John Connor 31 Key C/g Professional Anglo

[Craig Wagner]

John Connor 31 Button C/G Metal End Anglo

 

A great concertina is now available. There are six makers today that have a track record of creating great concertinas with good sounding steel concertina reeds with the added benefit of using modern construction techniques: Dipper, Suttner, Dickinson (Wheatstone), John Connor, Richard Evans and Pierre Hooft.

 

I am offering my tried-and-true John Connor 31 button C/G Anglo for sale. It is tuned to A=440 with a full touch-up tuning done in October ‘03. The buttons are configured in a Wheatstone format (RH 3rd row notes are Push/Pull: C#/D#, A/G, G#/Bb, C#/D#, HighA/F….) The reed pan is laid-out horizontally, like a Jeffries, for flexibility in sizing the reed chamber for optimum sound quality.

 

The concertina has raised metal ends, metal buttons, authentic Connor steel reeds, and adjustable thick black leather hand straps. The ends are stainless steel, so they look pristine, unlike other metal ends that have a tendency to fade/tarnish. It has a 6 fold black bellows that are absolutely air tight. There is left thumb drone (C on draw and push) that allows for some wonderful pedal-point work. The tone is bright allowing you to hold your own in sessions as well as providing clarity for recording.

 

It is a great size, 5 7/8” across the parallel sides which is 1/8” to 1/4" smaller than many concertinas. This very slight reduction in size allows a reduction in weight (weight is important for session-speed concertina playing) and also has all keys within easy reach. The concertina was made about 5-6 years ago, I believe, and I bought it about 3 years ago for session playing. Being just a titch smaller, it can be a great instrument if you have somewhat smaller hands though I've got big paws and get around the instrument without a feeling of being cramped.

 

The concertina is in immaculate condition. The “Connor” name is stamped on the right end plate. It has a consistent and fast riveted action with bushed buttons. The end-bolts do not show a flaw. Trying to really search for some problem, there is the slightest cosmetic scuffing on the underside of the bellows. The concertina comes with a custom blocked case made by John Connor that is closable without key, but lockable with key (key included). There is some scuffing on the interior and exterior of the box, but it is fully serviceable.

 

I live in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area. If you are in the area, please contact me and come by for a squeeze (just be forewarned, it can be habit forming!). Additionally, I see no hope in curing my concertina passion and will be buying concertinas, having them fixed-up and selling them for some time to come. If you buy a later concertina from me, I'll give a 100% trade-in on the previous one you bought from me (obviously, trade-ins need to be in comparable condition to when I sold it to you).

 

The concertina is selling for $3200 USD payable via certified check. I would be happy to email photos out to you (and I'm seeing if I can create some sound files too). Realizing that concertinas are a personal investment, I will allow you 5 days to play the instrument and, if for any reason it doesn’t suit your fancy, return it, I’ll refund your money (less shipping/insurance). Buyer pays for shipping and insurance (approximately $35 if in the US).

 

Remember the words of George Bernard Shaw, “A good concertina lasts forever”! (too bad concertina players don’t – though I like to think that heavy doses of session playing are correlated to longevity).

 

Please let me know if I can answer any other questions for you. Also, feel free to call me at 248-486-7921 (day) or 248-437-6709 (eve) and I would be happy to play the concertina over the phone for you, answer questions, etc. – I’m in Eastern US time zone.

Edited December 20, 2003 by Craig Wagner

[JimLucas]

There are six makers today that have a track record of creating great concertinas with authentic steel reeds with the added benefit of using modern construction techniques: Dipper, Suttner, Dickson, John Connor, Richard Evans and Pierre Hooft.

By "Dickson", do you mean Steve Dickinson, who makes "Wheatstone" concertinas?

 

And just what do you mean by "modern construction methods"? I think Steve, at least, is proud of the fact that he uses the traditional Wheatstone methods, and even many of the original Wheatstone tools.

 

All of which has no bearing, of course, on the quality of your Connor anglo. It is what it is.

 

Does the smaller size mean that it is also lighter in weight?

[Craig Wagner]

Jim,

 

Thanks for the clarification... Yes "Dickinson" of Wheatstone.... I've updated the orginal post...

 

Onward,

Craig

[Dale whitty]

Deleted by author..

Edited May 20, 2023 by Dale whitty
Old post. I did not notice the date

[WRK]

.

Edited October 14, 2023 by WRK

[Oberon]

This post is 20 years old. I'm not sure that this concertina is in the possession of the original poster at this point, though stranger things have happened. 

Edited October 14, 2023 by Oberon