This instrument has had two owners: Mark Eubanks, longtime principal bassoonist of the Oregon Symphony, and the seller, his former student, who recently fell in love with (and bought) a 12K series Heckel. Mr. Eubanks selected this instrument out of a group of three or four for his use in the symphony, and sold it to me in February 1998, shortly after he bought a newer Fox 201. I played this instrument for almost nine years through high school and while I was an undergraduate at Harvard.
Here are some audio samples of me playing this instrument.
You can read about the 201 on Fox's website. #20771 is made of Fox's usual Mountain Maple with silver-plated keys. This instrument has a D octave key, high E key, rollers on D/Eb, F/Ab, and F#/E/Bb across the pancake key. The whisper key lock is the right-hand sliding variety. The finish is in very good to excellent condition. And I have always loved its particular tiger-striped pattern.
Click on an image to open the high-resolution version in a new window (very large files; thanks for your patience!)
 whisper key lock, rollers across pancake, crutch mounting point |
 F#/E/Bb rollers across pancake key |
 Long joint: upper tenon, showing unstained wood condition
 Long joint: lower tenon
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 Boot with cap off |
 F/Ab rollers, modified G key (see description) |
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 Eb/Db rollers |
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Included with the instrument are two bocals, a Fox *CVX* 2 that I matched to the instrument only two or three years ago, and a Heckel CC 1 that I matched to the instrument early last year. The original Fox hard case and an Altieri soft case cover are also included.
Click on an image to open the high-res version in a new window
 Heckel CC1 bocal |
 clockwise from top right: crutch, crutch mount and screws, whisper key and C# key set with left-thumb rollers, front-side Bb key |
 Fox *CVX* 2 bocal |
I have a rollered whisper key - C# key left thumb keywork combination, which Mr. Eubanks preferred. I will include this alternate keywork with the instrument in case someone in the future wants to use it, though I have always preferred the standard non-rollered type. The crutch mount is not currently on the instrument but I will include it and hand crutch (and will have it attached for you if you wish).
Mr. Eubanks fit a larger than standard G key spatula. The key is also closer to the level of the fingerholes than is typical. A small depression on the surface of the boot joint has been cut into the wood and the front-side Bb key has been removed in order to fit the non-standard G key. I will include the front-side Bb key, though I've never missed it myself. The lower-set G key makes for faster RH3 action.
There are some blemishes worth illustrating. A small amount of silver plating has worn off the boot cap cover. There are a few dents and scratches in the finish around the third tonehole on the wing joint and on the front of the long joint (these can be seen in the photos at the website above). And there is a crack, which was repaired a few years ago, in the receiving hole for the long joint. This crack has not progressed since its discovery and repair. Since the crack stops before the bottom of the well where the tenon ends when inserted, it does not affect the instrument's playing condition.
Click on an image to open the high-res version in a new window
 Hairline crack in the receiving well for the long joint tenon, fixed with glue. As you can see, it does not extend into the bore or beyond the part of the boot joint that is supported with the metal ring. |
 Worn silver plating on the boot cap |
 Small dents and scratches on the front of the long joint |
 Scuffing and scrathes on the front of the wing joint |
This instrument is in excellent playing condition and has been maintained and voiced by Mr. Eubanks. It can be heard at the website with details above. Also, Mr. Eubanks believes he played it in the recording sessions for the first Bassoon Brothers bassoon quartet CD, Wanted!.
This is a fine professional-grade instrument. Based on the serial number I believe it was manufactured in 1993, so it has decades of beautiful playing left. Please don't hesitate to ask questions -- I want to see this instrument off to a good home. It is available for trial in the Portland, Oregon area only.
My Dad is the actual Ebay account holder; as you can see, he has great feedback scores and a lot of confidence in Ebay as a way of matching buyers and sellers. Terms of the auction are as follows:
FREE OVERNIGHT SHIPPING within the 48 states is included for the winning bidder. For Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada, add $75. Payment must be in the form of a cashier's check sent via an overnight service on July 23th or via bank wire. Sorry, NO PAYPAL for this transaction. The bassoon will be shipped on July 24 assuming funds have been received.
