SteveS

Thanks - a very useful insight into your experiences with 1/5 comma MT. For some time I've been thinking to retune the brass-reeded Aeola pictured in my avatar to 1/5 comma MT - this 'tina is the one I prefer to use for song accompaniment having a strong, sweet sound, with a good dynamic range, which I feel suits songs. I have previously used it for playing Scandinavian folk dance music, so 1/5 comma MT might work well with the harmonies. I may just bite the bullet and retune this box.

I requested more info about eg reeds, provenance, original parts, and didn’t receive any additional info. I set my highest bid allowing for the very significant amount of work required.

Hi Alex Sadly no I didn’t win it - I also thought it sold for too much given the unknowns. Steve

Thanks Daniel for the heads-up. This is certainly distressed and needs at least new raised ends, by the look of things. I can make raised ends - so could be a good project.

Real tortoise shell (hornbill turtle) can not be exported under CITES.

I agree with the approach suggested by Theo - don't use ant glue but a sliver of hard wood inserted into the hole, then try pushing in the post using a tool like that suggested by Theo. I keep a supply of ice lolly (popsicle for our non-UK brethren) sticks - these are usually made of beech and are easily obtained.

Thanks Alan - I’m after an instrument with 55 keys minimum so I think I’ll pass on this one.

Thanks David, and thanks everyone for your suggestions. I downloaded forScore and it is pretty good and seems to offer everything I’m after.

Yes, EMC is one of the issues that contributed to my canning the MIDI 'tina project - it simply wasn't viable.

The idea of "real" feel to an instrument is difficult one - especially with concertinas. If we're basing instruments on lower quality instruments that may keep the price reasonable - but will they be frustrating to play given that the likely users of the MIDI 'tina are experienced players used to better quality instruments. If using better quality instruments, who wants to modify a good vintage instrument? One solution is to cooperate with one of the instrument makers - an easier proposition in theory with the Anglo, but difficult with makers of EC - in any case the length of waiting lists may well preclude this option, and may not yield an instrument with all of the capabilities to feel like a "real" concertina at a reasonable price and within a reasonable timeframe. The price tag will have to include an element to recoup the outlay of R&D etc. With MIDI accordions (not necessarily melodeons) there is an economy of scale to consider - there being far more accordion players than concertina players in the world.

It's not just the building of an instrument - a considerable amount of time and money must be spent on the R&D, prototyping, productization, and whole host of other things that must be done before a product can be ready for deployment in the wild. These elements are just not economically viable given the likely very small user uptake of any instruments.

Thanks Rob Yes sometimes I need just a little reminder of a tune in a session - and the iPad Mini is great alternative to carrying around my ever increasing folder of scores. S

Thanks Jim - the iPad Mini 4 is the right size to keep in my concertina case - I'll take a look at ForScore.

Yes I know - there are some good deals to be had on the iPad Mini 4 right now - and for music scores only I don't need loads of power. The iPad Mini 5 does look like a super bit of kit though.

Having carried around for years a folder containing all of my music scores, it's time to upgrade - I'm getting myself an iPad Mini 4. Which apps do folks use for organising their scores? My scores are PDF, but I also have ABC variants of most of them. I'd like to be able to organize in an app and to be able to easily pull out a score at a moments notice (eg in a session). Also, the ability to arrange scores in a set list would be nice too.