fiddler2007

well, seems i opened something here ...

Hi Jake. Mitch Bramich' uses the same layout for jeffries throughout his book. see picture. As my heritage Edgley was configured that way i never thought there was an 'English' jeffries-style. And then i met with another Edgley, which had your layout LoL

Move to Scotland? Sturgeon wants to rejoin the EU.

Recently i ran into some problems converting wheatsone to jeffries layouts, and got confused about the Jeffries layout versions around for a C/G (and G/D). My first Anglo was a heritage Edgley i bought from Mike Rowbotham, some 2 years ago. As i play by ear i never realized that the first two top row (3-1 and 3-2) were different on mine, than considered to be 'normal' for a jeffries layout. Official layouts according a few sites i found recently are different as fitted on mine, see picture below. (From Jake Middleton's site). With my Edgley the red and blue reeds were exchanged. Blue is were the red is (on the picture). I have a copy of Mick Bramich' book where the same jeffries layout is also used ... I got used to that layout, and found f.i. that playing tunes in D and A are easier with my swapped situation on a C/G. (I tried the unchanged version recently on an other 'normal' C/G jeffries.) Chording seems also a little easier ... (Then i was converting an old hybrid Edgley G/D, from wheatstone to jeffries, according the 'rules' with the help of reeds bought from Jake. A friend actually did the wood chopping and mounting job according these 'official' rules LoL. And i quickly i exchanged the two involved reeds.) Now the Q: what is considered normal, as i got used to the inverted (red-blue) situation and even found the official (?) jeffries version worse than the wheatstone system for fast playing without too much bellows direction changes.

I bought my first (English) concertina new from Harry Crabb back around '74. He instructed me two things for a lifelong problem free use, and he was right: 1) if you come in from the cold, first use the air button to load the interior up with the warmer air a few times, thereby avoiding condensation settling on the reeds. 2) use a soft brush to keep the bellows folds clean from dust and other debris. In over 30 years of use it never needed tuning or bellows maintenance. Only the thumbstraps needed a small fix ...

I have had 4 conflicts with paypal recently. 2 examples: 1) as buyer on eBay i bought official looking but later appeared to be counterfeit-pirated software. I claimed after an eBay obliged useless discussion with the seller. Ebay then told me file a claim with paypal. To my surprise paypal closed the case in favor of the fraudulent seller without further comments or follow up correspondence possible. I was lucky VISA stepped in on my request as the claim procedure was within the EU and paypal was paid via VISA. So after 3 months of sh*t with paypal they were forced to pay me back. Seems Paypal's interest is only that they keep their provision. 2) as seller i sold an antique synthesizer. delivered OK, buyer was really happy with it and posted 100% about the deal on Ebay. But that sh*t paypal kept my money for over 3 weeks after the shipment was done. Even the buyer mailed paypal to release my money. No way. ------------ Paypal was reliable though expensive 3 years ago, now they are expensive still and not to be trusted. A general tip on more reliable deals might be: Pay (or get paid) via a Mastercard or VISA through WISE (transferwise) or Instarem bank transfers. Exchange rates and costs are really fair, money transfer speed is usually about 1 to 2 days. Drawback is as buyer that you don't have any control about promised quality of something you bought. You still need to suss out about the person you're buying from, but with a real fraud you might be protected via your credit card. I asked VISA but i think the goods them selves are not covered, but only the money transfer itself sent. IF ANYONE more experiences with this or even paypal alternatives: I am really curious! I am no longer selling or buying stuff on eBay via paypal. They cannot be trusted.

PS the more expensive reeds like Voci tip a mano are made more precise than the cheaper reeds. Reeds are fitted precisely in the reedplate slots, thus more air efficient and the instruments are less asthmatic and faster responding than the cheaper brands.

probably a cat's hair, wax chip, wood splinter etc blocked it.

But keep your ears open trying that ...

Cheeks are very sensitive for finding a bellows- or frame leak ....

In case someone needs a kick in the butt to get going: As experienced fiddler-melodeon-guitar teacher i picked anglo up a while ago after my English Crabb got stolen, i can help you get started? ------- Realize two important things for making music in general: Where most beginners fail at, is learning to really play by ear. An Irish farmer-fiddler said to me in his local Sligo pub: You cannot play any tune properly if you cannot lilt it first. Next BIG thing is don't get a brain fixation with reading tabs, notes, what ever. Written music makes perfect toilet paper when shove comes to push. It has nothing to do with playing real music. This is also where ALL classically trained violinists fail in learning to play a decent fiddle. Once you have a tune figured out, throw away the books and listen to what you do. Use your brain's memory instead for the musical fixes probably needed. Especially learn to hear the things you do that don't sound 'right'. If they do and differ from the written notes? Hurray, you now are a musician ... ------------------- Tip i learned years a go: do something else at the same time while practicing like watching football, telling a joke, what ever. With any stage performance you'll need to order at least a beer from that nice waitress, or shoot the sound engineer while having your solo. Play with friends, to get rid of the oops, wrong note and an excuse to stop playing, and force yourself to play out the whole tune completely with all the mistakes. Call it your own version? Soulful music comes by playing from the heart (as in: it's a mental thing). Stephan Grapelli said once: if you make a mistake, do it again, and every one thinks it's the right way. Happy Squeezing.

guess not ... was curious 'bout the piccolo thing.

Yep, agree with Jake. Music is more important. I know a guy who gets great music out of any instrument. Must be his soul doing that. ------ My personal experience sofar: My heritage Edgley sounds quite better and less brittle or harsh, than my G/D Edgley with hybrid reeds. I had a Harry Crabb English for over 40 years, handmade reeds, great sound too. Drawback seems a bit that my heritage Edgley seems heavier, and therefor feels a bit lazy in response compared to a Hybrid. Maybe not so with other brands? I prefer traditional reeds for sound however, but for fast playing and a more penetrating gig-rig in a battle with banjos i would choose a Hybrid. Especially the higher ranged reeds seem quite louder. To get that loudness with traditional reeds it seems it needs more pressure. IMO that is ! PS bought a hybrid Seth Hamon wheatstone system but i am already used to jeffries layout. It's a real light weight & fast player, very responsive, but i am into selling it instead of a planned conversion for now. (See another post). Needs wood chopping to get that right and i rather not mess with a perfectly made instrument. So i am out shopping for a jeffries system hybrid for gigging now. Hamon's instruments are definitely a step up from the far cheaper McNeela instruments. Guess Jake makes good stuff too, as some others do. PS i'd certainly prefer a 7 fold bellows, especially when you're into chording, for a little extra air reserve.

Seth Hamon Professional with Voci a Mano reeds. C/G 30 button Wheatstone layout. 7-fold bellows! Very light and fast player, very well made; alas selling since i recently bought a traditionally built and quite expensive one. Instrument is in as new state. Bellows smell that way LoL. Due 450 Euro EU import duties that have been paid (mainly VAT charges) it makes sense for a buyer within the EU. No import duties then. Price 1900 Euros. BTW I stopped with paypal, it's a scam these days. Tip: get a free money wiring subscription with WISE.com or Intarem, and pay by Mastercard or Visa: You're off far cheaper for eventual exchange-rates and your money transfer is secure and almost immediate. Economy EU insured parcel shipping is around 70 euro's, Fedex is faster but more expensive. Case included. PM me if you live outside the EU, as i can probably get VAT back when exported again within a few months, and thus sell depending location about 19% cheaper. For US buyers i will include a COO form to avoid paying import duties. At costs of approx 100 euro's extra i can arrange a conversion to jeffries system layout, using 4 new Voci a Mano reeds. This will take about 10 days before shipping out.

Usually concertina reed plates are held in place with screws, maybe wax, almost never glued. A stuck reed might have been blocked by some debris, a cats hair, or a splinter of wax etc. It also could be broken ..... See if it moves freely by touching it gently with a small screw driver. Mind you these are small reeds so be careful. Sometimes they get stuck at the sides when not aligned properly. Don't touch it with you fingers, the moist from sweat can cause eventually. Visit a local repair shop or accordion maker?