Subject: Electric Amplified Bassoon Setup

Dear Mr. Eubanks,

I’m sure you’ve gotten this question many times since the release of the second Bassoon Brothers CD, but exactly what kind of setup did you use to produce the electric amplified bassoon effects? I’m really interested in exploring what more can be done with the unique and ultimately verstile instrument (not to mention the laughs it brings when hearing excepts blaring through an amp). Most importantly, I’m interested in trying some to arrange other rock tunes for the bassoon quartet utilizing the instrument.

Thank you.

Michael Harris
Student, Truman State University
Kirksville, Missouri

Dear Michael,

So you probably noticed the slowed down Rite of Spring. But did you hear Bolero backwards? The Tansman Sonatina lick was forwards and backwards too. I think it’s great that you want to pursue the electric bassoon sound. I have been using the same pickup since the 1960’s. One of my college professors played recitals on clarinet that was amplified. He wrote pieces using multiphonics, synthesizer, tape delays, ring modulators, etc. His name is Bill Smith, and he recorded some with Brubeck. What he and I use is a Vox pickup and looks like an ancient hearing aid. In those days these pickups were used on sax, trumpet and whatever. The same pickup. It requires a hole in the bocal. Mine is on the back just above the cork. A ring is soldered on and the pickup fits into this ring with a rubber washer. Read more