Wilhelm Heckel bassoon from 1955, serial number 9912, shipped to a German buyer in October of that year.
It seems that our small shop in Wichita finds one or two good Heckels every year. Everybody knows who owns what in the States, but our overseas partners do, now and again, locate a good example for us.
Condition of any woodwind instrument is arguably the most important feature, so let’s go one piece at a time with a full description.
The wood of the bell is perfect, no cracks or damage. The original varnish shows no damage of any kind, the socket clean and thin…quite normal. Bb key and socket band are nickel plated and the original stamp of the Heckel name is sharp. Note please…the original ivory bell-ring shows a small crack, repaired and almost invisible.
The long joint is very original, showing maybe 70 – 75% original varnish. It’s important to note that both tenons are damage-free, no cracks, no repairs. Keywork is nickel-plated and in solid condition (no repairs, no breaks to the brazed pieces). Two normal rollers: E-flat and C-sharp key-touches. There’s minor flaking to the nickel-plate on the C# and low B pad-cups that we’ll re-plate in nickel before sending out the instrument. We also note the finger-touches for both the C# and the D# show wear to the nickel-plate which we will also re-plate with new nickel. No cracks to the wood!
The boot has also 70 – 75% original varnish, no cracks to the wood, no damage anywhere. G key has a cork patch which we will soon remove and nickel-plate the key-touch under the cork. Front Ab and F key-touches show some finger-wear, will be replated in nickel by us. Some flaking to the nickel-plate on the G pad-cup will also be smoothed and re-plated. Small socket is brass-lined; the large socket is not. Bore is very clean, both sides….no wood rot found.
RH whisper-key lock is modern Heckel, appears to be silver-plated. The mounting for the hand-rest has been re-positioned and two small screw-holes have been filled. Two rollers only, for Ab and F key-touches.
The wing wears approximately 50 – 60% original varnish, with no wood damage, the original factory stamp still sharp and visible. Both the wing and the boot wear silver (not nickel) water tubes. The tenon wears an original brass cap. A bridge from the A to the whisper key is a recent addition. High D is original, but no high E has been fitted. Note two small spots under the whisper-key touch where the original LH lock was previously fitted. The bore is very clean and without damage.
Set includes: One bocal (original ? ) 1 CC , Used Marcus Bonna Case
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OUR CONCLUSION is that it’s a fine and original fifties Heckel. The varnish is original, as is the keywork and the plating thereon. In short, it’s a player’s instrument, not a “beauty queen” or museum piece.
We have some history on the instrument and have been told it’s been in the possession of a well-known non-American player for the past 30 years and more. Yes, we can offer that information to the new owner.
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Having sold a handful of new Heckels back many years ago and quite a number of second-hand instruments since, I am amazed that the quoted delivery time for new orders is now more than fifteen years, with “street price” on a standard model 41 approaching eighty grand.
Which makes this beauty, I’m afraid, a BEST BUY for a mere thirty-eight-nine.
More info, more photos are possible, please do contact us.
ONE MORE THING… Hand-to-hand delivery IS POSSIBLE to Frankfurt or Paris in early May. “Hand-to-hand” means no chance of shipping damage, no hassles with customs about an ivory bell-ring.
RECOMMENDED!
GR/Wichita
HG