Bassoon(s) of the Week: Two Püchners Compared

June 5th, 2026

Two Bassoons Compared: Püchner Model 23 and Püchner Premier

This week’s article asks a simple question: is a second hand Premier great value compared with a Model 23, or is a Model 23 worth the extra money?  

Everyone – who plays the bassoon at least – is familiar with the Model 23, which has been Püchner’s standard bassoon model since the 1960s. It has always been regarded as at, or close to, the pinnacle of the bassoon-making craft.

The Model 23’s specification has evolved over the years, but a good-condition example from any age will be worthy of a close look if you are in the market for a good bassoon. 

The Püchner Premier is less well-known: it fitted into the Püchner line-up below the Model 23. Püchner called these models several names over the years, with the Jubilee and Classic being the current names. Whatever the name, the general idea is that these bassoons benefit from Püchner’s close attention to detail and quality, but with less keywork than the Model 23 and costing accordingly less.

In our view, there is no single answer to the question. Each bassoonist will have his or her own perspective on which keys or rollers are vital and which ones can be done without. Other factors do come into play as well - age, condition, history, and variations in keywork within models as well as between them.

These two bassoons, though, provide an ideal opportunity to consider this question, in that they are:

• very similar in age; and
• very similar in condition having been overhauled by us to the same standard

Their histories differ though, reflecting the different market segments Püchner were aiming at for the two bassoons. 

The Model 23 was owned by a now-retired but well-known bassoonist who played this bassoon throughout his career, which included playing first bassoon in all the top London symphony orchestras. 

The Premier, in contrast, was bought new by a keen amateur bassoonist who has cherished and played it until asking us to sell it for him. Both single-owner bassoons, but with different journeys.

So, let’s compare the two bassoons. The keywork specifications are, of course, for these particular bassoons; other Model 23s and Premiers may differ.

Specification	Model 23	Premier
High D/high E	High D and E	High D
E-F# trill key	Yes	Yes
C# trill key	Yes	Yes
Alternate Bb, G# and F# keys	Yes	Yes
Left hand thumb whisper key lock	Yes	Yes
Eb key on wing joint	Yes	No
Ab-Bb trill key for right hand thumb	Yes	No
French whisper key for left little finger	Yes	No
Finger-hole liners protruding into bore	Hard rubber	German silver
Number of rollers	14	4
Hand-applied stripes on wood	Yes	Yes
Silver-plated keywork	Yes	Yes

Table: Comparison between a Püchner Model 23 and a Püchner Premier

Oliver Ludlow comments:

“The Model 23 was aimed squarely at the professional bassoonist, with a very comprehensive set of keys and rollers. Having been played professionally throughout its life so far, it has clearly fulfilled its designated role admirably.

“In contrast, the Premier is missing quite a bit of the keywork a professional often looks for, but it has a great tone and is a highly refined instrument capable of playing at an advanced level despite that. 

“The Model 23 clearly has the edge in keywork, but you could save quite a bit of money if you don’t really need that keywork.

“Having played both, I would say that this Model 23, as is to be expected, has the edge in terms of projection and tone, but that is a subjective view and I really enjoyed playing both. It is worth noting that projection and tone are affected by the crook, reed and playing style as well as any inherent differences between the bassoons, so they really are worth trying yourself side by side.” 

“To sum up, if budget permitted I would lean towards the Model 23, but if not then the Premier is more than adequate for nearly all needs.”

Try it for yourself

Why not avail yourself of this rare opportunity to try two really good Püchners, so you can come to your own view on whether the Model 23 is worth the extra money, or whether the Premier hits the sweet spot for you on the value/performance curve?

Please get in touch to try these bassoons, or if you have any questions.