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I also have three good vintage resonator tenor banjos to trade: 19-fret branded Gretsch Blue Banner; 1920s 17-fret Bacon style C; 19-fret MIJ Aria "masterclone" BTW, with several TB hardshell cases and a couple of high-quality gigbags--Reunion Blues, Blue Heron, etc

For many of the reasons mentioned above, EC is close to be the "perfect" instrument. Unfortunately for me, having grown up with piano keyboards, woodwinds, and strings--where adjacent notes are immediately, well, adjacent!--I could not fully adjust to the alternating hands layout of EC. I love EC, and SO wanted to make it my primary...but I started on anglo, and along with those other instruments where chromatic scales are adjacent--I'm accustomed to having the notes always right where they are "felt" to be--rather than on alternating hands. And so, I'm left with arranging for anglo, but I play a bunch of other stuff--so I'm not needing my free-reeds to be chromatic. I usually play repertoire that I formerly played on EC--on flute or other woddwinds

I like to learn my rags from the original piano rolls too. Likewise, this is the best

...I found I had to adapt... The only instrument for which I didn't adapt written arrangements of the Gnossiennes and Gymns was piano (I arranged adaptations for guitar, melodeons, anglo concertina). Arranging is half the fun

Why the opportunity to render on concertina is so effective

Haven't figured that out yet...sorry I wasn't even able to figure out how to run my OLD computer's recording program...I can't even edit photos on this one! Still, I'd be surprised if no one else is playing these...I'm sure someone (with more tech wherewithal than me) will provide us with a nice anglo-cized recording I learned it from this: nice and easy to play on the C/G 30b...although it would be especially nice to have more bass notes for a piece like this, etc...one of the challenges (and fun) of arranging for concertina

I didn't see anything on youtube (for concertina) I played the more popular Gymnopadies and Gnossiennes on guitar for 20 years or more--although these are quite popular arranged for guitar, the Gnossienne (No 1, particulalry) leaves something to be desired on guitar. So I learned to play them on piano (which is of course best). Currently I play them on melodeon...but the Gnossienne No 3--I was unable (so far) to arrange on melodeon, so I put it on the anglo c.--on which I was surprsed how particularly well it does

I didn't have much success arranging Gnossienne No 3 for melodeon, but it sounds great on anglo c. Anyone playing these tunes on anglo? I didn't see anything on youtube

Both boxes are older German, excellent condition. Both have one note that needs a tweak--but neither needs tuning. Pokerwork has not been felted. Also have some very nice piano accordians.. Seeking stagi/bastari anglo concertina (30-button) USA

I haven't seen that. But I HAVE seen the giant concertina-playing troll on "Power Rangers" Not to be missed, really

I've managed to arrange on DBA most of the music I liked to play on PA -- Satie, French tunes... -- so I can manage without CBA at this point, but...there are of course some musics that sound "best" on certain instruments: fiddle for fiddle tunes; harp for harp tunes; etc. I have not found a suitable way to play zydeco and a big, polyphonic instrumental approach to blues--than with PA

Some of my most likely accomplices: http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/album.php?albumid=1289

It's such an elegant size for a fully chromatic instrument--on which we can play such a wide variety of music. I always say that my "desert island three" instruments are fiddle, concertina and flute I always wanted to play CBA for the same reasons--always wanted just "one" instrument on which I could do it all...actually struggled with PA for a while to this end Alas, it's anglo and melodeon for me though - I spent years going round and round with which instruments to play....so many choices, and compromises...this is how I arrived at my "Desert Island 3"

I began with anglo, and then went to EC. I subsequently dropped EC after a few years--even though I love it and feel it's really the "perfect" instrument--and went back to anglo because playing melodeon and EC was too "cross"-intuitive for me. Melodeon and anglo, OTOH, I find complement each other easily and my intuition on both seems to be about equal--I find adjusting between the two very easy. I play loads of different instruments

You make it sound like something rare. In fact, there are lots of us here. well, you know in this age of sampling

Well I'm self-taught (as with everyhing the past 30 years) and can't claim the most sonorous pipes...but singning is the primary feature of my performance I went to entertaining with banjos, resonator guitars and accordians/concertina so I wouldn't have to haul an amp...I can keep up with them in medium/large rooms

With Dick's nice photo as inspiration I started gathering them for a nice aesthetically pleasing shot...but the pile soon grew unsightly. I guess it doesn't look quite so bad as my pile of banjos actually. It doesn't feel so bad when they're not all piled together like this--and I do feel ridiculous contriving such.... Okay I got embarrased and instead posted the pic of the pile of banjos. Not that a view of my dirty knickers basket is inherently more aesthetic to the eye than my pile of nice woodwinds and boxes...I really just wanted to show a pic of my HD and new gurdy actually! But sheesh it is weird to look around and be surrounded by instruments...banjos even...I think there are ten or so around here...and I can see my wife's complaints are valid...to have so much stuff piling up--more banjos in the dirty laundry than dungarees and socks.. I suppose there's a trad banjo joke in there somewhere

Well...yes. And, they tend to be somewhat easier to play in tune when you squeeze them. But yes, definitely, the absence of teeth, claws, and dander are a bonus with concertina

That is, IF the family can afford one...concertina that is. (Dollar for dollar, cats are a far better buy)

Indeed, a dilemma. I play bunches of instruments in different performing ensembles...but nothing virtuosic, just good fun with my mates. The band I'm with now is popular so I have ample opportunity to make music in public--and I'm playing synths and keyboards, so my musical imagination is assuaged. I've been fiddling rather seriously for about 15-20 years, and my recent entry into free reeds liberates me from the "ardor" of string-playing (having been raised in the classical guitar tradition, and finding respite in folk music). So I have the luxury of playing acoustic folk music merely for myself and my mates--although I occasionally am called upon to play fiddle or mandolin in ensemble. I finally gave up classical and flamenco guitar as I no longer aspired to any level of virtuosity, rarely practiced, and consequently often embarrassed myself in public trying to play my repertoire of highly technical pieces with rusty chops. These days, I'm only looking to have fun (although I still dabble with some baroque repertoire occasionally, but now on harp and hammered dulcimer --what I would really like to do is trade my remaining guitars and banjos for a concertina) My suggestion: forget about fiddle unless you have the time for it. But flute, otoh, is much more accessible and intuitive -- unless you happen to be a string player by nature/nurture. Something I've mused on quite often is this "dilemma"-- the answer is "what are one's aspirations?"-- but also "what is one's Imagination." I fell in love with the tactile feel and aesthetic visual and sonic aspects of instruments when I was 7 years old--and since then never saw a musical instrument that didn't captivate me and inspire me to learn about it. This leads to exploration and research of music and culture and an aesthetic life. To try to make a long story shorter--I can't help myself!...I've tried to focus many times, but I eventually discovered that my imagination will only be satisfied by experience.

Thanks for indulging me Jody...voice is an apt comparison, except mine has no buttons! My recent obsession with woodwinds took the form of clarinets--being a sax and flute player, I never tried clarinet until last year: keenly surprised to find it feeling so natural and intuitive....actually my migration from EC was facilitated by my decision to convert to flute for my ec repertoire--as I needed the intuitive aspect that I just couldn't get on ec, (although I would have loved to.as I still think ec is ideal). Anyway, I fell immediately in love with the wooden licorice stick and the feel and.control of open holes...perhaps a wooden flute is in my future too

Been doing a lot of different music playing since I was last smitten with concertinas--maybe several years ago or more since musing round these parts ... Was smitten with ec then as a matter of fact. Well it's been anglo strictly since bailing on ec after giving it a thorough go for about a year. But just couldn't get intuitive where I could play by ear without hitting wrong notes (having grown up on "adjacent chromaticisms")... I loved the concept and feel of ec, but alas...well, and hasn't much to do with SPD for I'd been going this way for weeks....I'm smitten once again with concertina...and Irish music. Not Irish myself, but spent some years listening and learning. Nearly acquired a b/c melodeon (have been playing lots of melodeon) ... And also finally acquired a lever harp which let me essentially give up my guitars and banjos and let me play fiddles, flutes and "little" instruments. I'm in love again Anyway, not sure why I posted...I guess I migrate from site to site as my musical inspiration ranges... Anyway, I have my suspicions why but my fingers seem to gravitate to a natural sound on anglo. Re-took to woodwinds since being last here...some affinity tween them...and concertina feels fine like a woodwind...but feels unique still. I don't know what it is really.. Where is the "flummoxed" smiley icon?

I like the size of the stagis...(but I still don't want to pay "full price" for a stagi). Unfortunately, the BB price is too much for me. I actually got into playing melodeons due to the difficulty of finding concertinas priced in my range

well this thread has promise and inspires optimism. Anyone into Bruce Bickford and the Quay brothers? No?