The myth of the subcontrabassoon (an imagined member of the bassoon family capable of playing a full octave below the contrabassoon) stretches back to the 1800s. But in all that time, one had never been built. In 2021, that changed.
![Subcontrabassoon Mk2 Prototype](images/bsnfam1.jpg)
![Subcontrabassoon Orchestral Premiere](images/bsnfam5.jpg)
![Bassoon Family with Subcontrabassoon](images/bsnfam3.jpg)
![Subcontrabassoon and Contrabassoon](images/bsnfam4.jpg)
![2016 Subcontrabassoon Mk0 Design](images/bsnfam2.jpg)
My name is Richard Bobo and I’ve been waiting my whole life for two things: a manned mission to Mars, and a subcontrabassoon. Sadly, I am not a rocket scientist, an astronaut, or a trillionaire and Mars remains outside my reach. I am, however, a professional contrabassoonist with knowledge of woodwind design, years of practical experience with machining and computer-aided-design, and (perhaps most importantly) I’m tired of waiting.
If you’re interested in seeing my design grow from an incomplete playable prototype to a fully-capable instrument, you can help spread the word by sharing and liking the project’s Youtube channel and Facebook page.
You can also contribute directly using PayPal and be listed as a contributor on the project’s supporters page.