[Hot Roding my Ec]

It’s horses for courses I think and go with whatever works best for you. In the diatonic button accordion world people use and have experimented with many different button set ups -  button height, spacing etc as well as an array of strap styles/ playing positions. 

[Jeffries English on Ebay.]

Be useful to see the inside. The reeds are kind of important.

[The May Fair]

I’ve had a Mayfair for many years and recently got it upgraded a little with new ends and buttons and fine tuned ( keeping all the original parts with the concertina). It plays really well and I like the sound of the reeds which are reasonable quality.

Think the two on eBay are a bit dear. I know they are “Wheatstone” but are not the quality we associate with the name.

If you could pick one up a bit cheaper it is a nice wee box in its own right. 

[Wheatstone model 21]

Looking for a Wheatstone model 21. Prefer unrestored.

[Alf Edwards ~ The Art of the Concertina]

What a great player Edwards was and an example of just how good the EC is at a range of music in the hands of a master.

I am ofcourse particularly impressed by his Scottish repertoire which is a lesson in itself.

thanks for sharing this 👌

[Listen to "Parallel Play"]

That explains why you get such a nice recording😂

[JamKazam]

Hi Jim,

that sounds good. Trying a wee session today at 3pm your time. Can you liaise with David?

 Otherwise we could set another time. I’ll DM you my email.

 

Paul

[Rue Simondon]

Very nice tune and arrangement. Lovely sounding concertina.

[Listen to "Parallel Play"]

Nice tunes and great sound. Recorded on JamKazam too?

[JamKazam]

Hi David, that sounds good. I’ll DM you with details.

Paul

[JamKazam]

Hi,

I recently got into JamKazam and wondered if anyone who has it fancied a tune. I play mostly Scottish and pipe based music but enjoy anything really.

thanks Paul 

 

[A Scottish Concertina?]

A few years back I adapted a Wheatstone Mayfair 30 button EC which I bought in the 70s. I think it was £70, which was pretty reasonable at the time. It sounded good for playing Scottish tunes but I had other concertinas and it was relegated to a top shelf.

On rediscovering it, I had a well known concertina repairer to make me new wooden end plates as I felt the metal ones were contributing to a slightly tinny sound. He did a great job. The result was a much mellower tone but it’s good quality accordion reeds still gave it that edge for the Scottish stuff. I fitted pine baffles which mellowed it further but dampened the sound so they came out.
Further adaptions followed including Henrik Muller inspired handrests/ straps which vastly improved the bellows control and consequently the rhythm.

It’s now a great wee box and a necessary companion in sessions,  good for group and solo playing. Here it is.

[A Scottish Concertina?]

Nice looking wee concertina with a good sound. Listening to your tunes it’s clear it works well for your repertoire.

I particularly like the grace notes, doublings etc as they enhance the melody and importantly the rhythm which can be tricky on English.

I also liked the jigs which sound very Scottish and use the right kind of ornamentation.

 

This is pushing the boundaries in a particular way and will be interesting to hear your playing as it progresses to this instrument’s potential.

 

 

[music for English Concertina]

Thanks. Had a loolk at this and will order?

[music for English Concertina]

Thanks for these suggestions. Will check them out. I was also realising that fiddle music with 2nd fiddle parts would useful giving some indication of harmonic possibilities. Tried a few from a basic traditional  fiddle tutor book but they needed to be adapted a bit  for concertina. But the principle seemed sound so will look for some more advanced music.

[music for English Concertina]

Can anyone suggest any books or source for popular and classical music?

thanks

Paul

[Teaching Highland Scotland]

Have messaged you

 

thanks Paul 

[Jeffries reeds]

Fair enough. Why are VWs such good cars? Because they’re made by VW.

[Jeffries reeds]

Why do Jeffries reeds generally sound so good?

 

[As de Copas: french tango on duet]

Really liked this. Nice tune and great playing.?

[Earlier today, out West]

Great photos of such a brilliant player and his family. Out on his own before the concertina became what it is today. His powerful and unadorned style is a foundation of concertina playing at its best.

 

 

 

 

[Wheatstone concertina leaflet]

Came across this Wheatstone leaflet in the loft which I must have got in the 70s. It makes for interesting reading. The English concertina being the most popular system and the the Anglo lends itself to non music readers. ? How times change. When was the Wheatstone factory in Edgware?

[Louis Lachenal 32 button English concertina]

Very nice small Louis Lachenal concertina circa 1865. Plays well and sounds excellent. Has been carefully restored and tuned. Comes with Wheatstone case.

£695 plus postage. Uk only.

 

 

[Brenda Stubbert's Reel]

Brenda Stubbert’s as it sounded in the old days at 78 rpm. Don’t (bother) to try this at home? Nice tune at reel speed though.

[The demise of the English concertina.]

Yes the concertina market seems to value a good Anglo.

Anyway it just seems to me that there are lots of children and young people playing Anglos, usually really well! And I just wondered if any young people were as enthusiastic about the EC.