medieval aroma, like the days when everything used to sound like that. Some people crave baseball . . . . I find this unfathomable, but I can easily understand why a person could get excited about playing the bassoon."

Also theres bassoon topics on my website- check it out.
http://www.timpricejazz.com/lessons/bassoonpractice.html

Have fun. :coffee:

[SaxPlayer1004]

when the reeds on there its not slipping, i just don't think its on enough. it only goes on about 3 mm.

[Todd in Texas]

For future reference, pick up a reamer (one of the basic tools of the bassoonists 'arsenal'.) You can usually find an inexpensive one for $15 or less at any online store that sells double reed tools. It allows you to open up the throat to fit the reed further on the bocal, which allows for a tighter fit.

Todd

[awholley]

Just make sure you don't go too wild with the reamer or you'll start affecting the pitch!
.
If governor's school is in Winston-Salem (it was when I was at NCSA), you might see if Mark Popkin is still around and selling/making reed equipment.
His spiral reamer is a lot easier to use than the cheapo ones.

Worst case (test this on a dead reed) you can try an electric drill and a bit that fits in the hole like your bocal.

Better yet, if you have professional bassoonists in your area, see if they will give you a reed lesson and sell you a couple reeds adjusted to work for *you*.

Alan

[Todd in Texas]

Mark's reamers are fantastic, but at $85 they are a little spendy for most beginners. But absolutely, spending some time with a professional player that can help out with reed selection and adjustment is key. It's amazing what you can accomplish w/ reed adjustment just from knowing how to manipulate the first and second wires.

Best of luck,
Todd

[Merlin]

There's a great section on Paul Buttemer's site (www.pbreeds.com) on adjusting for bocal fit. He advocates using numbered drill bits as reamers.