Bassoon Care and Maintenance
Adam’s Music rents bassoons for musicians of all ages. We have a wide range of rental instruments suitable for players at any level, and for all budgets. No matter how much your rental instrument costs, Adam’s Music ensures it is in good working order before you take it home. Use these handy care and maintenance tips to keep your instrument looking and sounding great.
Assembly
Insert the tenor joint
Lay your instrument case on the floor and remove the double joint. Grasp the double joint in one hand and then insert the tenor joint. The tenor and bass joints are a single piece for some bassoons. If that's the case, skip the next step.
Insert the bass joint
Insert the bass joint into the double joint next to the tenor joint. The bass joint will fit into the larger of the two holes in the double joint.
Insert the bell joint
Connect the bell joint to the top of the bass joint. Depress the highest key on the bell to make a safe coupling.
Connect the bocal
Gently insert the bocal into the exposed top of the tenor joint. When inserting the bocal, don't apply pressure to the longest part of the bocal. Grasp the bocal at the bend close to the cork to avoid bending the metal during assembly.
Disassembly
Remove the bocal
Grasp the bocal at the bend above the cork. Then gently wiggle and pull the bocal out of the top of the tenor joint.
Remove the bell
During disassembly, keep the bassoon in an upright position. This will keep excess moisture from reaching the keyholes. Detach the bell from the top of the bass joint.
Remove the bass joint
Remove the bass joint from the double joint. If the bass and tenor joint are a single piece, remove them both at once and place the parts in an instrument case.
Separate the tenor joint from the double joint
Finally, remove the tenor joint from the double joint.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Clean the bassoon body sections
After use, clean your bassoon by pulling a cleaning swab through each body section. This step is important as excess moisture inside your bassoon can damage the instrument.
Wipe the exterior of the bassoon
Using a soft cleaning cloth, wipe the body and the keys to remove fingerprints and dirt. Handle the bassoon carefully. The rods, pads, and keys are sensitive and can be bent out of place.
Store the mouthpiece
Clean and dry off the mouthpiece. Store the mouthpiece in a protective case whenever possible.
Be Careful !
The bassoon is a delicate instrument that is sensitive to temperature changes. However, proper maintenance and handling practices can keep your instrument in peak condition for many years. Here are some dos and don’ts of proper bassoon care:
- Always store your bassoon in its case when not in use
- Clean your bassoon after every playing session
- Apply a small amount of key oil to the keys and posts at least once a month
- Use a seat strap when playing to avoid accidentally dropping the bassoon
- Don't lay your bassoon flat during use. Moisture will get into parts that were not designed to be wet
- Don't bend the bocal during assembly and disassembly
- Don't exert a lot of force on the keys or rods during cleaning
- Don't expose your bassoon to extreme temperatures
If There's a Problem
Adam’s Music wants you to enjoy your bassoon. These maintenance and care tips will help keep your bassoon in top playing shape. If you have a problem with your instrument, don’t try to fix it yourself. Contact Adam’s Music for instructions. We’re your friendly neighborhood music store in West Los Angeles.
Click here for a printable PDF version of the Adam’s Music Bassoon Care and Maintenance Page