The Complete Handbook of Bassoon Straps & Supports

I bought this thinking it would help me choose between two neck straps, and it did do that. But honestly, the chapter on balance boards—the history and how they actually work—felt like overkill for what I needed. It's written well and I learned a lot, but I skimmed about 30% of it. Three stars because it's thorough to the point of being slow, but I can't say it's wrong about anything.

As a repair tech, I'm used to being the one who knows everything about hardware. This book humbled me a bit. The section on swivel hook stress fractures and how that 'springiness' matters more than I thought was genuinely useful. I docked two stars because it needs more photos or diagrams — reading about a 'fan-style harness' without seeing one is frustrating.

This is a solid reference if you're a professional, but I'm not sure it's for the casual player. The maintenance chapter saved me a trip to the shop when my leather strap started cracking at the stitching line. That alone nearly justified the price. But the intro chapter spends a lot of time on biomechanics that felt like reading a physics textbook. It's accurate, just not what I hoped for.

I run a small instrument store, and I've been carrying two or three straps 'just in case.' After reading this, I realized I was stocking the wrong ones — too many cheap straps with narrow hooks that don't fit modern bassoon posts. The business chapter gave me a concrete plan for upgrading my inventory and adding a simple servicing option. It's dry, but it's the only resource I've found that talks about the retail side this honestly.

Finally, a book that doesn't just say 'try a few and see what feels good.' The decision framework in Chapter 3 is practical — I measured my shoulder slope and arm length and actually understood why my current harness hurts after 2 hours of practice. The only gripe is that it occasionally repeats itself between chapters, but I'll forgive that because the fit tests at the end are worth the price alone. I've already recommended it to my section.

The Good: the troubleshooting section is realistic. The Bad: the writing is a bit too academic for my taste. The section on 'material creep' in nylon webbing was interesting but not something I need to understand at a molecular level to fix a slipped buckle. If you skimp on the science and focus on the practical sections, it's a decent buy for the price.

It's a bit of a dry read, yes. But it solved a problem I've had for years: my balance board always slid forward on the floor during loud passages. The chapter on installation mentions putting a thin rubber mat under it, and that fixed it instantly. I keep it on my desk as a reference now. Not a page-turner, but I'm glad it's on my shelf.

I'm an amateur orchestral player, and I've been relying on the same old leather neck strap since college. This book convinced me to look at a harness, and the comparison table in Chapter 2 was easy to follow for someone like me. It's comprehensive and I respect that it's not trying to sell me a specific brand. It just could have been shorter — some sections feel like they're repeating the same point.