The matt varnish is slightly softer than the traditional, brittle acrylic varnish used on bassoons, and it is slightly less inhibiting on the resonances of the wood when the bassoon is played. We are also told by bassoon manufacturers we have spoken to that the matt varnish has a positive effect on the sound of the bassoon. The matt finish gives it much more natural look, and it reminds us of the old oil based varnish that Heckel used to use which ages beautifully. We especially love the matt varnish, which Schreiber has started using recently, instead of the high gloss varnish they have traditionally been using. The key work feels solid and fits on the instrument well. The silver plate is thick and durable, with a bright shine. We felt that the Schreiber S10 has a lovely build quality about it. As far as we can tell, the bore and tone hole dimensions are identical to the Schreiber S16 bassoon, the S10's more expensive brother. We have completely disassembled this bassoon in our workshops (during its pre-sale service) and inspected it very closely.

Schreiber bassoon company