bignick

Th 50 key boxes have an overlap of a third, the 58 key boxes have an overlap of a seventh. Nick

I can currently account for 3 Praed Street Jeffries Duets: A 58 key in C A 50 Key in C-and-a-bit A 50 key in D (originally in B flat and a bit) Nick

I have decided to sell my larger Duet on eBay My wife just doesn't see me as a three-concertina guy and I need to raise funds to restore the other two. Nick

Aw gee thanks guys. My first internet me-too storm! Seriously though. Who should I ask to undertake the tuning, assuming that I want to get it done on the North American continent (not to impugn Malcolm's tuning, I'm sure the switch in magnetic field direction between here and Oz won't have too big an effect, I'm just nervous about the potential loss or damage in shipping (and, yes, the cost)) It's a lovely box and it needs to be done by someone with a great ear for voicing and balance and who owns those little files made of unobtanium that can mark Jeffries reeds. As I mentioned, Steve D did my last rework and an up-tune of a tone and a half and it's still playing strong after more than 25 years! I should also mention that I'm not good at waiting (I bought this box because my Dipper is a tad overdue). So, how is Malcolm's work? Feel free to re-locate this thread if you think it will be happier somewhere else. Nick

I confess. It was I! The instrument is a delight and seems to be happy to be singing again: http://www.forepath.org/JeffriesDuet.mp3 Those of you with perfect pitch will detect right away that the instrument is in C-half-sharp, C and a Bit, or A=452 Hz. So, who would like to tune it up to D? Steve Dickenson did my other JD (which was originally a tone lower than this one) and the results were wonderful and bright and loud and even. It probably could use some fresh felt in the action too as it is quite clicky. Nick

I am interested in providing a very nice home for this concertina. I will take it out for tunes and love it lots. I would like to know what key it is in and what size it is across the flats. And what prices similar JD's have changed hands for recently. Juanita should get at least that for it. More if there's several people interested.

Wow, This is a lovely instrument, very much like my own. I'm with the others, Juanita, you should hear what this delightful and powerful beast can be made to do before you part with it. Ask Michael Hebbert for a tape, CD, or LP of his amazing album The Ramping Cat! If you decide you'd rather be a holder of cash rather than a buddding concertinist, then this is a great forum to sell the instrument as everyone who plays one of these is either here or is known by someone here who would be happy to spread the word. Just don't sell it to anyone that intends to convert it into an Anglo, which would be an abomination before Deus Concertinii! Nick Robertshaw

Back on topic! Richard, this looks like a lovely instrument. I play one that is very similar. We would benefit from a close up shot of the maker's stamp, or at least the text of the inscription as that will help date it and learn if this was more likely to have been made by Charlie Jeffries himself or not. To find the core key, take hold of the instrument (knurled strap screws upwards)by slipping your hands into the straps. Look at the buttons on the right hand end. They are in four, slightly curved rows. Starting with the row closest to your wrist, count up to the third row. From the left end of this row, pass over two buttons and then press the next three all at once. You should hear a major triad (a chord). Play them 1,2,3 and you should hear the first three notes of Johnny Todd/Z-Cars. It will be in the core key of the instrument. Go to a piano and figure out which key there matches most closely (if it's 'down the cracks', it is in some legacy pitch and we need to know this too.) As noted by others, there are no Student Model Jeffries Duets. There are also no instruction books, tutors, teachers, or support groups that meet more often than once a decade. On the other hand, when nicely tuned and voiced, they sound utterly magnificent. Learning to play one is a task for a rugged individualist, stubborn and fiercely dogged, and with some good starting skills in basic music and harmony. I bought mine for forty-five quid. I play it hard all the time and I worry that it may have to go into the shop soon (it was last tuned in 1980) for a major restoration which would leave me without an instrument. The one I ordered from Colin Dipper last century shows little signs of moving up his waiting list so, I'm interested. I would definitley be prepared to pay more than I did for the last one. Do you have any info about where your Grandfather played it and what kind of music? Nick Robertshaw (Thanks to Jim Besser for alerting me to this)

I am pleased for you. I am also pleased for me, as i shuffle one place further up the queue. Does the line continue around the corner, the next one, the one after that? Is it too late to get a VIP pass and go straight through the velvet rope? Oh, take it out to meet other concertinas. Teach it all your tunes and let it sing them!

I have had similar problems with inflamation of that joint. I am sure that mine was caused by the pressure of the strap on the joint. I play outdoors, loudly and for long periods because I oftem play for several Morris teams on a long weekend Ale, with singing and jamming in a contra band in the evening. Not playing works, of course, but is not a satisfactory solution. What did work was to raise the palm rest about half an inch (I moulded a polymer clay pad to fit my hands and the existing palm rest bar and attached it to the bar with zip strips). With the bar higher my hands go further into the strap so it is no longer on the back of my knuckes. Also the higher bar means that joint is bent to its natural relaxed position whereas before it was reflexed upwards, which I'm sure contributed to the problem. I also lined the inside of the strap with a soft resilient material to better cushion it against my hand. I took the new configuration with me on a 10 day morris tour of England last summer and the problem appears to be solved. Nick

The internet has long been the glue that holds the concertina diaspora together. Many of you guys know me from way back in rec.music-makers.squeezebox and other reedy mailing lists, perhaps even a Northeast Squeeze-in or two. Through one or two of these, I have actually managed to get together with another Jeffries Duet player and squeeze off a few! Who knows, even Joel Cowan may sign on one day. Oh, what was the question? Has C.net contributed to an ongoing revival resurgance? Sure, why not? Maybe one of these new MIDI 'tinas will get the instrument on MTV (actually being played). Hi everyone! Nick Robertshaw (I have some links to fix on my website. I was sorry to learn that someone had not been able to reach me last year with a Jeffries Duet question in Maryland. Like THAT will ever happen again)