About the Rackett
The rackett, also called the sausage bassoon, is a Renaissance double-reed instrument. A long bore folds back and forth inside a short, stout cylinder, giving a surprisingly deep buzz from something you can hold in one hand. The designer modelled this one in Blender from blueprints found online, then refined it over several test prints.
Because it's a wind instrument, the joints are deliberately tight to stop air leaking. The designer advises against filing parts to fit, since a leak ruins the sound. The bigger challenge is the reed. As the designer puts it, depending on the reed, the rackett either sounds right, makes no sound at all, or sounds awful. The download includes a reed guide and a step-by-step guide to making a first reed, with troubleshooting. Expect the reed to take about as long as the print.
The Blender files are included in three versions: curved finger holes, traditional straight holes, and a blank body for experimenting with your own hole placement. The design is CC0, so it's free to remix and sell. The designer just asks that buyers post photos of their makes.
Note. The page also links an archive.org construction manual, but that link is now dead.
What you'll need
Printed parts
- Rackett body and fittings (curved-hole, straight-hole or blank version)
Bought parts
- Reed-making materials, as listed in the included reed guide
Tools
- Reed-making tools, as listed in the included reed guide
Build overview
Print settings
- Settings: Default high-quality profile (printed on a K1 Max)
- Infill: Gyroid
- Supports: None; no brim or raft
- Adhesion: Good bed adhesion needed
- Fit: Tight on purpose; don't file the joints
Video
Play video: 3D printed rackett demo (loads YouTube)
Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. Video thumbnails are © their creators.
Photos
All photos: PyroSteel, from the design page on Printables, licensed CC0. We resized them and converted them to WebP.