The Complete Handbook of Bassoon Accessories

I found the chapter on seals and cork grease to be more detailed than I needed, but I can see how a repair tech would find it useful. The section on installing a seat strap bracket was helpful, though the instructions were a bit verbose. I was hoping for a simpler 'buy this' kind of guide, and this is more of an encyclopedia. It's thorough, but I'm not sure I'll re-read it.

Finally, a reference that doesn't treat me like an idiot or a consumer. The comparison of different reed case materials and their moisture-retention properties was spot on; it saved me from buying a poorly designed case. The maintenance chapter is worth the price alone - it explained how to fix a squeaking bocal cleaner in about five minutes. This is the book I'll now recommend to every student who asks me what to look for in a new endpin rest.

As a hobbyist, I found the chapter on business opportunities a bit out of my wheelhouse, but everything else was exactly what I needed. The glossary is actually useful, not just a bunch of filler. I appreciated the clear descriptions of different reed profiling tool settings, which are usually only explained in cryptic forum posts. It's not a glamorous read, but it's a genuinely useful handbook.

The book is well-researched, there's no doubt about that. But the tone is a little dry for me. I got the information I needed about seat straps and swabs, but it felt like reading a textbook. I also wished there were more illustrations or photos, as the descriptions of, say, a double-blind reed caul, were hard to visualize. It is a solid reference, just not a page-turner.

It covers everything, which is both its strength and its weakness. The section on brands is good, but it avoids naming any specific 'best' products, which is what I was looking for. I understand the goal of neutrality, but I was hoping for a more decisive 'buy this, not that' approach. That said, the information on how to evaluate a brand's quality for myself is a skill in itself, so I guess I can't complain too much.

I'm a band director, and this book has already become a loaner resource for my bassoon students. The chapter on selecting the right accessories for younger players was particularly valuable - it helped guide them to more durable and affordable options without getting lost in marketing hype. It's a reference book, so it's not a cover-to-cover read, but it's answered every question I've thrown at it so far.

This is the most comprehensive and practical book on this topic I've ever encountered. I've been playing for thirty years, and I thought I knew everything about swabs and endpin rests, but I learned at least a dozen new things. The chapter on how to properly maintain reed-scraping tools is especially good, with clear, step-by-step instructions. It's an essential purchase for any serious bassoonist or repair professional. It sits on my workbench now, not on a bookshelf.