I sometimes run across stuff when shopping that make me go “oh yeah, that’s a good reed making supply” or something. So here’s a post with something like that.
Students often ask me what to get for binding up a reed when forming the blank. I saw this at Ace Hardware and it was just about perfect. I’m sure you can get it in a grocery store as well, or under slightly different names. This spool would last a single reed maker a very long time.![IMG_20190309_150559[1]](https://tjbassoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/img_20190309_1505591.jpg?w=600)
Posted by Trent on August 20, 2019
https://tjbassoon.com/2019/08/20/tools-of-the-trade/
For a number of years now I’ve utilized a cane processing and tube forming method that has resulted in zero cracking in my blanks on a very consistent basis. I did a rather recent unscientific experiment to see if one aspect of this process was beneficial and it seems like it is a critical component of keeping the cracking from happening. Read the full post »
Posted by Trent on May 23, 2019
https://tjbassoon.com/2019/05/23/on-forming-blanks-and-cracking-cane/
In March of 2019 I was diagnosed with a metastatic recurrence of my cancer. I will begin new chemotherapy treatments on April 10. Chemo can take quite a toll on the body, and at times I may get behind in reed orders, but I plan on continuing on working, teaching, and making reeds during treatment. I appreciate each one of my customers, many of whom have been ordering regularly from me for years! I appreciate a bit extra patience with sending orders out as I get into these new treatments (and hopefully beat this thing for good this time).
Posted by Trent on April 9, 2019
https://tjbassoon.com/2019/04/09/starting-cancer-treatments-again/
I had grown unhappy with my BAM high-tech bassoon case and finally saw another case on the market that I thought would actually be an improvement. I like it better, although I still don’t think the perfect bassoon case yet exists. Nobody really has the best bocal storage I can imagine, and I still can’t keep both my hand crutch and balance hanger attached while the instrument is stored. Still, this case offers flexible bocal storage, a generously sized sheet music pouch, and a compact size with interesting and compact internal layout. View the entire video review here.
Posted by Trent on December 10, 2018
https://tjbassoon.com/2018/12/10/review-of-new-bassoon-case-mb-2-by-marcus-bonna/
Over the years I’ve sold a great many Little-Jake pickups to players all around the world. On occasion I find out one of them fails or breaks and I repair them at no cost but the shipping. There are two ways that I typically see the Little-Jakes fail, and there are ways to prevent both from ever happening in most cases. Here are some things I do to prevent damaging my own pickups.
Posted by Trent on November 11, 2018
https://tjbassoon.com/2018/11/11/caring-for-your-little-jake-pickup/
With a lot of new really inexpensive wireless guitar options on the market now I thought it was to solve the mechanical problems of hardware mounting to be able to run the electric bassoon with a wireless transmitter that was actually viable. Read the full post »
Posted by Trent on November 1, 2018
https://tjbassoon.com/2018/11/01/going-wireless/
I have a lot of bells and whistles on my bassoon. Of course, my bassoon came with a lot of “extra” goodies that are not common on a lot of instruments. Over the years of getting to know my own instrument, carefully researching keys and playing many different bassoons while working for Midwest Musical Imports, I added a few things, although with the bassoon there are more options than any other wind instrument for key customization. Below are some of my keywork choices, things that I wouldn’t mind having, and my rationale for these decisions. Read the full post »
Posted by Trent on October 22, 2018
https://tjbassoon.com/2018/10/22/keywork-choices-on-a-bassoon/
After 4 1/2 years my original “The Making of a Bassoon Reed” video has over 37k views, and is one of the most watched bassoon reed making videos on Youtube. I’ve grown as a reed maker since then, and purchase new equipment to make reeds from the tube cane stage, as well as make my process more efficient. So with those changes I thought it might be worth making an updated reed making video. I started filming the process last summer but got interrupted before it was done by my cancer diagnosis and treatment. But I finally had an opportunity to finish filming the final pieces and do a narration of the process as before. Again, this isn’t a tutorial video and if you don’t know anything about reed making I’ll probably talk about things that won’t make any sense, but that’s not a big deal I don’t think.
Posted by Trent on June 6, 2018
https://tjbassoon.com/2018/06/06/a-new-reed-making-video/
Last week I received my bassoon back from Germany and I’ve recovered enough from surgery and chemo to begin working again. I don’t have the endurance to work as many hours in a day as I used to, but the reeds are coming out well.
I should have reeds available for sale by March first!
Order buttons will be active when I have reeds ready to ship with no wait.
Posted by Trent on February 15, 2018
https://tjbassoon.com/2018/02/15/im-back-in-production/
Finished product first:
Oh one of these days I’ll post the building process.
Posted by Trent on September 18, 2017
https://tjbassoon.com/2017/09/18/i-made-a-bassoon-floor-lamp/
Trent Jacobs, bassoonist 