Cork grease or not, i have to worry whether my bass joint is going to stick in the boot or not! it usually doesn't, but then again, it's never gone all the way in. today, it did and it got stuck. it took me forever to get it out! So, how can i prevent this from happening?

Do you maybe have new cork on this joint? They might have got it a bit thick. Try petroleum jelly for awhile, altho I have heard this is not very good for the cork (but I have used it all winter and it works great and nothing seems to have happened to my cork). Jim Laslie, a renowned bassoon repairman, says there is nothing which states categorically that your bass joint has to go ALL the way in to the butt joint. A slight bit out doesn't matter, he says. That's assuming you can still insert the stop that joins the tenor and bass joint together.

I agree, it doesn't have to go all the way in. Mine won't go all the way in either....actually I don't think I've ever played on a bassoon where it went all the way in.

i've never put it all the way in, but it just happened to go in today. i have been using vaseline instead of cork grease either, because vaseline does work better for me. the cork isn't new really. this bassoon is a school bassoon, and another student has been using this one all along, and i think she used it the other two years before also. there's nothing wrong w/ the wing joint period, but anything w/ my bass joint is wrong (top and bottom) because the bell sticks also, but not as bad.

i had the same problem with the bell with the schools bassoon. had to grease it before i put it on. but then it got all gunky and stuff so i gave back that bassoon and got my own.

It's best if you don't use cork grease, it will start to affect the sound and some times cause it to stick more. If you have cork on you joints, then it may be to thick and I really don't know how to make it smaller, except just use it a lot. It's really best if you get thread on your joints the next time. Take it to a bassoon speciality store, they will know how to wrap your joints for you.

Let me make this clear for everyone

1) There is thread on the corks, it's not cork
2) I've been using vaseline
3) Even though it sometimes sticks with the vaseline, it was definitely going to stick without vaseline or cork grease

is it ok to take off a little bit of the thread?

By all means remove some thread. One of the great advantages of thread is you can make adjustments to the wrap when the temperature/humidity makes the wood swell or contract. Fox puts thread on all their bassoons and says never to use cork grease or vaseline - use parafin (candle wax). The wax helps the thread stick together on the joint, but makes a slick surface for assembly. Take a little off at a time (just a 2 or 3 wraps) and try the fit. If end of the thread hangs loose on the joint, rub it down with a little wax and it will adhere to the rest of the thread.