PaulDa321

Somebody put a nice Suttner up on eBay for 7500 USD in April. I’m assuming they sold it successfully. https://www.ebay.com/itm/356704491596?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=nTqa89grQQu&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=AOxmEgRlQ0e&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

I had a Stagi Anglo with leather bellows that was probably from the 2000s. I thought the bellows were pretty decent as was the whole instrument, as a starter. I don’t know the details of the bellows construction, but, on the outside, they appeared quite similar to well-made bellows of concertinas I had later. They played pretty well and I think may have been better quality than the action, which itself was good for a beginner, but not on the level of an intermediate. I believe that Anglo was the W-15-LN. I know you’re looking for an English Baritone, but the components might be similar. I have a pic, though it was to show the lap wear (not from me!) to a buyer.

“You have memories that they would have too…” That line got me.

When I got my Clare, it had previously lived in the Utah dessert. The grain on certain parts of the walnut ends had actually pulled apart from the dryness and you could see straight through the cracks, especially in thinner areas of fretwork. I ended up putting very thin amounts of wood glue in those cracks. I will say, the instrument otherwise played just fine, though it must have been quite dry for that to happen. I used to play concertina in the bathroom while my child took a shower and the room got steamy, but somebody advised that this was probably too humid--you wouldn't want to trap condensation inside. I don't know if it was a bad idea or not as it's unlikely been truly tested. At the time, thought it might be a good way to humidify it during a New England winter. Maybe if your bathroom isn't too steamy, you could have a practice routine with a session after a shower? Could be good to get a second opinion on that one.

When I checked about a year and a half ago Andrew said they had “quite a waiting list,” so I imagine it’s still a bit of a wait. I hear good things though. There’s actually a Minstrel in stock at RedCow in the uk. https://redcowmusic.co.uk/product/minstrel-anglo-concertina/

I think the Minstrel was a good idea given what you’re saying, but it’s too bad that Wim isn’t emailing back. Can’t say I know why. If you’re in the US, it would be worth calling Homewood to see what they have. Liberty Bellows has had Minstrels in the past (I played one there in 2024), but I haven’t seen one there in awhile. I highly recommend the ICC Clare for where you’re at, depending on what you can afford. All of the Edgley stuff is great as well. The market really hasn’t been good for buying Anglos right now, unfortunately.

I’m sorry for your loss. Dealing with what family has left behind is always very difficult. While we have spent some time on this post criticizing the Phoenix, you can probably get a price that might be similar to its original price simply because the price has gone up, especially if you are in the US. Where you are located will be a big factor. I bought a Phoenix and shipped it to the US in Feb 2024 for 1349.00 Eur new, which is $1578 usd it today’s exchange rate. Today’s new price is 1858 usd on their website. If you were in the US it probably wouldn’t be too hard to find a buyer at 1400-1500 usd assuming it’s in like-new shape. If in the US, you might see if Bob Tedrow at Homewood music would buy it from you for resale. This all changes if you’re located somewhere else though.

Excellent and objective synopsis. I should paste this into Facebook every time somebody asks about a Phoenix on a concertina group, which is often. Thank you!

I like to think a lot about “pulse” or how the rhythm is expressed/emphasized. If somebody is playing fast and it just sounds like a jumble of notes, it’s probably because I can’t get the pulse from what they’re playing. My brain has nothing to latch onto—like a paragraph with no spaces or punctuation. Whether it’s played fast or slow, a big part of my enjoyment is whether or not I can feel the pulse in what they’re playing. I can’t play particularly fast myself, so the least I can do is try to emphasize the rhythm so that others can connect with the tune. That’s my hope anyways.

I love the way you put those comparisons. I think the Rochelle vs Minstrel is a pretty obvious improvement. I'm wondering what really stands out to you about Clover vs Kensington. I heard from one person that their Kensington had really stiff bellows, but I haven't heard that anywhere else and I think that he eventually developed a machine that would soften them up.

I wonder if that’s an effect coming from the bellows, like a bellows roll? I think it’s a similar sound when I tap my foot emphatically with the same leg that the concertina end is resting on, causing the bellows to shake. I’m not one to advise on how to do a bellows roll though.

I read a review from 2009 that said this was around the time they started assembling them with the little nut. He said it was adjustable—that you could use a tiny wrench and screwdriver for a fine adjustment. Threadlock might be a barrier to adjustment. Not sure how difficult it is to undo at that tiny scale. He didn’t mention the washer material.

Wow! These are great! So many little differences and clever bits to find! Does anybody know anything about the pivot on the Carroll? It looks like a nut and bolt of some kind with a washer on one side? You would need a locking nut and no threading on much of the bolt I would assume if this were the case.

So your seller had purchased it just weeks earlier?

I'm loving all of this. Do you suppose Frank has attached the pad to the arm by running it through a thick piece of leather and then gluing it down? I'm new the innards of concertinas, so maybe this is common. My first thought was cork, but I think that would quickly fall apart.