Robin Tims

Hi Christine, wish we had seen this before you put it on eBay. We are in Norfolk UK and my partner Marjorie is doing really well on E. Concertina since taking it up a few months back (she plays Fiddle mainly) and I would like to get her one of her own. I have an ebony 1908 Aeola and a circa 1953 chrome ended 2E (also Wheatstone) Can you confirm that all of the reeds speak properly and that the valves are still ok ? The crack you mention, is it serious or just a minor issue ? Have you checked inside recently ? 1899 is a good date eh, and Marjorie would love that original tone. £1200 plus £20 sounds fine to me but I guess I will have to take my chances on eBay unless you have a Buy it Now price .......... not sure if I am even allowed to suggest such a thing on here and I don't want to break any rules. Good luck with your sale anyway. Robin

It occurs, rereading my last, that maybe they fixed my ears, along with the disc op. Robin T

As an infrequent visitor to these hallowed columns I hope I am not going over old ground when I say that my Morse Albion (151) seems to have changed noticeably during the 18 months or so I have had it. It is no secret to say that in the early days I was less than happy with the tone (to the point of contemplating an early disposal), tho' delighted with the fast easy playing. Having an Aeola and a 50's Wheatstone 2E to compare it with, I found the tone lacking in punch to say the least. Somehow there was a rattly harmonic as well, on some notes, which irritated enough for me to experiment with playing in various rooms and in various distances from the walls, but with no improvement. I continued to play it regularly at home anyway. There was a problem with the top C on the pull, which sounded 'strangled' (Jon McNamara had the identical problem with his and on the same note). However I was a good deal happier with the Albion Baritone (155) , which I loved from the start. Recently, recovering from a disc op on my back and dying to get back to some concertina, I picked up from first choice the Albion treble, 6 fold bellows and no leaks, light and easy to play standing upright. As I gradually resumed the familiar tunes I realised that the 'rattly' harmonic seemed absent, the top C was perfect, the tone sounded much better, and further the volume seemed to have increased too. I was so delighted about this that unusually I took it to a session on Boxing day (the first for many weeks). Within 5 mins my local friendly fiddler lady commented on 'the lovely tone of your new concertina' . Today, it still sounds as good (so it was not the red wine) compared with it's stablemates. Yes, heap scorn if you will (and I would ) but this box has definitely changed with playing over many months, a not unheard of phenomenon with free reed instruments. Is it work hardening of the reeds ? Is it to do with temperature/humidity ? Whatever, I am so glad that I still have it. Your point being, Robin, oh, ...........er Happy New Year everyone, especially Rich Morse, and Gill Noppen-Spacie at The Music Room.. Robin Tims

Thanks Helen, made me feel much better. I'm in Norfolk UK and play English 48 treble and baritone except for 2 years time out on C/G Anglo now abandoned. Learning a tune by ear is a struggle for me and I always start from the dots. After that I tend to visualise the dots at least at the start of the tune then try not to interrrupt my brain by thinking about it. Conversely I can absorb a melody very quickly and remember it to hum quite easily. This with a 67 year old brain ! Robin T

Oh dear, I stupidly failed to notice the long-past date and page of Jim's message to which I replied and so made no sense to anyone. Of course I should have quoted from that post directly but I am still feeling my way around all this. Sorry about that, what a way to start. Got quite carried away by the topic of playing in your mind I'm afraid, and which I do a lot of. I will now creep away. Robin T

Yes, Jim, exactly so. I do this a lot usually in the early hours to sort out phrasing and emphasis paticularly with jigs on EC, also melodeon (sorry). Hello all, this is my first post. Robin T