Step by Step Assembly
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The parts of the bassoon are labeled in the order you grab them for assembly. Note: The numbers in the picture will not be on the actual instrument!
Not Shown - Reed 1. Boot Joint 2. Wing /Tenor Joint - we will call this part the wing joint. 3. Long Joint 4. Bell 5. Hand Rest 6. Seat Strap 7. Bocal (and Reed) |
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The Reed
Take your reed and place it in a small cup of room temperature water while you assemble the rest of the bassoon. |
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1 & 2. Boot and Wing Joint
Find the boot and wing joint in the case. Be sure the wing joint is not connected to the long joint and then take the boot and wing joint from the case. I recommend grabbing the wing joint with your dominant hand. Take the wrapped end of the wing joint and insert it into the boot joint until there is no gap and the crook of the wing joint is aligned with the opening of where the long joint will be inserted. (See picture to right) If there is resistance, gently twist back and forth. Be careful to only apply pressure to the body of these parts, not the rods. Note: DO NOT USE CORK GREASE ON THE STRINGS!!! |
Correct Bridge Key Alignment
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3. Long Joint
Keeping the cap of the boot joint on the ground and the instrument perpendicular, take the long joint and find how the long and wing joint lock together. The bassoon pictured is a Fox product and has a locking mechanism on the long joint this is inserted at the top of the wing joint (see picture below). If you have a bassoon like this, be sure that the locking mechanism is up and out of the way so you do not bend the mechanism or scratch the wing joint. Bassoons have can different locking mechanism, be sure to check which one you have! Next, align it with the wing joint and the opening of the boot joint and insert the long joint into the boot joint until there is no gap between the two and then lock the long and wing joint together. |
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Incorrect: The locking mechanism is down but the long joint is not completely inserted in the boot joint.
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Correct: The locking mechanism is up, allowing the long joint to be twisted into place in the boot joint.
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Correct: The long and wing joint are both in the boot joint and the locking mechanism is down and in place.
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4. Bell
Keeping the cap of the boot joint on the ground and the instrument perpendicular, grab the bell from the case. Depress the pad and slide it onto the long joint until there is no gap between the two and rod you were depressing is overlapping the rod on the long joint.
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5. Hand Rest
Hand rests are not necessary but they are helpful with hand placement and shape. After the bell is attached, you can attach and screw in the hand rest to the boot joint. Accomodations
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6. Bocal
Keeping the cap of the boot joint on the ground and the instrument perpendicular, grab the bocal. The bocal can easily bend and lose its shape. It is important to hold it above the curve when moving it. Insert the bocal into the wing joint, gently apply pressure and twist back and forth until it is completely in and the tone hole on the bocal is in line with the bad of the wing joint. Correct Alignment with the bocal tone hole and the whisper key Pad.
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7. Seat Strap (and Reed)
Now that the instrument is put together, minus the reed, grab the seat strap from the case and attached it to the cap on the Boot Joint. Next, take the seat strap and slide it across the front 1/4 of the chair. Then sit on your chair and slide your hips and upper back as far are you can while still sitting up tall. Once you are sitting, it is time to add your reed to the bocal. Take the reed from the cup and attach it to the bocal. Too adjust the height of the bocal in respects to your embouchure you will slide the seat strap left to lower and right to raise it. We will talk more about where the proper placement of the bocal and reed are on the next page. 
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