Stephen Selby

Yes. This set is a train wreck. But a good set is useful. I use them myself for cleaning and tuning.

Retuning would be expensive. The one I bought first was in tune with itself but not at modern pitch. I just left it, on the principle that it would be years before I was ready to play work anyone else! Yes, South American bandoneons are tuned a little sharp

Ambro is quoted by those who are top players; but it's a really daunting method for newbies without a teacher at their side. I particularly like Don Benito because within a couple of lessons, you are playing things that you would not mind other people hearing. You need to watch out for another thing: some methods (not Don B ) teach a style that is predominantly pull. To me, that style leads to too much use of the breather lever, which makes for choppy phrasing. Another thing I suggest is to check carefully the tuning. I bought one once which had been accurately re-tuned to 1930s standard pitch, rather than modern European pitch or Argentinian piths (a little bit higher).

Lachenal number 576. Six sides, 6-fold bellows. Flat ends, ebonized. Restored by Chris Algar tuned to modern concert pitch. Excellent internal and external condition. £1,500 plus postage from Hong Kong.

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I see a trigger-style breather button next to the l/h thumb strap. Did Wheatstone do those?

They are scary to learn. Best to think of them in guitar terms, with groups of notes most associated with hand chord positions in 'rosettes' rather than a linear pattern. 'Don Benito' books 1 and 2 by Luciano Jungman are a comforting introduction.

I can't answer directly; but I've got a lot of Lachenal salvage material : buttons, levers, reed shoes/reeds (mostly brass but some steel).

Indeed. Thank you!

Somewhere during the last month I saw an advertisement for an e-book about how to play old-time ad bluegrass fiddle tunes on the concertina. I even downloaded the free sample. Now I can find neither my download nor the advertisement. Can anyone help me?

I think they had plain black straps with parallel edges, impressed with an indented (uncoloured) line about 4mm inside each edge on the outside face. That is from a relatively late model around 1915-1920. They may have varied over time.

Looks great. Remember to cover with a matte paper lacquer.

I had blocks made (at considerable expense) and had them done by gold leaf hot stamping. (Not real gold). US$32 for a pair, plus shipping. Rather expensive, but I need to try and recover the cost of the blocks.

130g. From Der Kunstladen. Colour No. 53804. A4 size. Chlorine-free.

Here is a sample of the gold blocked wrist straps for the Maccan (only).

I have new wrist straps for this model.

Lachenal_L_Papers.pdf May also be useful. Print in black onto gold A4 paper.

Yes, This is the wrong forum. Can we move it?

I have a good maker's mark scan for Lachenal. Can be printed using a 'sepia' printer setting and then varnished over. If your Maccann system is a Lachenal, I have excellent gold blocked reproductions of the old wrist straps with the patent number.

I'd be happy if this discussion could continue. I suspect that quit a lot of Members have miniature (7cm diam.) concertinas but don't play them because of the difficulties involved. I'm just starting out and I'd like to share 'tips and tricks' and learn from others. I don't think it matters what system - English, Anglo or Maccann - is used, the issues are the same: shortage of breath. My system is English, 12 buttons, g'' to b''' pus a c-sharp and f-sharp. First observation: it's worth spending time practicing how long you can hold a note by bellows control. e.g. at 60 bpm, can I hold for two or even three beats? If I can't, are there leakage problems? Or is it just inadequate bellows control? Second: no point in developing a style which copies chording on bigger instruments. My personal feeling is that I should emulate mouth-whistling of pretty tunes by people who can do it well. With practice, I can get a bit of vibrato in. Third: there are masses of tunes within one octave: not just Scottish pipe tunes but also English fiddle tunes and Northumbrian tunes. I have to transpose many of them. I'd like to hear opinions and recordings from anyone who would like to share techniques.

Bastari is a well-known brand for low-cost Italian concertinas. Many beginners have been happy to start off with them. Internally, they are not like the 'classic' antique concertinas such as Lachenal and Wheatstone. The insides are made in a completely different way. They are made with accordion parts, and without a separate chamber for each reed, they sound very different from the 'classic' concertinas. Enjoy learning with this concertina, then upgrade to a 30-button 'classic'!

Ok, folks. Thanks for the advice again. Luckily this is a modern (1962) instrument and it's in tune.

There are several recordings you can stream on Spotify.

Which side of the pad leather (home-made pads) should face down over the hole: the smooth side or the nap side?