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This is a new Heckel bocal - we recommend requesting a trial on our trial form for any bocal, however you are welcome to purchase it outright here as well.
https://www.bocalmajoritystore.com/trials/
Ongoing development of S-bocals has led to a wide diversity of products with various alloys,
diameters, diapasons, lengths and galvanisations. The following designs serve as loose guidelines in determining the right S-bocal. These attributes are based on decades of experience from musicians. The compatibility of S-bocals cannot be fully established as yet. They are influenced by the musician’s individuality, the instrument played and the mouthpiece used.
Base Metals
Original Heckel S-bocals are available in various base metals. This is depicted with one letter above the cork.
Base Metal |
Sound Quality |
Labeling above the cork |
German silver, soft |
Standard Type |
N |
German silver, hard |
Harder sound than CC |
Z |
Gold Brass |
Mellow and quiet sound for chamber and church music |
G |
Sterling Silver (925) |
Bright and quiet sound |
AG |
Gold 8 Carat (333) |
Mellow but direct sound |
AU |
Gold 14 Carat (585) |
Noticeably mellower sound |
14kt |
Gold 18 Carat (750) |
As 14kt, but more accentuated |
18kt |
Palladium |
Hard sound |
PD |
Original Heckel S-bocals are available in two different material thicknesses. The standard
variant has a wall thickness of 0.6 mm. S-bocals with a thinner wall thickness of 0.5 mm are
labelled with an additional “D”. S-bocals with a thinner layer of metal have an overtone rich
sound spectrum, along with good responsiveness and more flexibility in terms of intonation;
they are however less stable and not suitable for all instruments in equal measure. The
labelling of Heckel S-bocals has grown unsystematically out of the historical tradition. Usually
Heckel S-bocals with thick walls are manufactured in soft German Silver (N) and hard German
silver (Z). A thick walled bocal in soft metal is labelled CC; a thick walled bocal in hard metal is
labelled C. With thin walled bocals the hardness labelling of the material only appears in the
letters above the cork however
Thick walled |
Thin walled |
Properties |
C,CC |
CD |
Standard Type for new Heckel bassoons Well balanced intonation, good responsiveness |
CE, CCE |
CDE |
Narrower on the narrow side. Increases responsiveness in the higher register. |
VC,VCC |
VCD |
Advanced Diapason Better “tuning within itself” for use with old Heckel bassoons and those from other makers. |
B |
BD |
Strong bellied diapason. Very light responsiveness in |
BB |
BBD |
Light bellied diapason. Light responsiveness in the |
Galvanisations
Non-galvanised - Specific sound of the relevant base material.
Silver plated - Pleasanter, fuller sound.
Nickel plated - Brighter sound.
Gold plated - Increased stability with Gold-Brass-S-bocals.
XL-Bocals
All original Heckel S-bocals are available in XL-Variants. With this product the Nipple (Piano
mechanism vent) is modified to better responsiveness in the high register.
R-Bocals
All original Heckel S-bocals are available in R-Variants. With this product the metal is compressed more strongly and evenly which leads to better responsiveness and a wider sound
spectrum. R-S-bocals are labelled exclusively underneath the cork and have no stamp.
S-Form / S-Bends
Original Heckel S-bocals are manufactured in the traditional S-Form as well as in a flat bend
(English bend). Over and above this we manufacture custom made bends to order (Drawings).