Dave Weinstein

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The layout I play is centered on D/E just above Middle C, and optimized for the keys of G and D, so I almost always play across the three columns closest to the index fingers.

I have a pair of D/G instruments (one by Bob, one by the Dippers), G in the middle, D as the inner row but down a 4th rather than up a fifth.. The biggest challenge (other than the lack of instructional materials) for an Irish sound is that you can very easily play very long runs in one direction across the rows, which gives less of a bounce than Irish concertina tends to have. Oh, and you have to commission the instruments separately, and you can't really play other peoples' instruments. The enforced quasi-immunity to Gear Acquisition Syndrome may be construed as a benefit in some circles.

All my instruments are in a room kept at 45% Relative Humidity, so that should be ok.

We are approaching the traditional three months of sunshine in the Pacific Northwest, and there are weekend places for rent along Puget Sound (salt water). The question is, assuming playing inside, on a dry day, but within 100 meters of the salt water, how much risk to the instruments are involved?

If you're considering the risk of salt air to Concertinas, how far is safe? Just stay away from being on the water? Be careful being within a few dozen feet of the water? Stay a few blocks away? Coastal towns are a bad idea?

I would personally not cross an international border with a CITES restricted instrument at this time, unless I had no other option. There is a reasonable chance that by the end of the summer, things will be much more relaxed, but that is not guaranteed.

I use Tunebook for ABC. Also, the iPad Mini 5 comes out imminently, and is significantly more powerful.

The tension is killing me here...

With that, I'm tempted and I don't play that system.

Very keen on the miniatures. What are the layouts on the duets?

Just checking to make sure I didn't miss this...

I use Heritage Music Insurance (http://www.musicins.com/) for my instruments, but they only cover the instruments once I have them. However, I have been able to purchase specific riders from them (inexpensively) that specifically covered the instrument in transit (whether to me, or off and back for maintenance). (I have fortunately never had to make a claim, I was pointed in their direction by a local luthier)

One of the interesting things I've found is that a lot of the unpleasant harmonics are most evident when you are right on top of the instrument. I'll ask people to compare two notes (that is to say, the same note, but two different reeds), and often the one I like more is *not* the one that sounds better 10 feet away. Similarly, I can listen to Jody Kruskal play a passing close third harmony and it sounds great, but playing the instrument that close third (admittedly, not as passing as Jody can play it) just *grates*.

I wish I could afford to buy either of these, but thank you for preserving the tunings.