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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000059.txt from 2007/07

From: herb fawcett <herbgosia@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] Young ASO Principal Oboist Rejects
Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:49:27 -0400

That's the damned truth! I played two Yamahas, one the "old" type, and one
of the thicker walled type. Enjoyed them both, but I felt neither was the
best example of the breed. I have a good bocal they made. Your reference to
the reed may be the brightest ray of light on this discussion. I do a lot
(a lot) of work on my reeds to make them work they way I want, and I think
the 601s I had would have been happier with a cut-off blank. Like the
Buffet, I felt they preferred a more basic reed to fully excite the column.
I know a lot of damned fine players, and some play Fox, some play Yamaha,
Puchner, some play Walter, and some play Heckel. I knew a very nice player
in Oakland who used an old Kohlert for years. He wrote much of the track for
Never Cry Wolf. I was told that the 1950s Conn bassoons were close to Heckel
8K series and, with a little work, played very well indeed. Heckels vary a
lot with vintage, and some guys prefer the 5K, some the 6-7K and many the
8K. Some of us like the 9K and many like the 12K. Then there are the new
ones! As you say, make it yours, and love it.
Herb

On 7/12/07 9:03 PM, "mortwein@-----.com> wrote:

> Herb,
>
> I've been playing a Yamaha 821 bassoon full time in a full time (52
> week season) orchestra for 3 years now and it is the best overall
> bassoon I've ever played. I've owned Foxes and Heckels and played many
> bassoons in my day. It is similar to older Heckels (specifically
> 7000's) and does require more reed finishing than the Foxes I've
> played, but I get better results with the little more effort I have to
> put into the reeds. Maybe that is what you mean.
>
> I think any good player will sound very similar on any good bassoon
> after spending some time learning to play the horn and making reeds for
> it. No matter what bassoon I play, I still sound like me.
> Our section is a Heckel, a Yamaha, and a Fox. We blend very well
> together. Nobody can tell we are all playing different brands. I
> played a Conn bassoon at Jim Laslie's shop recently and it played great.
> Who cares what brand it is.
>
> Bottom Line: Find an instrument you like and play it!
>
> Mark Ortwein
> Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
> Assistant Principal Bassoon
>
>
> -- herb fawcett <herbgosia@-----.net> wrote:
> An axiom in the world of business is that excessive profit breeds ruinous
> competition. I don't think Heckel is quite there yet, as the wait is four
> years and they are certainly not cheap. The perception of Yamaha may be
> very
> accurate - they may be fine for the majority, but the distinct minority
> will
> need something just a tiny bit better. Not everyone needs a Lexus, and they
> are satisfied with the Camry. So many BMW owners will never ever use the
> performance they have paid so dearly to obtain.
> Herb
>
>
>
>
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>
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