Bassoon of the Week: Vinzenz Püchner

May 8th, 2026

Following a few months’ break we continue our Bassoon of the Week series.

This week we look at a Vinzenz Püchner bassoon.

So many bassoonists today seek out the evocative sound of a pre-war Heckel bassoon - for its richness and sonority combined with ease of playing. This Vinzenz Püchner has an amazing pre-war tone, very close to pre-war Heckels, but for a fraction of the price. To find out why it is so good, let’s take a look at the maker and then the bassoon itself.

Vinzenz Püchner – the company

Vinzenz Püchner started making bassoons in 1898. The firm was based in Glaslitz, Bohemia, the main centre for woodwind making in Europe in the 19^th and first half of the 20^th centuries and still a significant musical instrument-making centre today.

The bassoons made by Vinzenz Püchner were constructed with great attention to detail and, being largely hand-crafted, that attention to detail really made a difference. From the selection of the wood to the keywork, everything was designed and made with care to be the very best possible. Much like the Josef Püchner bassoons of today, they were aimed at the most demanding professional bassoonists.

In fact, Josef Püchner himself was very much part of the history of the Vinzenz Püchner company. He was Vinzenz’s eldest son, and his involvement in the firm started early. Vinzenz was conscripted in 1914, so Josef took over the running of the company in the interim at the age of just 17. Josef continued to work in the company after the war and eventually in 1943 he took over sole management of the business on a permanent basis.

At the end of the second world war, the company was nationalised (in 1945) and then liquidated (in 1947), with the assets being absorbed into Amati under the direction of the Czechoslovakian government.

With no future there, the Püchner family emigrated to West Germany in 1948 and settled in Nauheim, near Frankfurt, along with other woodwind makers from Kraslice. Vinzenz Püchner died in Nauheim a few months after arriving and so, after a hiatus of a few years, Josef re-started making bassoons under his own name.

Vinzenz Püchner – the bassoon we have for sale

The first thing which strikes one about the Vinzenz Püchner we have for sale is the beautiful natural striping of the four joints, brought out by the French polish finish which allows the grain and striping to show through. The impact of the wood and varnish hasn’t diminished over the years because the bassoon has been remarkably well looked after in the time since it left the factory, with hardly a mark or a dent to be seen and all the badges very clear.

The rest of the bassoon bears out the care and attention to detail which has gone into the making of this bassoon, with (for its time) well-specified keywork including an original high D key, several trill keys and rollers. It has a superb pre-war tone, precise intonation and an evenness across the range.

It comes with a Heckel crook which really enhances the performance of the bassoon, plus two other, probably original, crooks.

A Beautifully-Preserved Example

We are real advocates for Vincent Püchners: they are high quality instruments and have the advantage of being much more affordable than an equivalent pre-war Heckel, for example.

Oliver Ludlow comments:

“Of all the dozens of Vinzenz Püchners we have had through our workshop - and I have had the privilege of playing all of them - this is without doubt the best preserved and best-playing example we have seen.

“Although the serial number list has been lost, I suspect this bassoon is a fairly late example, showing the gradual improvements made by the Vinzenz Püchner company between 1898 when the company started and 1945 when it ceased trading.

“In terms of tone and ease of playing it uses the same thin-walled, flexible acoustic concept as a similar-era Heckel, say a 5000 or 6000 series. It is different, or course, to a modern Püchner but has real character and appeal.

“It would suit a good bassoonist looking for a bassoon to cherish and really enjoy playing – particularly someone who wishes to explore its lighter, more resonant character and, perhaps, appreciate a lighter and easier-to-handle instrument.”

Try it for Yourself

If you are interested in this Püchner, get in touch. You can: