How Much Does a Bassoon Cost for Beginners?

If you are thinking about learning the bassoon, the price can come as a surprise. Many beginner instruments can be bought for a few hundred dollars, but a bassoon can easily cost several thousand.

The bassoon is a double-reed woodwind instrument known for its deep, warm sound. Unlike a simpler woodwind instrument, it has a long internal bore, several body sections, detailed keywork, a curved metal tube called a bocal, and a double reed. All of this helps explain why even instruments designed for students can be expensive.

For a beginner, however, buying the most expensive bassoon is not the goal. What matters more is finding an instrument that is comfortable, works properly and makes learning easier.

If you are completely new to the instrument, getting advice through bassoon lessons in Sydney before buying can also help you understand what to look for.

Why Are Bassoons So Expensive?

There is a lot more going on inside a bassoon than you might expect.

The instrument contains complicated keywork that needs to move and seal accurately. It also uses a bocal and double reed, and different models can be made from materials such as resin, composite materials or maple.

This combination of size, materials and mechanical complexity contributes to the price.

The instrument also needs ongoing care. Pads, keys, joints and other moving parts can require adjustment over time.

Even the smaller accessories are not always cheap. Australian bassoon specialist Musson Bassoon Reeds currently lists its bassoon reeds at $37.50 excluding GST and a Fox Type C bocal at $475 excluding GST.

See current bassoon accessory prices at Musson Bassoon Reeds

So when planning your budget, ask yourself is it worth thinking beyond the initial instrument price or not.

How Much Does a Bassoon Cost in Australia?

The easiest way to understand bassoon prices is to look at actual instruments currently advertised by Australian retailers.

For a younger beginner, Sax & Woodwind currently advertises its “Cub Lightweight Beginner’s Bassoon” for $4,295. It is specifically designed for young double-reed beginners and includes short-reach keywork, two bocals and other beginner-focused features. A package with additional accessories is advertised at A$4,395.

Check current beginner bassoon prices at Sax & Woodwind

For a full-size student instrument, Dural Music Centre currently advertises the “Schagerl 815 Bassoon” at $5,349, reduced from $6,599. The model uses an ABS resin body and includes features designed to help students, including an optional short-reach plateau key for players with smaller hands.

Check the Schagerl 815 price at Dural Music Centre

Another Australian retailer, Engadine Music, currently advertises its “Schagerl Student Bassoon SLBS815″ at $5,999, showing why it is worth comparing stores before purchasing. Their listing includes two silver-plated bocals and a rolling hard case.

Check the Schagerl Student Bassoon at Engadine Music

Here is a simpler comparison:

*Prices checked in September 2026. Prices, sales and availability can change, so check the linked retailer before purchasing.

This comparison also shows something important: the same model can have different prices at different stores. Spending a few minutes comparing current Australian listings could potentially save hundreds of dollars.

There are also established wooden student instruments such as the “Fox Renard Model 222″. Fox describes it as its entry-level all-maple bassoon, designed to be easy to play for young players from beginners through high school. Australian pricing and availability can vary, so it is better to request a current local price rather than rely on an overseas listing.

Should a Beginner Buy or Rent a Bassoon?

Seeing a price of $4,000 to $6,000 does not mean every beginner needs to spend that amount before their first lesson.

There are several ways to start.

A second-hand bassoon is another possibility. Australia’s Bassoon Factory, for example, specialises in bassoons and states that it deals with new and second-hand instruments.

See Bassoon Factory’s new and second-hand bassoons

Musson Bassoon Reeds also says it buys and sells second-hand Renard bassoons in suitable condition. The words “suitable condition” are important.

An inexpensive used bassoon with leaking pads, damaged keywork or other problems may require repairs. For someone who has never played before, those problems can also be difficult to recognise.

If possible, have a teacher, experienced bassoonist or qualified woodwind technician inspect a second-hand bassoon before you buy it.

What Bassoon Should a Beginner Buy?

You do not need to start with a professional orchestral bassoon.

A student model should allow you to concentrate on learning breathing, fingering, reading music and producing a consistent sound without constantly fighting the instrument.

For younger students, physical fit matters too. Some student instruments offer short-reach keywork that can make the bassoon more manageable for smaller hands. Both the Cub beginner model and Schagerl 815 listings include features intended to address this.

Use this checklist when comparing instruments:

Playing condition

☐ Keys move smoothly
☐ Pads appear to seal correctly
☐ Joints fit properly
☐ Body has no obvious serious damage
☐ Bocal is in good condition

What’s included

☐ Protective case
☐ Bocal or bocals
☐ Strap or harness where applicable
☐ Cleaning accessories
☐ Warranty when buying new

Before buying

☐ Compare the same model at several Australian stores
☐ Ask about servicing history if buying used
☐ Check whether the instrument suits the player’s hand size
☐ Ask what repairs or servicing may be needed
☐ Have an experienced player test a used instrument if possible

Don’t forget to budget for “reeds” as well. Unlike the bassoon itself, reeds are an ongoing expense because they wear out and need replacing.

Is a Bassoon Worth Buying for a Beginner?

If you have only just decided that bassoon looks interesting, you probably do not need to rush out and spend A$5,000.

Borrowing or renting can give you time to learn the basics and decide whether you actually enjoy playing. A good second-hand instrument can also be worth considering if it has been properly inspected.

Buying becomes more attractive when you know you want to continue long term and want an instrument that you can practise on consistently.

For a new bassoon, current Australian examples show that several thousand dollars is a realistic beginner budget, with the examples we found ranging from around $4,295 to $5,999.

But price should never be the only deciding factor. A $4,000 instrument that suits the player and works properly can be a much better first bassoon than an expensive professional model that is unnecessary for their current level.

If you are still unsure what to look for, getting advice during Sydney bassoon lessons before buying can help you understand how a suitable instrument should feel and respond.

For a beginner, the best bassoon is not necessarily the cheapest or the most expensive. It is the one that fits your budget, works reliably and lets you focus on learning the music.