Chris Allert

Hi everyone, Yes, that's my listing. I posted it for sale here a year and a half ago, but didn't get much interest. Sorry about the weird unholy ebay account (but we all suspected ebay was the work of the Devil right?) I created that ebay account for another art project, but ended up using etsy for that instead. (have lots more sales there…) Anyway, you'll see that I've sold a few other electronic music related items on that ebay account. Anyway, now that the item has a couple bids, i'm stuck selling it there and paying ebay's outrageous 10% commission. Someone wrote in to the ebay account to suggest that there may be a few design flaws with the instrument. I didn't really play it enough to discover these, though I will comment here on what I noticed: 1. It sends a MIDI "all notes off" message with every bellows change. I used to filter it out with a MIDI Solutions Event Processor (I'll include one of these with the item if you want it. You need a windows computer to edit it and use it) 2. It doesn't feel quite the same as a real concertina. Pressing the air button doesn't really let you squeeze or draw the bellows any faster than just pressing one note. that's because all air passes through a single hole in the piece of wood inside the instrument that is there instead of a reed pan. This hole is the right size to let in about the same amount of air as a reed would. You can get used to it, and if you play the concertina, you'll be able to play this, but it won't ever quite feel the same, and you *really* need to manage your air flow more than you would with a standard concertina. 3. I tried hooking this instrument up to an iPad with GarageBand using a midi->usb->ipod dock interface and it did not work well. I could have probably fixed the problems with the event processor mentioned in #1, but had better things to do with my time. 4. It still worked well with my Dave Smith Evolvers last time i tried it, so i suspect there's something weird with the ios midi implementation, and it should work well with any real synthesizer. 5. I have a couple midi->usb interfaces lying around collecting dust. I'll include one with the instrument. 6. THIS IS BEING SOLD AS IS! It works, but I can't promise it's going to work well for you. Everyone who has owned one of these is aware of the issues with this instrument and you should be able to get it to work for you with help from other owners on this list. BUT THERE ARE NO RETURNS. I'm selling all my electronic music gear because my girlfriend and I are having a baby and i'm focusing on other projects. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE OWNED ONE OF THESE BEFORE BIDDING! 7. Sorry about the all caps in the previous item. 8. The custom case from Greg Jowaisas is very excellent. He made two other cases for my other two instruments (both sold now). He does really great work and I hope he's still making these. 9. I don't know why Wim Wakker stopped making these. He probably got busy filling orders. If you want one now you have to buy a used one and put up with any design issues it has. 10. I've added a link from the ebay listing to this thread so this is probably the best place for people to talk about it.

I've gotten a few questions/inquiries on this, so i'll try to answer them here: 1. What kind of pressure does it take to play/how does it feel? This is kind of subjective. It seems to allow quite a bit less airflow than any other concertina i've played. I remember wim wakker writing something about this in another thread here, saying that the air-flow/pressure is about the same as the concertinas he makes, and that someone else replied that the retrofitted lachenal midi he'd tried felt a lot more natural to play (I don't remember the maker of these. It's someone in England, i think). The air flow is not adjustable. Instead of a reed-pan, there's a flat piece of wood with a hole in it meant to allow about the same amount of air through as a reed would. You could probably enlarge the hole to allow more air, but i'm guessing that would cause other problems with the pressure sensor inside the instrument. My other observation is that the air button doesn't really let much air through, since the air is just going through the same hole as when a note is playing. But it is still a very expressive controller, it just takes practice and needs to be played a little differently from a reeded concertina. 2. What's the serial number? It says "AMC 0643" on the instrument. I think i actually acquired it in 2006, not 2007, which is what the "06" in the serial refers to (instrument #43 of 2006?) 3. What color is it? Black french polish finish. White leather baffles behind the grill. It looks just like the one on the web-site, except solid black. 4. do you plug it in? The concertina itself is battery powered, and needs to be charged. It's connected wirelessly to the midi box that plugs into a computer. to charge it, there's a cord that runs from one of the midi ports on the gizmo to the concertina. If i remember correctly, I don't think it can be played while charging. Unfortunately I can't locate the manual right now, but it's got to be around here somewhere. 5. Is one side of the instrument heavier than the other? Not as far as i can tell. Wim seems to have done an excellent job of getting the weight right. It's actually considerably lighter than a reeded concertina, and I definitely don't get the feeling of all the electronics being on one side. 6. Does the concertina include a synthesizer? No, it's just a midi controller, and a very expressive one. You'll need your own midi cables and midi interface to your computer or a synthesizer with midi in. 7. Anything else I should know? Changing bellows direction sends a midi all-notes-off message. I found that this meant i had to fiddle with the synthesizer settings a little to deal with this (on all my now sold analog equipment, it's not the same as getting individual note off messages for all the currently pressed buttons, even though in theory it should be) 8. Does the instrument work? I'm 99% sure it does. It's in new condition, i've only played it about a dozen times. But it's just been sitting in its case for a couple years. I'm currently recharging it, looking for cables around the house, and i'll try to post a video sometime in the next few days of me playing it through my computer or iPad. 8. Where can i find out more? here's wim wakker's page on the instrument: http://www.concertinaconnection.com/wakker%20midi.htm

I have a wakker midi anglo with a custom case from Greg jowaisas. I think I bought it back in 2007 directly from wim wakker. I can't remember what I paid for it. Maybe around US$2000 anyway, best offer gets it. You'll probably get the best info on it from wim wakker. I used it to drive a Dave smith evolver, but never really spent enough time with it. It's a beautifully constructed instrument. And the case Greg jowaisas made for me is great, holding both the concertina as well as the wireless gizmo you plug into your synthesizer or computer. I didn't really find a concertina to be the ideal controller for monophonic analogue equipment, but it will probably be a great toy for someone else. Make an offer. You know you want to...

This instrument is now sold. Thanks to everyone for your interest.

here's a video about this instrument, just so you have a better idea of what you're getting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16pgWFr2b7M I have a couple offers on it, and i'll accept the highest one tuesday

I'm very sad to say i'll need to sell this instrument soon. It's a metal-ended c/g jeffries copy with jeffries bellows papers and jeffries layout. Juergen Suttner currently has a four year waiting list. to buy this instrument new from him would be about us$5000 with the current exchange rate. this is instrument #298, which I acquired new in 2005. He's gotten very good at making them. i've only played this instrument at home since i've had it. I've played it between 5-20 hours each week since i've owned it, so it's very well "broken in" by now. but there are no signs of wear on the bellows as i only rest the corner of the instrument on one leg. I'm in olympia, washington and can meet you either here or in seattle if you want to try the instrument out. if you're going to the noel hill summer school, this would be a very good instrument to take with you. you'll make a lot more progress on a good instrument than a mediocre one, and having something that sounds like a concertina really does help one get better more quickly (at least that was my experience). and you'll get more out of the summer school if you've had a good instrument to get used to for a few months before you go. all reasonable offers will be considered. i'm not sure what reasonable is until i hear it, so please bid what you can, you may be lucky.

This concertina is now sold. definitely going to a good home. i will miss her

Thanks Dana for the corrections and information This Concertina is still for sale. for the kensington, i'm considering all offers above dana johnson's new price of $3500. i'm hoping to get at least $4000 for it, but i'll sell it to whoever gives me the best offer over $3500 in the next few weeks. so this may be your chance to get a new kensington without waiting three years.

a few more details about the kensington in response to an e-mail inquiry: i'm selling instrument #37 key layout: i just checked note-for note, and everything is identical to my suttner A2 jeffries copy except: 1. push C# instead of Eb on right button 1 of right top (accidental) row 2. push high F natural instead of push high Eb on button 5 of right bottom (G) row so other than that, the suttner jeffries chart is accurate for the kensington: http://www.suttnerconcertinas.com/images/key_layout_jeff_31.gif

*** sold *** I have Kensington concertina shipped to me by Dana Johnson on June 21, 2010 for sale I really hate to part with this instrument, but i haven't spent the time with it that it really deserves, and i need to downsize and find a good home for it. I think i'd probably end up liking this instrument more than my suttner if i took the time to break it in properly, but i have to sell one or the other. here's what's for sale: one kensington, built in june 2010 with the small had-rest size, new condition with case. visit www.kensingtonconcertinas.com for more about this model a few things to keep in mind: 1. dana johnson has not accepted orders for new instruments since 2007 (please correct me if i'm wrong) 2. his current advertised price is $3000USD, (i'm guessing it will go up if he ever opens his books again) 3. i will post when i have received an acceptable offer for this instrument, and i will not sell it for less than $4500 within the next few weeks 4. i may keep the kensington if i receive an offer of over $7000 on my suttner, but i'm not sure if i'd accept this for the suttner (i'm very attached to it) 5. i can meet you in seattle or olympia, washington if you want to try the instrument (i live in olympia) please send inquiries to concertina@morelater.com

three concertinas for sale. the suttner is #298, C/G metal ended A2, jeffries layout. asking 6k usd. best offer gets it. buyer pays shipping. the edgley is an Ab/Eb, tuned for irish music. wheatstone layout. asking 2k usd. best offer gets it. buyer pays shipping. make me an offer on the wakker midi anglo. here's a video of me playing the suttner at home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPUNS5tNuBQ

sold. thanks everyone for looking.

I'm very reluctant to sell this, but i'm considering offers. this is for carroll #17 ( http://carrollconcertinas.com/17.html ) i haven't really played this instrument much. it's in Bb/F, and if you've read the other reviews of wally carroll's work, you'll have a good idea of this instrument's value. it has a jeffries key layout, and is tuned to young's well temperament. i'm the original owner, so the instrument is in nearly new condition. the only time it's left my apartment is when i moved to a different apartment in the same building a few months ago. anyway, i have to sell an instrument, and it's either this or my c/g suttner. i usually play the suttner. i think this instrument is worth at least the new price he's asking now, and due to the falling dollar, it's especially worth it for european or canadian buyers (assuming your economies don't collapse along with ours) i'm not really sure yet what the minimum i'll sell it for is, so please make offers, either by replying to this thread, or by sending me a pm through the forum. you can also contact me here: http://www.morelater.com/contact.html

if you blink, you'll miss it

sold