Jeff H

A similar question comes up about the guitars made by the famous Santos Hernandez ( who was reputed to have been the actual maker of Segovias first Ramirez, made while in Ramirez employ) I believe it was Contreras who said of Santos guitars " Of the 100 made, only 1000 are known to exist" Jeff I have owned one Jeffries and had the privelege of the loaner of another some years back... and have played one hammered unit locally... so I have had my hands on 3

Chris, I am formerly from the Monterey area, I remember Arroyo Grande when it was a "suburb" cow town of SLO ( the big Cow Town) I have played some of the accordion reeded concertinas. A strong vote for The Button Box Ceili. I like the accordion reeded sound and the "resistance" of the reeds and the way they speak and play. I have owned Jeffries and Wheatstone and played a few of both. I would not hesitate with an accordion reeded concertina. Jeff

Norteno/Tex Mex Conjunto Honer Corona III, The Gabinelli 3 rows and CBA and Piano Accordion For Forro , CHoro and MPB.. Piano Accordion.. However I have seen CBA and 2 1/2 row used ( Raoul Barbosa) For Gaucho.. this is specialiazed ( and forgive my failing memory) there is a very special Hybrid instrument known as a Punta Gaita or something close ( I may have to check that again) that is a 2 1/2 row with a modified short stradella bass system There is a player famous for this style Re(a)nato(e) Borghetti ????? I'll check my sources and get back.. This instrument used to be made in Argentina by a couple of companies but now I believe there are but one or two Italian companies making them, rare but cool. This is very fast music..punctuated by lots of double notes and triplets, fast runs etc Seems like the universal instrument here would be the CBA or a 2 1/2 row Jeff

Does anyone own/play a Wakker/Geuns English concertina.? And if so what are your observations? Thanks Jeff

"Who knows, even Joel Cowan may sign on one day." Brilliant ! : ) Jeff

PS G/C is a desireable key system... and the "universal" system if there is such a thing. More folks worldwide play G/C than any other button accordion system. Jeff

You're welcome There are a couple of posters/lurkers on melodeon.net and rec squeezebox that are near Detroit... I'll puit a message on melodeons ( if you have not) to see if anyone there can help you better with the accordeon. Again, and personally, I'd keep it. Jeff

For 'latin" music.. what kind of Latin Music? Cumbia, Vallenato, COnjunto. Tex-Mex ?? Button accordion for all the above but even though most use a 3 row Hohner CoronaII as the basic instrument, the keys and the tuning vary greatly, For Tex-Mex I prefer the original 2 row sound in G/C as was played by the early greats before the 3 row was introduced. Santiago Jimenez JR ( Flacos brother) still plays a 2 row and IMNSHO is a far superior player to Flaco. Check Arhoolie records for all types of Latin Accordion music and check out their videos.. Accordion Dreams Etc I play button accordion primarily ( melodeon, diatonic bisonoric bellows driven free reed instruments) but also enjoy the concertina though I have limited skills on them. I have owned A Jeffries and a Wheatstone.. I have played other brands and really like the sound and playability of the accordion reeded concertinas. I have no preference.. only a greater amount of experience with the accordions. I also like piano accordions and CBA and Bayans and trikitixia and the Jimmy Shand models.. virtually anything with a bellows. jjh

It was taking forever to download, but from what I can see it is a Hohner Vienna model with burlwood finish. If it plays it is worth a minimum of $200... likely more if it is a good player and not rusty inside or outside. $10 is a joke.. the "gentleman" is either knowingly or unknowingly attempting to take advantage of you. This is a very desirable model and vintage.. pre 1950 in my estimation... but again thats without further scrutiny. It has a wood keyboard with "lyre" ends in black which is why I say 50 or earlier.. And if I could see inside... could be made after WWII with pre war parts. On the right side where the 21 buttons , at the bottom of the keyboard there should be 2 letters stamped... this would be the Key "system" of that accordion Something like C/F G/C Bb/Eb A/D D/G rarley B/C or C/C# or C#/D or D/D# I could not see the bellows but guessing at yellow/orange... go to melodeons.net forum and ask there or to the google group rec.music.makers.squeezebox Under no circumstances let urgency or pressure from the "buyer" cause you to part with it... do the research IOncidentally what is your locale... I know box players across the country and England and Europw who could give you a hand The instrument is a Button Accordion, in Elngland called a melodeon, in Ireland and Quebec an accordeon In the states it's a 2 row "box" Also if you are so inclined and the key system mis not stamped on the bottom of the keyboard pull the 4 pins to release the bellows on the keyboard side.. no worries... nothing with explode The key system is often stamped in ink and very visible on the wood reed blocks.... this would be self evident..... also on the aluminum frames on each of the reeds on the blocks there should be a letter stamped... either a T or an H and this will disclose the type of reeds in the box.. Or to deifne the key system.... push the third button on the outer row and press the bellows in... match this with a guitar tuner a pitch pipe or a nother instrument such as a piano... do this on the inside row as well now you know the key system some are more desirable than others. Good luck Jeff

In my experience, virtually every Cajun accordion player uses tghe basses.. it is elemental to the music. Cajuns are a very social and gregarious lot... unlike some musical genre, they don't exlude but go out of their way to include others. It would be highly unusual for a Cajun to play in other keys to keep folks out. Key of C first.. then Bb and D then a few play F and G boxes but rare. Zydeco is usually played on a 3 row...most having F,Bb,Eb though GCF is used On single row Bb and of course C.. other keys on occasion Lots of Piano Accordions and CBA. can be found. Jeff

First let's give some definitions CAJUN Accordion.. Any accordion made by a Cajun.. however the classic Cajun Accordion is based on the old Sterlings and Monarchs. Usualy: Single row key of C 4 stops 2 bass JUST tuned (cajun tuned) as a oppesed to a tempered tuning Simply put the new definition of a Cajun accordion is A one row diatonic accordion made by a Cajun ususally in the Key of C.. some in D some in Bb rarley in A or G DONT throw away $200 bucks on e bay ior anywhere else for a CAJUN accordion.. that is money down a rat hole MAS ( minimum acceptable standard) would be a Hohner Ariette.. used to be crap not so bad now with a little fussing about Next a Hohner model 114 or 114 b ( b for black) and supposedly CAJUN tuned.. but simply not the typical wet Hohner (17 cents) tuning. Lots of good music was and is still played on a Hohner.. Next would be the Weltmeisters, Regals, Galottas.. all made in Kingenthal and not so bad. My recommendation is a Used Hohner in C for around $400.. play it as is.. then decide if you wnat to step up Irish Accordion.. as mentioned B/C C#/D and the variants.. But here again lots of great music has been made on single row instruments including Hohners.. For examlples Johhny Connolly (sp) whose cd's can be found at the Button Box web site Irish usually play single row D but C is the second Choice and Connolly plays lots of tunes in C. Tex Mex.. the original guys played Tex Mex on Hohner Pokerworks.. 2 rows in G and C... the lazy and less talented ( : ) ) now play 3 rows... Santiago Jimenez ( who IMNSHO blows Flaco away) still plays the 2 row.... As for Irish on a 2 row GC or other box tuned in 5ths... you can play Irish tunes but not the Irish way However... a Box tuned in A/D can offer some of the shar[ps and flats for ornamentation and D/G the typical English box configured in the 1950's can play Irish Again not the Irish way but listen to Tim Eady on his self titled CD available from the Music Room in England.. an absolute mind blowing effort....lots of Irish tunes and some American stuff as well... Cajun on a concertina, HArry Scurfield. Cajun accordion discussion groups 2 of them on bravenet.... one is ok the other I avoid like the plague..reasons withheld... also try melodeon.net there is a forum there... all styles.. lots of Brits and Yanks... 3 Row G/C/F is a very versatile accordion... if there is such a thing as the universal box.. that has to be it... MAS is a Hohner Panther then a Hohner Corona II ( get one used made in Germany not China) Good for Euro, Tex Mex Quebec.. Cowboy, Try the Reyes Accordion discussion group for Tex Mex stuff... ethnocentric but that's what its for go to Google Groops and see rec.music.makers.squeezebox Good Luck

Hi Jody, Put in simple terms it's a method of playing Bass, melody and chords at the same time Called "duet" style I believe because it sounds like more than one player. Slight of hand really and few can do it . I mentioned Evan Marshall... he does it and well. He does have a CDout and a book out on the technique. I'll see if I can find a link. Jeff

Jody, Is "harmonic" concertina playing similar to the "duet" style of mandolin playing.. example Evan Marshal?? Jeff

Hi Jody, Thanks for the info.... My ear prefers G/D Almost makes me wish I had kept my Jeffries 38 button Ab/Eb and had it retuned to G/D... ah.. hindsight Now if only Morse would make a 38 or a 40 ...... One other question... same as before but what instrument(s) keys on Grand Picnic ? Thanks again Jeff

Jody, Would you kindlly tell me what concertina(S) you are using on the new CD and the key systems Thanks Jeff

Hey 'Tude, Good to see you back here. My great grandfather emigrated to ST Paul then Seattle. He was a Chemnitzer player. I have recently forund a Stradivarius Triple in Mint condition. The asking price is $2500. Not sure if that is in the ball park as I searched prices for instruments that were similar that sold over the last 12 months, and the average for this instrument is around $1700. Brown as the importer/distributor being the highest. Not sure of the key system. I am tempted. Jeff

Jeff, I also prefer the sound and feel of the accordion reeded instruments. By feel I mean the air resistance and modulation etc. I have owned a Jeffries and a Wheatsone and have had on long term loan Jeffries and Lachenal. I still prefer the accordion reeds. I have owned many "vintage" instruments including guitars, mandolins , banjos, button accordions etc. A generalization that "vintage" means "better" in my experience is unfounded. It's all case by case. I have mentioned a few times that in my opinion instruments are "kits" when acquired, and all need tweaking to our tastes. I prefer limited tweaking and more playing and I,as have you, concluded that newer is my preference; and accordion reeded instruments are my preference ( subject to change) Best of luck Jeff

http://pub21.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=1722942123 try here Jeff

Have you sold this accordion yet PS As a former Toomy owner I have some advice Very few B/C players use a Tommy, the only person I know is Sharron Shannon and she does not play in a traditional style. A steeped keyboard inhibits sliding I have owned a Tommy G/C.. only box of over 50 that ever ran out of air And four of my fingers cover 5 treble buttons Cute.. yup cute. Could not wait to sell it.. 2 weeks was enough get a Ciacy if you must have a B/C castagnari Jeff

I,too, have considered a G/D as my ears prefer the lower pitch. However I have been told.. (but cannot confirm having never played one) that the G/D consumes more air than the C/G; Particularly if played using full chording...again comparing this to a C/G Can anyone confirm or dispell this.. I am particularly referring to the newer accordion reeded instruments. I have been told by one maker that they had considered one more fold in the bellows for G/D and lower systems Is it true that the G rows are pitched the same in G/D and C/G but that the D row is lower? Jeff

My reference to "in the trade" was someone not in the US. As I said it seems odd.. the confirmation will come when I have verified that an instrument they ordered truly is delivered under that 3 year window. In no way am I slagging the Dippers. I see their work as altruism on the highest scale. My "business model" comes from many years of being in biz, working in the corporate world for 25 years and teaching business management... One of the resons I have never been late with an order is that I do not give unrealistic delivery times. Few people do what I do...so I have a "captive" market.. however I make and sell what people don't need so business is tenuous at best. Good years and bad years.. I don'take deposits even for 100% custom , you pay after you receive and approve the goods. I have taken back 3 items in 15 years and never been burned. I ,like some posters here, feel that for what goes into a concertina they are a relative bargain.. and there is good quality for a modest price , better quality for under $2500 and then there are the truly handmades and the collectible classics that command hgher prices,... but yet far less than "production" Martin guitars that can bring $30K and more for the right prewar unit...and of course there is the world of violins. Be thankful you do not have that affliction. In sympathy with the Dippers and all the other makers tuners and restorers of concertinas I will restate the last line of my previous post in reference to the long waiting periods... "this all points out to me that this (situation of waiting) bolsters the used market and the repair trade. As well as creating an opportunity to work your butt off for minimal wages" Hats off to all who provide instruments and service and repair of same. If it were me in the 10 year position.. well I wouldn't be but let's just say I was... it is evident there exists a communication problem that needs to be resolved.. at least that's what I see. Jeff

I have heard from a reliable source that if you are "in the trade" you can expect an instrument from Dipper in 1-3 years , not 5-10. I have no way of confirming this.. but seems odd. I am in the business of making stuff.. depending on the item 1 month to 2 years... I never take deposits and I never make anything I can not sell to anyone else, yet everything is custom one of a kind one at a time. In 15 years I have never missed a deadline. I don't care if you are a garbage collector or a king.. price is the same and nothing bumps you up on the list. As the phrase goes.. if you don't want one of mine.. go down the street and buy the other one. This all points out to me that this bolsters the used market and repair trade. as well as creating an opportunity for others to work your butt off for minimal wages Jeff

Repetetive Stress Injury ?????

I called the Button Box today to ask about the Albions.. couple things They added 2 more people to their staff to speed up the delivery times.. current batch 4 weeks after that it depends on the arrival of outsourced wood work (seems to me that has been an ongoing problem) Also that the Hayden is a priority I specifically asked that if the can maje the treble and a baritione.. is it not possible to make a tenor...which seems to me the best of both worlds... "not tooled up for it".. ok On another note , who was the author and the publisher of Dancing With Ma Baby and why is this out of print?.. ANother MAllinson affair ?? Are there no copies available Thanks Jeff

Chamfort's Law " Toads Before Breakfast" so Squeeze before breakfast jjh