stevejay

Hi- Got a 30 button ebay Bastari in the mail today, it sounds good for the time being. The silicone tubing fix made all the difference, otherwise it was unplayable. Thanks to the person who suggested this. I had to take it apart 2 or 3 times to cut back the tubing a little bit more, so the notes wouldn't lift the lever too much. Also, I used the grill as a template and marked the levers where to slide on the buttons. This speeded things up considerably. It is much softer than my old Lachenal I sold, but it doesn't sound too bad. I can tell it wants to be played gently and maybe a bit on the slow side. I wish there was something I could do to reinforce the bellows, they seem so delicate. Are they made from butterfly wings? Also I was hoping the reedpan was in the radial layout, no luck there, the "Italian Gem" was a fluke I believe, this concertina looks like a little accordion. So for @ $100.00, the tubing and some time, I have a playable 30 button concertina. All is well with the world

Can anyone direct me to a good site for anglo scales? I recall a site that had diagrams and alternate fingerings for scales quite a ways back, but now I locate nothing. Other than the "advanced chords" site I found little on this topic as well. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. If someone can send me a link to this topic here, I'd appreciate it. It is so fundamental, I'm sure there was a great thread or 2 in the past.

Thanks, I did see that page before. I will wait and see what condition it is in. Taking it apart and doing some minor fixes is also a way to make an instument "your own" I think. It's good I feel this way because after I'm through, nobody will want it anyway I will post when it arrives and if I am mystified for some reason. Thanks for replying, you people are the best, friendly and knowlegable. Steve

Hi again.. I bidded on and won this concertina from ebay, a Bastari for $106.00. I just have a hunch I'll be doing homemade surgery on it soon. What should I inspect first, any checklist for me? Thanks... maybe I should have kept saving,, I was impatient. It's item # 250003147943 on ebay Steve

Thanks for all those replies so far. The comfort problem is an issue, but there seems to be a slight difference of opinion there. I haven't played English, but my idea is to get one of the easy piano collections (simplified keys, reduced voicings in the left hand, Bach for Dummies perhaps?) and work out tunes this way. On the Anglo, I did find it difficult to work out harmony parts and resorted to singly lines with occasional thirds, sixths and octaves. This mssg is obviously off point now, but it I need any concertina at this point, and hope I choose wisely.

Hi- I played a 20 button Lachenal for a couple of years, and foolishly sold it. Now I'm desiring another concertina, English or Anglo whatever seems in the best condition in my pricerange. How is the Jackie from Concertina Connection? Did it arrive in tune? Does it fail regularly? Forgive the probable duplication of this post. Also if someone has something reliable they are looking to sell (Either variety) my price point is maxing out at about $300. English seems quite cool, the ability to pick up whatever sheet music is around, explore harmonies etc, but I already know my way around a 20 button anglo. Thanks, Steve