The Kovar Legacy
Simon Kovar (1890 – 1970) was one of the most influential bassoon performers and teachers of his generation. Originally from Vilnius, Kovar began his musical studies as a violinist at the St. Petersburg Conservatory before turning to the bassoon in 1914.
After moving to the United States in 1922, Kovar joined the New York Philharmonic and went on to build a distinguished career as both a performer and teacher. He later became head of bassoon at The Juilliard School and taught at several of America’s leading music institutions. His influence continues through his teaching legacy and his widely used 24 Daily Studies for Bassoon.
The original Kovar shape was sourced through Matthew Harvell, who provided the historical example from which this shape was developed. We have carefully converted the original shaper tip into a straight shaper, making it easier to use while providing the consistency and repeatability expected from a modern Reeds ’n Stuff tool.
This shaper gives today's bassoonists and reed makers the opportunity to work with a historically significant Kovar shape in a practical, readily available format – preserving the character of the original while making it accessible to a new generation of players.
A piece of bassoon history, brought back into use.
Durable & Precise
The production of our Straight Shapers requires the highest level of precision and involves several elaborate machining steps. Modern CNC technology ensures an exact contour and consistently high quality.
Combined with a specially tailored hardening process, this results in exceptionally dimensionally stable and durable tools. The result is a hand-operated reed shaper that enables precise, comfortable, and reproducible work.
The pair of engraved lines on the sides mark the narrowest point of the shape and are an important tool for precise shaping. For optimal shape transfer, shape from both sides towards this narrowest point.
The outermost lines are to help center shorter cane (118 mm for bassoon, 148 mm for contrabassoon).
Thanks to the silicone tips, both gouged and profiled cane can be shaped.
The silicone tips secure the thinner parts of the profiled cane in the center and prevent the cane from slipping.
The silicone tips can be removed and replaced as desired, especially when shaping unprofiled cane.
Variety of Shapes
Our range of straight shapers impresses with an extraordinary variety of shapes. From classic to custom shapes, the different contours and designs provide precise results and maximum creative freedom.
View all handheld pattern cutters
- Size
- Instrument
- Bassoon
- A1
- 15.1
- A2
- 16.0
- B1
- 30
- B2
- 10.8
- C1
- 45.8
- C2
- 8.8
- D
- 9.7
- E
- 120
- Shaper Style
- Straight
- Note
- Color deviations are possible. These are production-related and do not affect the function.
- Manufacturer
- Reeds 'n Stuff
- Country of origin
- Germany
- Product number
- 1205-001111205-00111
- Legal Guarantee
- According to German consumer protection laws, consumers are entitled to request, free of charge, that the seller repair or replace goods that are defective or do not conform to the purchase contract. Alternatively, consumers may be entitled to a price reduction or a refund of the purchase price. These rights apply for a period of two years from the date the goods are delivered to the consumer. For more information, please click
here.