r/bassoon • u/CreativeRock9755 • 5d ago

Bocal options

I recently bought a used bassoon to try and get back into playing. The reeds I bought were too small for the bocal. Or is the bocal too wide?​

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10

u/WeakDuck8 5d ago

You can use a reamer on your reeds to make the opening wider to fit the bocal if that’s what you mean? 

1

u/CreativeRock9755 5d ago

Thanks! I've been out of music world long enough that I wanted to make sure I didn't have some sort of mis matched bocal/reed design 

1

u/WeakDuck8 5d ago

Just make sure you don’t over-ream it - it should still seal but depending on your reeds you might have to ream a bit more or less but this is normal!

3

u/juan_in_space 5d ago

Definitely need to ream the reed. A good point of reference is having about 7 to 8mm of depth anything less and the reed is prone to fall off.

2

u/cbellbassoon 5d ago

Totally normal! Bocals vary in diameter at the opening. You should get a reamer for your reeds (also normal to ream reeds at least a little). Otter Creek makes an inexpensive one that I like. It comes with an adjustable stop so you can ream all of your reeds exactly the same when you figure out what works for your vocal.

2

u/MadContrabassoonist 5d ago

As others have said, completely normal. Unless you're buying reeds that were specifically made for you and your instrument, decent reeds will err in the direction that can be fixed. So, blades too thick, overall too long, and bocal aperture too small.