Geoff W.

That was really nice. Looked like the players were having a good time as well.

This has been sold.

It comes with a gig bag, which has a strap and sort of plushy velvet interior, like so:

Hi Patty, as an ex-Rochelle player I can attest that moving a step up is going to allow you to make a big improvement in your playing. I think the Rochelle is a great instrument to start with to confirm that the anglo is an instrument you want to dedicate time to, but once you know you're "in it to win it" it's time to move up. The first time I played this Minstrel after my Rochelle I thought, "Wow, I can play in multiple volumes besides loud and louder!" I haven't looked at the Phoenix much and am not a concertina expert like most of the people here, but first impressions: - Looks like a great hybrid concertina! - It's likely a very similar quality to the Minstrel as far as reeds, action, and overall sound quality goes. - Both instruments have riveted action, bushed levers and buttons. I do the look of the red ones on the Phoenix, but the action is going to feel similar on each. - The Phoenix comes with a hard case, which is a nice extra! - Phoenix looks to be Jeffries, Minstrel is Wheatstone. - This particular Minstrel has high-end bellows on it which are nicer than the Phoenix. This would improve phrasing, dynamics, feel, etc. They were supple from Day 1 and have only continued to break in as I've played it. Obviously I have a dog in the fight to find my Minstrel a new home, but you will be overjoyed at moving up to a higher quality instrument, whichever one you choose.

Good question, this is a Wheatstone layout. I will amend my post.

Hi, as my previous thread foretold, my new Clover is en route faster than I thought and I am now looking to sell my 30-key C/G Minstrel Anglo, Wheatstone layout. It is in excellent condition, is lively and responsive, and makes a SIGNIFICANT upgrade from anyone looking to move from a beginner-level concertina such as the Rochelle to something new, without breaking the bank or making a big commitment into an antique or high-end instrument. I started with a Rochelle and was amazed at the level of dynamic responsiveness a step up like this makes. It came with a 5-year warranty, which started in February 2019. The warranty automatically transfers to the new owner so you can be sure Wim and the Concertina Connection will support the instrument for years to come. Asking price is $1500 - I'll cover shipping within the continental US. International shipping is possible but we'll have to talk about that. Photos: Videos I took today, NOT to showcase my playing by any means, but so you can hear how it sounds in August 2020:

Coming into the scene late, is there a place one can still procure or at least listen to these albums?

I don't really know how to use Musescore well yet but this is pretty accurate. The chords could use some review and comment, and I haven't quite gotten the walking chords in the first part yet, but the melody is there.

I'll double post so not as to make my only contribution a pointer at my for sale ad... Since you're considering the merits of the various intermediate instruments, here is what Wim says about the differences between the Minstrel and the Clover:

Hi Chris, upgrading from a modest instrument to a good quality one is a huge difference. I've seen good descriptions here that an intermediate guitar player on a $200 vs $2000 guitar will sound more or less the same, but that price difference in concertinas makes a huge difference in playability. I will be selling my upgraded Minstrel in a week or two if you'd be interested in seeing more pics or hearing it, send me a DM!

I'm a simple man: you put out a book, I hit buy.

Hi there, I'm moving to a Clover, the last box I plan to buy for a while. As such I'm putting this out to feel out interest in my Minstrel Anglo, which will come onto the market in 2-3 weeks if not scooped up before then It's a year and a half old, in what I would say is Excellent shape, serial #265, one of the newer "4.0" editions of the instrument. This particular one has the Wakker Bellows, which are a good upgrade over the standard ones. The Wakker Bellows are the high-end, hand-made bellows from Concertina Connection and really make this instrument the last one an intermediate player is going to need for a good, long time. Asking price is $1700 -- box would be $1925 new. Comes with a standard gig bag w/ strap. Box is located in the Pacific Northwest - buyer would pay shipping, and I'll ship anywhere the buyer wants. The existing warranty transfers automatically to the new owner, and this was confirmed by Wim himself. See me playing it here (and hear how it sounds): Pics attached:

Nice, I’m working on the same! One of my buttons stopped working so I have some surgery before I can get it done. Trying to figure out the accompaniment! sounds good!

Well some googling tells me it's called Hello Sailor composed by RIchard Myhill, possibly directly for Spongebob. What a nice little tune! Maybe not for Spongebob, but this and a bunch of other stuff available here: https://www.apmmusic.com/albums/KPM-0137

Anyone recognize the tune in this meme here? The high notes sound concertina-esque but the low notes sound like an accordion, so I can't tell what it's being played on.

One thing I just learned today (unhappily) is that the Concertina Connection upgrade program doesn't let you go from a Minstrel to a Clover, just from Minstrel to one of the high-end ones. They have 3 "classes" of instrument (Rochelle - > Minstrel/Clover -> Wakker being the upgrade path for an Anglo). Mine has the Wakker Bellows and such and is still a very nice instrument, but now I'm wondering what I'd be missing from the Clover!

I love Sailor Songs, Gary. It is definitely a welcome step up in difficulty from Pirate Songs. I live on a sailboat named "Delightful" so of course the first tune I needed to learn was "Pleasant and Delightful!"

Thank you John, this has actually helped me quite a bit this week. Seems like a silly mental trick, but it really works. I'm starting to believe this will get easier with practice, of course

I am playing Anglo, a Minstrel from CC, sorry for leaving that out. I guess sometimes even when it's a "breathe" note I find that the variation in volume is hard to control, and have to pull or push harder to keep at the right volume. Trying to keep the bellows at a consistent spread is good advice, I notice I am developing an unconscious sense of comfort when the bellows are in the right place, getting too low starts to feel like I'm genuinely running out of breath.

I have a Minstrel with Wakker Bellows and it is a lovely instrument, but I don’t have much to compare it to except the Rochelle I upgraded from. I’ll likely be going all the way up the upgrade path in my life, just have to put enough hours into the Minstrel to feel like I’ve earned it.

Do you have any sheet music for this tune or is it taught by ear?

Hi all, I've been doing a bunch of "harmonic style" practice and often run into situations where I need to take a quick "breath" to make it through the next phrase. However, hitting the button causes the current notes being held to be weaker, and I'm having a hard time keeping the sound consistent when it comes time to turn the breather button on. Is this something that can be remedied through practice alone, or is there a specific way to inhale/exhale the concertina without causes big leaps in the way it sounds? Thanks!

Somehow never thought to post these here. I love sailing and I love the Concertina and managed to combine the two last year. Haven't had a chance for a repeat this year, and I honestly haven't gotten much better. All the same, here's Grogg Mayles from Gary's arrangement whilst underway on a smallish sloop. And then here's me and my buddy Will playing an amateur rendition of Herrington Hall at anchor. Thanks for watching, though my playing has a ways to go, perhaps this is novel enough to be interesting

I have to say that I've always loved 16th century music as well as the Concertina, so finding these videos and recordings is truly a gift. I have a standard 30 key Anglo so seeing you do this on an Anglo, albeit a "souped up" one, is very inspirational. Thanks for taking the time to record and share this.

Just voicing for posterity that both books go together very well. I think 1-2-3 is the book if you're only just holding a Concertina for the first few times, but the difficulty curve ramps up somewhat similarly in Harmonic Style. As in you can get to a place in 1-2-3 that then carries over to Harmonic Style pretty easily. Once Gary starts introducing individual artists in Harmonic Style, you're sort of at the highest part of the difficulty curve and all those songs could be studied and practiced for some time.