Below is a table of options available for German-system bassoons. The primary sources are various catalogues from Heckel. Catalogue numbers from Fox and Walter are cross-referenced.
R-t = Right thumb
R-1f = Right fore-finger / Right index-finger
R-2f = Right middle-finger
R-3f = Right ring-finger
R-4f = Right little-finger
R-h = Right hand
L- = Left [digits]
Please contact Michael Sweeney if you have any corrections, clarifications, suggestions, or comments. In particular, any information about Heckel or Fox numbered catalogue items not listed or described below would be greatly appreciated.
Heckel |
Fox |
Walter |
Description | -joint |
finger |
hole? |
key? |
Notes | Date |
(1) |
F#+G# trill connection | butt |
no |
no |
41i [first introduced on 41a] | 1870 | |||
| F#+G# trill connection bypassing F-key | butt |
no |
no |
Sweeney | 2015 | ||||
(2) |
C#+D# trill connection (normal: from high-C-key and C#-key) | wing |
no |
no |
41i [first introduced on 41a] | 1880 | |||
| C#+D# trill connection from high-C-key and high-A-key only | wing |
no |
no |
Sweeney | 1980 | ||||
(3) |
high-G-ring | butt |
R-2f |
yes |
no |
41i [first introduced on 41e] | 1902 | ||
| high-G-ring with connection from G-key to close high-G-vent | butt |
R-3f |
no |
no |
integral with (96) | ||||
(4) |
Whisper-key | wing |
L-t |
no |
yes |
superceded by (9) | |||
(5) |
single F# tonehole [R-4f F#-key connected to R-t F#-tonehole] | butt |
no |
no |
41y [see also (160) below] | ||||
(6) |
C/Eb connection [low-C-key closes Eb tonehole] | long |
no |
no |
41y | ||||
(7) |
Whisper-key near I opens crook pinhole (reverse action) | wing |
L-1f |
no |
yes |
41y / obsolete | |||
(8) |
Whisper-key, A-key, and extra-key above C-key open crook pinhole (reverse action) | wing |
L-t |
no |
no |
41x / obsolete | |||
(9) |
Whisper-key (L-t) and connection from low-E-key (R-t) | butt |
no |
yes |
41i | 1905 | |||
(10) |
E+F# trill-key between I/II | wing |
L-2f |
yes |
yes |
41i / see also (28) 0/I | |||
(10a) |
4 |
110 |
E+F# trill-key between II/III ("offset") | wing |
L-3f |
yes |
yes |
see also (28) I/II | |
(11) |
8 |
D+Eb trill-key between II/III | wing |
L-3f |
yes |
yes |
41p [first introduced on 41m] | ||
(11a) |
D+Eb trill-key between II/III (11) without extra tonehole | wing |
L-3f |
no |
yes |
||||
(12) |
5 |
high-D-key | wing |
L-t |
yes |
yes |
41p / common | ||
(12a) |
Whisper-key and C#-key 1mm closer to long-joint | wing |
L-t |
no |
no |
||||
(12b) |
keys for R-3f and R-4f 4mm longer than normal | butt |
R- |
no |
no |
||||
(12c) |
L-t keys closer together and closer to the long-joint for very small hands | wing |
L-t |
no |
yes |
||||
(13) |
15 |
second low-Eb-key | long |
L-t |
no |
yes |
41p | ||
| second low-Eb-key also closes low-D-key | long |
L-t |
no |
yes |
Kovalchuk | ||||
(14) |
F/Ab tremolo key | butt |
R-t |
yes |
yes |
41p | |||
(14a) |
F/Ab tremolo key (14) without extra tonehole [F-key (R-4f) closes G#-key (R-t)] | butt |
no |
no |
|||||
(15) |
11 |
101 |
Ab+Bb trill-key, elevated above F# and G# | butt |
R-t |
yes |
yes |
41p / common | |
(15a) |
11 |
Ab+Bb trill-key, between F# and G# | butt |
R-t |
yes |
yes |
rare | ||
(15b) |
11 |
Ab+Bb trill-key, in place of G#-key [see (95)-I] | butt |
R-t |
yes |
yes |
same as 95 I / rare | ||
(15c) |
11 |
Ab+Bb trill-key, behind G#-key | butt |
R-t |
yes |
yes |
same as 95 II / rare | ||
(15_) |
Ab+Bb trill with extra tonehole, without extra key | butt |
yes |
no |
rare | ||||
11 |
Ab+Bb trill-key, above Bb-key | butt |
R-t |
yes |
yes |
rare | |||
(16) |
|||||||||
(17) |
|||||||||
(18) |
|||||||||
(19) |
26 |
100 |
F+G trill key (AKA high-F-key): above high-E-key | wing |
L-1f |
yes |
yes |
||
(19) |
100 |
F+G trill key (AKA high-F-key): next to high-E-key | wing |
L-1f |
yes |
yes |
|||
(19a) |
17 |
100 |
F+G trill key (AKA high-F-key): above I | wing |
L-1f |
yes |
yes |
||
(19) |
F+G trill key (AKA high-F-key): between II/III | wing |
L-2/3 |
yes |
yes |
||||
| high-F#-key | wing |
L-f1 |
yes |
yes |
Moosmann | ||||
(20) |
23 |
covered key-ring plate for III | wing |
L-3f |
no |
yes |
|||
(21) |
|||||||||
(22) |
[extra R-t-key opens R-4f-F#-tonehole and closes G#-tonehole?] | butt |
R-t |
no |
yes |
41kl | |||
(23) |
low-D-key with extra tab parallel to wing-joint C#-key | long |
L-t |
no |
yes |
||||
(24) |
extra C#-trill-key R-t plus displaced key for R-2 | butt |
R-t/2 |
no |
yes |
[as on French basson] | |||
(25) |
[Boehm R-4 keys w/out T-Bb, with key for A+B-trill] | R |
R-3/4 |
yes |
yes |
[as on Boehm clarinet] | |||
(26) |
low-F+F# trill connection [split F and F# keys; R-t] | ||||||||
(27) |
|||||||||
(28) |
2 |
F+Gb trill key (AKA high-E-key): above I | wing |
L-1f |
yes |
yes |
|||
(28a) |
4 |
110 |
F+Gb trill key (AKA high-E-key): between I/II (with E+F# trill II/III) | wing |
L-2f |
yes |
yes |
||
| high-E-key between I/II (flush with E+F# trill I/II) | wing |
L-2f |
yes |
yes |
|||||
(29) |
18 |
Extra low-D-key, R-t (closes low-E-key) | butt |
R-t |
no |
yes |
41v / Cuciureanu | ||
| Extra low-D-key, L-4f, below C#-key | long |
L-4f |
no |
yes |
Kovalchuk | ||||
| Extra low-D-key, L-4f, beside Eb-key | long |
L-4f |
no |
yes |
Kovalchuk | ||||
| Extra low-C-key, L-4f, beside C#-key | long |
L-4f |
no |
yes |
Kovalchuk | ||||
18 |
Extra low-C-key | butt |
R-t |
no |
yes |
Cuciureanu | |||
(29a) |
Whisper-key pad adjustable in height (oval or square shape) | wing |
no |
no |
|||||
(30) |
|||||||||
(31) |
30 |
106 |
Whisper-key ("French") below low-C#-key | wing |
L-4f |
no |
yes |
41p | |
| Whisper-key ("French") above low-Eb-key | wing |
L-4f |
no |
yes |
very rare | ||||
(32) |
low-B-Bb connection [low-Bb-key closes B-pad without B-key?] | long |
L-t |
no |
no |
||||
(33) |
|||||||||
(34) |
|||||||||
(35) |
|||||||||
(36) |
|||||||||
(37) |
19 |
low-E+F# trill connection [low-E-key automatically closes F#-tonehole (R-4f)] | butt |
no |
no |
Cuciureanu | |||
(38) |
low-F+F# trill connection [F-key above Bb-key] | butt |
R-t |
no |
yes |
41q | |||
(39) |
|||||||||
(40) |
82 |
104 |
1 Roller: A-key | wing |
L-t |
no |
|||
(40a) |
81 |
103 |
2 Rollers: C#/whisper-key | wing |
L-t |
no |
|||
(41) |
80 |
2 Rollers: C/D | long |
L-t |
no |
||||
(42) |
2 Rollers: C#/D# | long |
L-4f |
no |
standard | ||||
(43) |
2 Rollers: F/Ab | butt |
R-4f |
no |
standard | ||||
(44) |
2 Rollers: Bb/G | butt |
R-3f |
no |
|||||
(45) |
78 |
1 Roller: F#, facing F-key | butt |
R-4f |
no |
||||
(45a) |
79 |
1 Roller: F#, facing F/Ab-keys; broad-style [wide] | butt |
R-4f |
no |
see (54) | |||
| 1 Roller: F#, facing Ab-key | butt |
R-4f |
no |
||||||
(46) |
2 Rollers: F#/G# | butt |
R-t |
no |
|||||
(47) |
1 Roller: F# | butt |
R-t |
no |
|||||
(48) |
4 Rollers: Bb/E, E/F# | butt |
R-t |
no |
|||||
(48a) |
2 Rollers: Bb - (E-key round) - F# | butt |
R-t |
no |
|||||
| 2 Rollers: Bb - (E-key square) - F# | butt |
R-t |
no |
||||||
(49) |
6 Rollers: Bb/E, E/F#, F#/G# | butt |
R-t |
no |
|||||
(50) |
4 Rollers: E/F#, F#/G# | butt |
R-t |
no |
|||||
(51) |
2 Rollers: E/F# | butt |
R-t |
no |
|||||
(52) |
2 Rollers: C/B | long |
L-t |
no |
|||||
(53) |
2 Rollers: B/Bb | long |
L-t |
no |
|||||
(54) |
(45a) | butt |
no |
||||||
(55) |
1 Roller: Bb | butt |
R-3f |
no |
|||||
(56) |
2 Rollers: low-C#-key/whisper-key (31) | w & l |
L-4f |
no |
|||||
| 2 Rollers: low-C-key and extra-low-C#-(90a) | long |
L-t |
no |
||||||
| 1 Roller: high-C-key (facing A-key) | wing |
L-t |
no |
||||||
| 1 Roller: high-D-key (facing C-key) | wing |
L-t |
no |
||||||
(60-69) |
Whisper-key locks for R-t and/or L-t | lock |
_-t |
no |
|||||
| Whisper-key lock for L-t: split key | wing |
L-t |
no |
Rauch | |||||
(070) |
Lining of wing-joint bore and small bore of butt-joint | bore |
no |
41i | 1889 patent | ||||
(70) |
Maple (normal) or Palisander (Rosewood) | wood |
no |
||||||
(71) |
Mahagoni-red / Normal-red / Dark-red / Brown / Black | color |
no |
||||||
(72) |
Shape: normal German / French / Italian | bell |
no |
||||||
(73) |
nickel / silver / Sterling silver | plating |
no |
||||||
65 |
gold | plating |
no |
||||||
(74) |
125 |
Ring: metal | bell |
no |
|||||
(74) |
126 |
Ring: imitation ivory | bell |
no |
|||||
(75) |
drain in U-tube | butt |
yes |
1904? | |||||
(76) |
lining of large bore: half / total | butt |
no |
||||||
(76a) |
lining of toneholes: metal / sterling silver tubes projecting in bore / rubber | tubes |
no |
||||||
(77) |
105 |
Handrest (hardwood, removable): AI / AII / AIII | butt |
R-h |
no |
||||
(77) |
Handrest (hardwood, permanent): B | butt |
R-h |
no |
|||||
(77) |
Handrest (metal): CI / CII | butt |
R-h |
no |
|||||
(78) |
Holes in the cup for a seatstrap | butt |
no |
||||||
(79) |
Guard A: "grand piano" shape over Bb and Ab+Bb | butt |
no |
||||||
(79) |
Guard B: long, over Bb/Ab+Bb rod with support | butt |
no |
||||||
(79) |
Guard C: long, over Bb/Ab+Bb rod without support | butt |
no |
||||||
(79) |
Guard D: short, over Bb rod | butt |
no |
||||||
(79) |
Guard E: plate over Bb rod | butt |
no |
||||||
(79) |
Guard F: extra short, over Bb arms | butt |
no |
||||||
(79) |
Guard G: "grand piano" shape over Bb and F# | butt |
no |
||||||
(79) |
Guard H: small plate at foot of Bb-pad | butt |
no |
||||||
| Guard: c#-trill-key | butt |
no |
|||||||
(80) |
Covered finger toneholes | w& b |
no |
yes |
41t | ||||
(81) |
low-F#/E connection [R-t-F#-key automatically closes low-E-key] | butt |
R-t |
no |
no |
||||
(82) |
52 |
Balance Hanger | butt |
no |
|||||
(83) |
Brass tenon rings (2) | long |
no |
||||||
(83a) |
Brass socket for long-joint | butt |
no |
||||||
(84) |
1 |
Holding-together device: [above top of wing] | w & l |
no |
|||||
(84) |
Holding-together device: [below top of wing; facing player] | w & l |
no |
||||||
(85) |
119 |
102 |
Divided long-joint for compact case (bell in two parts, glued) | long |
no |
||||
(85a) |
Divided long-joint for compact case (bell in one part) | long |
no |
||||||
(86) |
199 |
Cork on the tenons | tenons |
no |
|||||
(87) |
Adjusting screws | no |
|||||||
(88) |
Metal (or plastic?) rings in all toneholes | no |
|||||||
(89) |
29 |
111 |
Whisper-key, above Bb-key | butt |
R-t |
no |
yes |
||
(90a) |
27 |
112? |
low-C#+D# trill: extra C#-key next to C-key (closes C-key) | long |
L-t |
no |
yes |
||
(90d) |
28 |
low-C#+D# trill: extra C#-key next to C-key (does not close C-key) | long |
L-t |
no |
yes |
|||
| low-C#+D# trill: extra C#-key inside position (closes C-key) | long |
L-t |
no |
yes |
Kovalchuk | ||||
(90b) |
25 |
low-C#+D# trill: single key | long |
L-4f |
no |
no |
Cuciureanu? | ||
(90c) |
low-C#+D# trill: (90b) with second C#-key and tonehole | long |
L-4f |
yes |
yes |
||||
| (90c) without extra C#-key; automatic venting of low-E | long |
L-4f |
yes |
no |
Sweeney | ||||
(91) |
second low-C#-key inside position (B and Bb keys above C-key) | long |
L-t |
yes |
yes |
41s | |||
(92) |
33 |
low-E/F connection | butt |
R-t |
no |
no |
Schoenbach | ||
(93) |
9 |
107 |
D+Eb trill-key R-1f; displaced C#-trill (R-2f) | w & l |
R- |
yes |
yes |
||
(93a) |
10 |
D+Eb trill-key R-1f and L-3f (between II/III); displaced C#-trill (R-2f) | w & l |
yes |
yes |
||||
| D+Eb trill-key R-2f; normal C#-trill (R-1f) | w & l |
R- |
yes |
yes |
|||||
| D+Eb trill-key R-1f above normal C#-trill (R-1f) | w & l |
R-1f |
yes |
yes |
rare | ||||
(94) |
Braces under/over long key-rods | no |
no |
||||||
(95) I |
Ab+Bb trill-key in place of G#-key [see (15b)] | butt |
R-t |
yes |
yes |
rare | |||
(95) II |
Ab+Bb trill-key [see (15)] | butt |
R-t |
yes |
yes |
rare | |||
(95) III |
12 |
Ab+Bb trill connection without extra tonehole (can be disengaged at will) | butt |
no |
no |
Cuciureanu? / common | |||
(96) |
high-G#-ring (with closing connection from low-G-key) | butt |
R-1f |
yes |
no |
Moritz | |||
16 |
high-G#-ring (without closing connection from low-G-key) | butt |
R-1f |
yes |
no |
||||
(97) |
G+Bb trill | butt |
yes |
no |
related to 95 III | ||||
(98) |
F#+Bb trill | butt |
yes |
no |
related to 95 III | ||||
(99) |
F+Bb trill | butt |
yes |
no |
related to 95 III | ||||
(100) |
high-A-key/C#-key connection | wing |
L-t |
no |
no |
Weisberg? | |||
(101) |
F#-key/whisper-key connection | butt |
R-t |
no |
no |
Moritz? | |||
| G#-key/whisper-key connection | butt |
R-t |
no |
no |
Sweeney | ||||
(102) |
14 |
second low-C-key: oval or square | long |
L-t |
no |
yes |
|||
| second low-C-key: recessed | long |
L-t |
no |
yes |
|||||
(103)I |
Half-hole mechanism engaged by I | wing |
L-1f |
no |
yes |
||||
(103)II |
Half-hole mechanism engaged by I and II | wing |
L- |
no |
yes |
||||
(103)III |
Half-hole mechanism engaged by [?] | wing |
L- |
no |
yes |
||||
(104a) |
B+C# trill connection, model A | butt |
R-1f |
no |
no |
||||
(104b) |
B+C# trill connection, model B | butt |
R-2f |
no |
yes |
integrated with 93 | |||
(104c) |
B+C# trill connection, model C | butt |
R-3f |
no |
yes |
compatible with 93 | |||
(105) |
Hip support (plastic) | butt |
no |
||||||
(106) |
Ring for seat-strap attached to cup | butt |
no |
||||||
(107) |
alternate G#-key with independent tonehole | butt |
R-t |
yes |
no |
||||
(108a) |
Long joint 4mm longer at the bottom | long |
no |
||||||
(108b) |
Long joint 4mm longer at the top | long |
no |
||||||
(109) |
6 |
high-A-key/whisper connection | wing |
L-t |
no |
no |
|||
| high-C-key/whisper connection | wing |
L-t |
no |
no |
|||||
| automatic high-B/whisper connection | wing |
no |
no |
Sweeney | 2012 | ||||
(110) |
"Map of inside arrangements of instrument cases" | no |
|||||||
(110) |
42 |
no alternate Bb-key | butt |
R-3f |
no |
no |
|||
| no alternate G#-key for R-t | butt |
no |
no |
||||||
(111) |
|||||||||
(112) |
|||||||||
(113) |
Two bocals | bocals |
no |
||||||
(114) |
|||||||||
(115) |
92 |
Instrument case: |
case |
no |
Heckel oval case no longer available | ||||
(116) |
93 |
Cover (canvas or nylon) | case |
no |
|||||
(117) |
Second handle on side of case | case |
no |
||||||
(160) |
R-4f-F# without tonehole, connected to F# R-t | butt |
no |
no |
Same as Heckel option (5)? | ||||
| connection from high-D-key opens pinhole at reed-end of bocal | bocal |
L-t |
yes |
no |
Grossman | ||||
| L-t whisper key is a lock that is opened by the high-C and high-A-keys | wing |
L-t |
no |
no |
41z / obsolete | ||||
| automatic venting mechanism ("No-Flick" system) | wing |
L-t |
yes |
Weisberg | |||||
| automatic octave-vent mechanism (high A to E fingered with A and C# keys) | wing |
L-t |
no |
no |
Weisberg | ||||
| high-E-key (O/I) and F#-trill-key (I/II) recessed for closer access | wing |
L- |
no |
yes |
Weisberg | ||||
| mandrel on band (or elsewhere) for extra reed or reed protection | wing |
no |
no |
Pollard | |||||
| Herzberg modifications | w & b |
no |
no |
Herzberg | |||||
| C#-trill for R-1f and R-t | butt |
R- |
no |
yes |
41s | ||||
| second low-F-key | butt |
R-t |
no |
yes |
41q | ||||
| single ("universal") key for F#, G#, A# | butt |
R-t |
no |
no |
Kovalchuk | ||||
| end pin | butt |
no |
|||||||
| lengthened low-Bb-key | long |
L-t |
no |
no |
|||||
| shortened low-Bb-key | long |
L-t |
no |
no |
|||||
| adjusting screw to effect partial closure of low-D-tonehole (and low-E-tonehole) | long |
L-t |
no |
no |
|||||
| low-C#+B trill connection | long |
L-t |
no |
no |
|||||
| low-C#/"S" connection | long |
L-4f |
no |
no |
|||||
Thank you to all who have shared photos and information: Saxton Rose, Mikhail Kovalchuk, Ian White, Charles McCracken, Arthur Grossman, and Gerald Corey.
