Heckelphone SN 3985 EXCELLENT

Here is Heckelphone #3985. Of the 189 Heckelphones ever produced, at least 3 have been destroyed, likely more, and while Heckel will make you another one in theory, in practice it is impossible. And yet, major orchestral works such as the Alpine Symphony and the operas Elektra and Salome have important parts for this instrument. They come up for sale very infrequently and are hunted to extinction.

This Heckelphone is in excellent condition and has been serviced in our shop. Plays very well and is ready for Strauss. Includes three original Heckel bocals and a variety of reeds.

Provenance: The Robert Howe collection. Dr. Robert Howe is a well known researcher and historian of woodwind instruments and spent a lifetime collecting rare and unique instruments. We are privileged to offer instruments from this collection for sale.

Please feel free to email with any additional questions!

PLEASE NOTE: The website heckelbassoons.info incorrectly lists this instrument as being in high pitch. The heckelphone.org website has the following entry on this instrument:

According to , this instrument was completed on 25 September 1926 and originally sold to a buyer in an unknown location.

Howe & Hurd (2004) describe heckelphone #3985 as a model 36i, tuned at A=440;

As of 2004, heckelphone #3985 has been reported to be located in Wilbraham (MA), USA, owned by Robert Howe. Previously, it belonged to the  in Nashville (TN), now the Peabody College of Education and Human Development at Vanderbilt University. It has been used in Nashville and Cleveland orchestras.

The earlier history of heckelphone #3985 remains largely unclear.

Since the Howe mentioned in this citation is the former owner of the instrument this citation should be considered definitive.