I started bassoon about 3 years ago. I play on either
a plastic Conn or a wooden Lesher (Both, well, um, crap) and my sound sounds like something of maybe a clarinet or a flute mix. It doesn't have the bassooniness to it(Wow don't I sound smart today!) Well anyways, I was wondering, is it me that makes it sound so bad? Or is it the instrument itself? Or the bocals(REALLY old Fox bocals) I dont' know! Please help! I can't sound like this ALL my life!
Well, the other variable is the reed, and to me, the reed makes more difference in the sound than anything else. However, different bassoons do sound different. A really soft reed, while easy to play, sounds quite, well, reedy. As you build up your strength and become able to use a medium soft reed, you might notice a difference.
Oh, well my reed is actually quite stiff. It was made by the first chair in the local symphony, and him and the rest of the symphony uses them, so I pretty much crossed off that.
Sounds like you have a good advisor right there - the guy in the symphony who makes your reeds. I would trust one of those guys, who know your situation vis a vis the bassoons, but also who know what's available locally and who to go to for good service (sometimes those repairmen have good horns for sale). You do have two lower-end bassoons, so probably most anything you do will be an upgrade.
Don't worry. I've been at square one all my life. My music teachers are absolute !****!s. They bought a new silver double french horn but they couldn't seem to be able to buy me a single bocal. And I mean like the cheapest. I say screw them, and I'm buying my own.
Do any of your local music stores or repair shops have bassoons, either for rent or to buy? Bring your reed along and maybe they will let you try them, just to see if indeed you do get a better tone on one of them. Worth a try, anyway.
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OR, maybe you could bring your bassoon(s) along, play them for the guys at the repair shop(s) and say, "What do you think is wrong with the way these sound?" You never know what will happen.
Even though your reeds are clearly from a good source I don't think you should assume they are perfect. Do you adjust every new reed to create the sound you want? Even if it's made well, every reed is different and every bassoonist has different requirements for how a reed plays. It might be perfect for the guy who made it but not right for you.
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) Well anyways, I was wondering, is it me that makes it sound so bad? Or is it the instrument itself? Or the bocals(REALLY old Fox bocals) I dont' know! Please help! I can't sound like this ALL my life!