How much would you pay for a bassoon?

Probably nothing, seeing as you can just buy a fog horn for cheaper, and get more use out of it.

A public tender notice by the Department of National Defence, however, values them more highly — to the tune of $25,000 to $40,000.

In a notice published this week, the department stated its intent to purchase a bassoon, a leather case, and two bocals (a bassoon part that connects to the reed), and that’s the price range they’re expecting.

The bassoon is meant for the Stadacona Band, a Halifax-based Royal Canadian Navy band that, according to their website, “has had the honour of performing for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, the Prime Minister of Canada, (and) many foreign heads of state.”

For those hoping to make a quick buck selling a bassoon to the Navy, there is some bad news: a bassoon vendor in this case has already been selected: Bell Bassoons Limited, a high-end bassoon maker near Peterborough. But because the deal is worth more than $25,000, the government has to disclose it in advance.

For other bassoon makers that think they can beat what Bell Bassoons is offering, the tender does have a provision that allows other suppliers to submit a statement of capabilities by Nov. 30.