Opening My Concertina: My First Experience

[Azalin]

Well, this morning was the first time that I opened my, or any, concertina. I've been "playing" my first concertina, a Frank Edgley concertina, since june, and for the first time there was something wrong with one of the notes/button. There was a buzzing in the note, it wasnt as pure as it used to be and I knew that something was wrong. I remember having a piece of paper from Frank telling what to do in case this happens but I couldnt find it, so I just decided to remove the screws and have a look inside. I removed the right cover, and I looked at the reeds. I located the one that was buzzing and removed it's screws and took it in my hand. I figured that if the concertina could make that reed make a sound, I could! So I toyed with it for a while and finally put my lips ON the reed and played a "B" ! That was the note that was buzzing. Anyway, I kept on blowing and playing it for a few seconds, I then tried to make sure everything was in placed, and I screwed it back tightly. Well, I'm not sure how I did it, but it works 100% now! Maybe it was the screws, maybe they were loose and were letting some air flow out, I don't have a clue and I'm not a handyman person, can't even figure out how to install a light bulb, but I darned fixed my concertina! Yeeeepi!

 

Thanks for sharing that great experience, the first time is always so pleasurable. ;-)

[Helen]

Oh Goody,

 

I have an Edgley too. Now I know if I have a problem that I can just kiss it and make it better!

 

Thanks,

 

Helen

[David Barnert]

I've never looked inside an Edgley concertina, so I don't know for certain what Frank uses screws for, presumably for holding the reed plates onto the reed pan. However, let me caution anyone with a traditionally made English-construction concertina (with real concertina reeds, and reed shoes rather than plates): DO NOT REMOVE THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE REED ONTO THE REED SHOE. This is almost never necessary and should only be done by someone who knows what s/he's doing.

 

The analogous action on an English-construction concertina (Wheatstone, Lachenal, Jeffries, etc.) to what Azalin describes, above, is sliding the reed, in its reed shoe, out of the dovetail joint that holds it in the wooden reed pan.

[Frank Edgley]

I use servo screws to hold down the Italian-style reeds. These are screws with relatively large heard designed to be for hold downs. Most makers of modern concertinas use some sort of screw to do the job. Using a screw down installation has the advantage of being able to remove and replace the reed if a piece of dust gets in the space between the tongue of the reed and the frame. This happens in all concertinas from time to time, even Jeffries, Wheatstones and Dippers. Their reeds are also easily removable. This is not the same as removing the tongue of the reed from its frame, which should never be attempted by anyone not experienced.

Edited December 8, 2004 by Frank Edgley

[Azalin]

So Frank, any idea what the problem could have been? Ever heard a "buzzing" note before? Did I do the right thing?

[lildogturpy]

When I bought my English from Barleycorn concertinas, once I had chosen the one I wanted the first thing that Chris Algar did was hand me a screwdriver and had me take one of the ends off. He said I'd need to know what I was doing and he was right. I've never seen what causes the buzzing but I've had it a couple of times. I slide a very thin piece of paper between the reed and the shoe. That has always done the trick so far.

 

Better than my brother who plays the melodeon. He dropped something underneath one of the keys and thought - I can get that out, where's my screwdriver. He managed to get it out, with about 300 washers that landed on the floor. Took him about 3 months to put most of them back in place.

[Helen]

Oh okay,

 

So I WON'T take apart my accordion.

 

Helen

[Robin Harrison]

I often wonder if it's OK to blow/suck thro' the reed to make it speak to check them. Is there a problem with moisture leading to rust ? Any thoughts ?

[caj]

So I toyed with it for a while and finally put my lips ON the reed and played a "B" ! That was the note that was buzzing. Anyway, I kept on blowing and playing it for a few seconds, I then tried to make sure everything was in placed, and I screwed it back tightly. Well, I'm not sure how I did it, but it works 100% now!

Hi Az,

 

First things first, never blow into a reed to sound it. It's okay to suck air through it, but the air you blow out is moist. These reeds are not designed for that.

 

As for the buzzing: this could be a lot of things, and can often be cured quickly (or in your case, automatically). Dust stuck in the reed can cause problems, and is best removed by sliding a thin piece of stiff paper under the reed tongue. Avoid paper that leaves bits of detritus behind to cause you more problems.

 

Other problems can cause buzzing, but in a brand new Edgley, I bet it was just dust. Mechanical problems like a loose reed block are far less likely. In fact, you should have a lot fewer mechanical problems with that box, versus those of us with older instruments.

 

BTW, if you ever try to tune a reed with a file, you shouldn't suck air through it either, not when testing the pitch. Not that you should be tuning reeds with a file! Your concertina is going to be bang in tune for years and years.

 

Caj

[Guest Peter Laban]

As azalin played the concertina in my kitchen, it's likely to be dust

[Azalin]

Caj, thanks for the info! I will definitely NEVER blow in the reed again. The buzzing came back yesterday, I used the paper trick and it seemed to have worked! I'll keep those hints in mind in case in happens again, thanks.

 

So Peter, your kitchen is to blame for my troubles? At least the food and company was good, well worth dusting my tina :-)

[Chris Timson]

I'll keep those hints in mind in case in happens again, thanks.

The FAQ has a section on repair techniques, including this one, but for real security no concertina player should be without a copy of the Concertina Maintenance Manual by Dave Elliott.

 

Chris

Edited December 10, 2004 by Chris Timson

[David Barnert]

I will definitely NEVER blow in the reed again.

This is your doctor speaking :

 

If you are going to suck on a reed to make it sound, make sure your teeth are closed so the reed (or whatever's stuck in it) doesn't go down your airway.

[Alan Day]

The first time my concertina was opened it was by Harry Crabb and when he put his thumb into the middle of the reed pan and tugged, the reed pan came out of the concertina,my immediate thought was "Now he`s broken the B..... Thing"

I should have known that he knew what he was doing.

Al