Fox Bassoons

The USA's only manufacturer of bassoons, Fox Products was founded in 1949 by Hugo Fox, principal bassoon of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Fox bassoons garnered a reputation over the years for quality, consistent performance, and workmanship. The Renard line, Fox's student model bassoon line, is the most popular collection of student instruments in the world. From the complete beginner to the seasoned professional, Fox has a bassoon for everyone!

Renard Line

The Renard line is Fox's student bassoon line. The following models are made for beginner to intermediate players. They come in Tutti Fagotti cases and have C2 and C3 bocals.

41: The beginner-level polypropylene bassoon.

51: The beginner-level polypropylene bassoon, made with accommodations for small hands.

222: A beginner-intermediate bassoon, made of wood. New 222's come standard with high D keys starting in 2022.

Renard Artist Models

The Renard Artist Model bassoons are considered intermediate-level, but can serve students well all the way through college. They have identical key work and hardware to each other. They come in Marcus Bonna cases and have the T2 and T3 bocals.

220: The long bore model. Great stability, dark sound. 

240: The short bore model. Slightly higher in pitch, more penetrating sound.

Fox Semi-Professional Models

These Fox bassoons, while considered professional-level, are more cost-friendly options for players looking to get a backup or entry-level instrument.

Model III & IV: Both of these polypropylene bassoon models are patterned after the model II. They have a thin-wall, long-bore design. The model IV is more basic and comes with limited customization options. The Model III is Fox's fully professional plastic bassoon, and has almost as much customizability as the professional line bassoons, at a much-reduced cost. These are great back up bassoons for professional players and can also be used for high level students. They come in Bonna cases with the T2 and T3 bocals.

460: This is Fox's entry-level thick wall bassoon. Patterned after the 660, it has a thick-wall, short-bore design. Because it is made in a similar production process to the Renards, this bassoon has a very limited option set available to it. They are all made in the 5-piece long bell configuration with red maple and come with the B2 and B3 bocals.

Fox Professional Thin Wall Models

The thin wall bassoons are based off of prewar Heckel bassoon designs and offer flexible tone and color while maintaining a rich sound. The come in Bonna cases with T2 and T3 bocals.

Model II: The original Fox bassoon now dubbed the "Hugo Fox" model. It is a long bore instrument, boasting great, stable intonation, great tonal flexibility, and a dark sound. These are fantastic instruments for playing 2nd bassoon!

201: The short bore instrument, a mainstay in American orchestras. This bassoon has incredible flexibility, a penetrating sound to project over the orchestra, and a color palette reminiscent of 7000-series Heckels. A favorite among professional bassoonists all over the country!

Fox Professional Thick Wall Models

The thick wall Fox bassoons are based off of different, later generations of Heckel bassoons. They offer a greater deal of dynamic range and rounder tone. The come in Bonna cases with B2 and B3 bocals.

601: Another favorite among orchestral players, the 601 is a long bore instrument. It has a stable intonation and a dark sound, and the thick wall design allows it the power to be heard in every situation. Another great choice for 2nd bassoon, it has a lovely baritone!

660: The short bore version of the 601, this instrument has more of a tenor sound that helps with soloistic playing. The thick wall design also offers it a degree of stability that the thin wall bassoons may struggle with a bit more.

750: Neither long or short, the newest bassoon model from Fox is patterned after the 15000-series Heckels. It is the thickest wall model of Fox bassoon available. It has a huge dynamic range, great tonal flexibility while maintaining stable intonation, and an unbreakable core to the sound. It brings together all the favorite traits of the other models into a single instrument!

Key Options

Professional model Fox bassoons are customizable. However, to help accommodate players, these models now come standard with pre-selected options.

II, 201, 601, 660: 10 rollers, high D, E, and F keys, Ab-Bb trill key, crowned low E key, rotary-style whisper lock

750: 11 rollers, high D & E keys, Ab-Bb trill, RH Eb trill, low-profile whisper lock, adjustable whisper key and A vent key

Our bassoon specialist can help you pick the right customized key work from Fox to fit your needs. Send us a message!