Fox | Model 900 Contrabassoon

The Fox Model 900 Contrabassoon is one of the world’s most popular contrabassoons. It is extremely easy to play, which in practice makes it popular as a starter instrument, as a school or college instrument and it is also popular amongst professionals playing in first class orchestras worldwide.

The Fox Model 900 Contrabassoon was introduced to the market in 1971 and was designed and developed under the supervision of Alan Fox himself. Ever since has been a hit worldwide from humble beginners to seasoned professionals.

The body of the Model 900 is made from beautiful black maple, selected for its capacity for resonance. This is the same wood used by Fox in the manufacture of their Renard 220 and 240 series bassoons. The maple is naturally aged in Fox’s facilities in South Whitley, Indiana. The instrument comes finished with acrylic enamel in either mahogany or ebony.

All of the Model 900’s tenons are carefully fitted to their receiving sockets to ensure its structural integrity. Joint connections and metal reinforcing bands are sealed using high quality silicone sealer. The contra uses a three-point bell bracing to improve rigidity. Its inner elbows are removable without disturbing the bracing, which enables it to be easily cleaned access without fully disassembling it.

As standard, the 900’s key work is the standard German key system and comes silver-plated. An alternative right little finger F# key and alternate Eb key for the right forefinger is provided. Rollers come fitted onto the on F and Ab keys on the right-hand little finger as well as the Eb and Db for the left-hand little finger. There is a water key fitted onto the tuning slide. The spring posts are locked with screws.

Additionally, the Model 900 can come with alternate Eb and vent keys, a divorced low E mechanism, an E to F# trill key, a thumb G# spatula, rollers on the C and Eb keys on the wing joint and other customisations are possible.

Howarth supplies all Fox contrabassoons in a premium aluminium shell case, two Fox contrabassoon crooks and an end pin.

• Specially selected, black maple
• Mahogany or ebony acrylic enamel finish
• Removable inner U-tubes
• Full German key system with silver plating
• Alternate right little finger F? and right forefinger E?
• Right little finger F and A? rollers
• Left little finger E? and D? rollers
• Water key on tuning slide
• Spring posts are locked with screws
• Two Fox contrabassoon crooks
• Premium aluminium shell case
• End pin
• Additional customisation possible

Founder Hugo Fox played bassoon for the Chicago Symphony for almost 30 years. Throughout his playing career he had always wanted to improve the instrument that he loved. His vision was a high-quality bassoon fabricated entirely in the United States. After retiring from playing in 1949, he returned home to Indiana to make that vision a reality. That company is still running today, embracing Hugo’s commitment to excellence, and still maintain production in the same location on the Fox family farm in South Whitley, Indiana.

This instrument comes with a 1 Year Warranty from Howarth of London, and a free ‘Guarantee Checkover’ from our Repair Workshop before the warranty expires.