Bill Keaveney

The new classification seems appropriate to me, as my Hooft is exactly patterned on a Jeffries, but is only four years old. It would not fit into any of the other established classifications.

cplayer, I found some information on "The Ivy Band" here: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/i...izdavies&id=I18 Read down through all the stuff and you'll find it!

Ah, the Hooft, Chris! The best thing to come into my life since my wife of fifty years! I have other instruments, but the Hooft went with me to Ireland in May this year. I played in Ennis, in Doolin and in Galway. Had a wonderful time meeting other musicians in the pubs, who invited me in because I had the concertina with me. I'm off to New York city next month, and of course the Hooft goes where I go, so I hope to be playing in a few pubs there as well! Your thought about the fingernails makes sense - I never thought of the "problem" in those terms, but that is what is happening to me when my nails are soooo short! I suppose that I'll just have to leave them a bit longer from now on

My Hooft has metal ends, so fingernail length can not damage the ends, but I seem to play much better if my nails are a bit long. When I cut them, I cut pretty short (force of habit) and immediately my playing suffers! It takes about a week for the nails to grow again to "playing" length. The obvious solution is not to cut so short, but I was wondering if anyone else has encountered this???

Unseen, "good" and "cheap" are words that rarely go together, especially with anglo concertinas! You might keep an eye on e-bay for bargains, BUT remember that it's "Buyer Beware" on sight unseen instruments. A "good" anglo 30-button concertina will usually run closer to $1500 and up. Good luck!

But you don't have to be sitting next to a bonfire for an accident to occur! I know personally of a friend who was using naptha to clean a military hat, and the "fumes" travelled all the way down a hallway to a furnace where they ignited and raced back to the hat in his hand! Best to use imflammable fluids OUTSIDE and downhill from any source of ignition! Word to the wise!! Bill

Yes, Chris, but it is FLAMMABLE, hence a bit dangerous to use! I would suggest a household bleaching agent (Sodium Hyperchlorite) instead. It worked well for me, but you have to completely remove all the buttons first (what a task)! A common brand name in the US is "Clorox."

You might want to try www.escrow.com They seem to be pretty reliable, and offer the services you are seeking. Bill

I have a copy. It cost me $36.00 including shipping. You can have it for $20.00, including shipping. E-mail me. Bill

No, Peter - that one has already been reported in the Buy-Sell forum!

WOW! At the current exchange rate, the starting price (with estimated shipping costs) is almost $5000.00!! Good reason to keep playing my Hooft!

With the back of my hand hard against the strap, there is about 1/2 inch of space between the palm and the handle. I find this to be most functional.

Sharon, you MUST go to the doctor! I did the very same thing a few years ago, and thinking that it would just "get better", I ignored the pain for a few days. But this type of injury can result in the "freezing" of your shoulder, which would require total anesthetic and three strong men to break the joint loose again! When I finally gave in and saw my doctor, a simple shot of cortisone had all the pain and numbness GONE by the time I returned hime. I know that you want to start playing again as soon as possible, so GO SEE THE DOC!

Yes, Craig - by all means, put me on the list, too!

Bea, can you give us a little more information? Size? Shape? Number of button on each end? Does it have a bellows - if so, how many folds does the bellows have? Of all of the above, perhaps the shape is most important - is it six-sided, or does it look more like a typical accordian? We'll try to help if you can give more info - a photo would REALLY help!!

Another thought - Harmonica manufacturers DO recommend that not too much force be used on the reeds during early playing - especially the lower reeds! Free reeds are free reeds - perhaps they know something WE should know?

Sharron, another pretty good pictorial of the C/G and the G/D keying can be found at this web page: http://www.pied-crow.com/angl_ndx.htm Unfortunately, it does not include the Bb/F at present, but I think it will help you.

Another "warm fuzzie". I was staying at my Sister-in-Law's home in Liverpool, England last year while travelling to/from Ireland. I played my Jeffries in the back garden, just for self-enjoyment for several hours. When I had finished, the woman who lived next door stuck her head over the fence and told me that she was from County Mayo, Ireland, and that the music was like "going home again." Then she asked me if I could play agin that evening for her husband, who was presently at work. Of course I agreed, and we had a most enjoyable evening talking about Ireland!! "Ya never know who's listening."

There are some anglos that are tuned that way - I have a C#/G# myself. But most are tuned straight (A=440 Hz).

Jurgen Suttner sells metal keys, but I am not sure that they would fit in a Lachenal. His keys come complete with the necessary pads and bushings. For more info, see: http://www.suttnerconcertinas.com/parts.htm

With a Bb drone, I presume that this is a Bb/F instrument, but you never mentioned the keys(?)