PaulDa321
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Posts posted by PaulDa321
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Excellent feedback so far and thank you. Regarding was Seanc and Jillser said, I really thought I was a by-ear learner, having been improvising guitar chords for so long and disdaining reading music or tabs. As it turns out, I remember and interpret tunes incorrectly. I end up reproducing some alternate version of things if I don’t look at the written notes—even tunes I’ve heard weekly for years. This might be great once I have the base tune and can deviate slightly, but for now, I really have to look up the ABC to play the tune remotely correctly, and then get it into memory. Hopefully I can put some personality on it after that.
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This is all great advice—thank you all!
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That’s a heck of a lot of tunes! Not sure I have the brain-space for that, but the ability to re-learn a tune quickly could help.
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Hi everyone,
I’m primarily an Irish trad backing guitar player, learning concertina on the side. I take lessons with Lexi Boatright (great teacher, seek her out if you need one). I’ve just gotten to the point of playing one or two tunes in session and it takes a pretty long time just to learn a new tune. It’s intimidating to think about the sheer number of tunes these people know and how many of them can learn a tune after a couple of times through. I’m wondering if there’s anybody out there, especially players who didn’t already play a melody-focused instrument, who progressed to the point of quickly being able to pick up tunes. I’m wondering, generally speaking, how much practice and how long it took for you to get there. I know everybody is different. It seems like an astounding hurdle at this point. Any general advice would be appreciated. I’m not discouraged—it’s fun to show up with a new tune every month as it is—but I am curious!
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I talked to Chris Algar about the Marcus the other day and he won’t ship it to the US since it’s on consignment. Seems to apply to you too Peter (hello from VT!).
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Hey Pete—I’m hijacking your post a little here, but papawemba piqued my curiosity. Papawemba, have you played a Phoenix and do you know how those 3 models you mentioned compare?
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I saw this one (a Clare), which is pretty similar. Just a bit out of my price range.
https://reverb.com/item/76966998-c-g-anglo-jeffries-layout-concertina -
Button box does rentals—I’d give them a call!
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McNeela has some used--usually they're over 500. I've never seen the Wren used, but you could just email them. Also, the Swan has rivet-action (I called it lever-action--oops).
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I wanted to follow up with this, in case it helps anybody else. I ended up buying a couple sizes of brass tubing at ACE Hardware (US). The button looked like it would fit well--we drilled in from the underneath the flat board (reed pan?) to insert the brass tube, but then the part of the button that fanned outward would catch in the brass tube, wedging itself. We pulled out the tube and patched the hole we made with aluminum duct tape (the metallic stuff, not the stretchy gray stuff). Don't make that mistake and you won't have to tape anything.
Anyways, the solution was to cut out the broken, thin, wood using a utility knife and then use a chisel on a thin piece of wood to make a patch, which we glued into the gap. I don't use that button too much, but it's been working well since.
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Hello,
I'm in a similar boat and here's what I've got for you:
1. I tried the Wren, but had to send it back due to sticky buttons--if you're in the states the postage is pricey. It has a hard case, a good sound, and and it is smaller than the Rochelle--if it hadn't had the problems, then I would've kept it. I found the G-row a little too close to the handle and the bellows and buttons a bit chintzy. McNeela was very easy and responsive to deal with and ultimately fair regarding a delayed return. They also have a Swan that goes on sale for 750ish USD sometimes that seems nicer--leather bellows and lever-action. People seem to like it.
2. I haven't tried the Rochelle, but if you want it cheap, call the Button Box on the phone (skip the website) and talk to them about a used or new one. I think they have 2 or 3 used for 375 right now that aren't on the website.
3. I'm currently borrowing a Stagi that I like better than the Wren. I had a rarely used accidental-button that busted through a thin piece of wood, but a friend fixed it. The construction is pretty neat inside otherwise. This one looks almost identical, but it's flat-black. I can't vouch for the dealer here: https://www.jimlaabsmusicstore.com/store/stagi-w-15-ln-anglo-concertina/
4. I'm currently having the dilemma of going up to an intermediate and skipping the beginner problem concertinas. I'm considering the Rochelle so I can trade it for the Minstrel without taking a loss (through CC or Fiddler's Green), but if I knew that I would never trade up and had to keep it near 500, I'd buy the Stagi listed above, since it has leather bellows, metal buttons, and a sturdy lever system. Sometimes the air button feels a little awkward on my thumb after playing for awhile.
5. I think I've spent more time shopping and reading about these damn things than actually playing one.
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I’m in a similar boat. I would love to actually learn to play if I could have a working model in my hands. I had a Wren that arrived with sticky buttons. I liked the sound and size of it, but I couldn’t fix it. They were great about the return and communicating but it was nearly 100 bucks lost on round trip postage to and from the states. I’m currently borrowing a Stagi W-15-LN which would appear to fit the bill that you’re seeking—leather bellows, metal buttons, around 600 bucks without a case, but within a few days the bottom of the button blew through the wood below it (see repair forums). I did hear good things about the Swan and even saw it on sale for somewhere in the 700s a couple weeks ago, but I didn’t want to risk the postage if I had a problem. I’m currently planning to get a Rochelle and earn my upgrade to a Minstrel, but I am tempted to go straight to the Minstrel. To me the Minstrel is a good choice if you’re willing to spend 1500 (1300 if you can get a used one), based on what I’ve read and heard, plus if you’re in the states, the postage for fixes at Concertina Connection is much more affordable.
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Wow, Tiposx, thank you for such a thoughtful response. I’m going to have to go scouting for supplies—especially that brass tubing, but I just might be able to make that work.
I agree the spring and lever system is nice and tidy and works well—why they thought all that rubbing of metal buttons against soft wood wouldn’t be a problem, I don’t understand.
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Hi guys,
I just started concertina very recently and borrowed a Stagi W-15-LN. The key got stuck down and I opened it up and found that the block with the keyholes (I don’t know the official names) split. I’m assuming the friction of the button wore through the wood. Does anybody have any experience making a channel for this kind of situation? I’m assuming you could make it from rubber tubing but I don’t know if it would grab the key or if I could manage to make the tubing channel stay inside the wooden hole.
I also noted that there is an indentation where the key bottoms out at the wood. It’s pretty soft wood and it’s hammered a dent in the bottom. I think that because the key can sink so low, it now gets stuck in the dent. Perhaps fill that with a little glue?
Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks!
Paul
Advice for second concertina
in General Concertina Discussion
Posted
I saw the pic on Facebook! Love that it went to a young person. It’s hard to find a Tedrow and you got one from the man himself!