Capitanya

I'd purchased a terrible concertina on Ebay, and then a better (but not quite it), entry level concertina ($450ish)...then took the deep dive to find everything I could on choosing a concertina. So...Google. I don't think it was indexed particularly high.

I'll never purchase another big ticket item from overseas. It's was held up in customs. The purchase didn't work out, and then I had to figure out return shipping/insurance (easier said, than done). It was an expensive lesson.

That's wonderful. I'm so jealous. I want a group to play with.

What interesting stories our concertina's would tell, if only they could.

I love that. It's also what I found.

Yeah, he's like that.

I played trumpet and french horn in school and then years later tried to pick up the trumpet again (I was playing guitar in latin jazz band at the college)...and the lips - how were my lips/cheeks ever that strong?!? Last night I had 15 extra minutes for a little practice, which turned into an hour. I'm starting to call this phenomena "concer-nesia," because I have no idea where the time goes.

I have two concertinas currently (both Wheatstones, both great!) Before deciding to purchase my own, I played ONE concertina...just a scale on an Anglo. There's no store on the west coast where I can try makes and models to see what will be a good fit, so it was a process. I started with a $150 Anglo I found on Ebay. It was fun, but TERRIBLE. I saw the potential, though, and sold that to a friend with appropriate warnings and purchased - An English, Jack, from Concertina Connection (lovely to deal with). It was pretty good, probably very good for the price point. The vinyl bellows were stiff, and likely because I'd chosen the nice baritone, the low notes were pretty slow to engage - not ideal for a novice. I sent that one back. That's when I found the forums and read everything I could find. Next - An absolutely lovely 1851 Wheatstone (one of my keepers) from Greg Jowaisas. If you're lucky enough to deal with Greg - he is the best and has something in every price point. I started to outgrow this one ($1000ish, which felt insane at the time... they're not cheap instruments - welcome to concertinas, LOL). It has 4-fold bellows, brass reeds, a soft sound...and I wanted more PUNCH. Onto - A very promising Edeophone from overseas, which unfortunately didn't work out. The parts that worked well were definitely the sound I wanted. Six month gap in the search, then - A fabulous Wheatstone Model 22 (1927 and the other keeper) from SeanC. It has it all - steel reeds, more air, lots of volume - very similar in sound to the Edeophone. A friend of mine gave me a hammered dulcimer and a mandolin five years ago or so, which is when my I.A.D. (Instrument Acquisition Disease) started in earnest, but I can see the danger with concertinas.

Happy New Year! Probably asked and answered many times, but I didn't see a recent discussion - I'd love to know what you made you choose the fabulously reedy concertina. Though I have dabbled in many instruments, concertina is my favorite. It's already tuned, compact, and doesn't hurt the fingers or arms. Until I started participating in renaissance festivals (not period at all), concertina wasn't even on my radar. They looked "neat," but complicated (almost everyone there plays Anglo jigs/reels and I wasn't sure I could wrap my head around the push/pull). I was able to hold one and play a scale. It wasn't until I saw Steve Martin playing one on the TV show, Only Murders in the Building, that I decided, ok, maybe an inexpensive one from Ebay... It turns out, an inexpensive $150 concertina is ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE and I might have stopped there with a few wheezy, challenged, jigs. But then I heard Luke Hillman's, Orange in Bloom (gorgeous btw), and realized - oh, ballads and chords, now we're talking! And I promptly fell down the rabbit hole. I decided on English (former band nerd), and I think I finally have "the one." I also have a wonderful teacher, Randy Stein, who expands my musicality and challenges me, constantly. I'm getting downright competent! I've been playing a year and a half.

Hello I'm VERY new to concertina...a whole two months on the AC, and I'm already sure I want to play EC. I love those jigs - when other people play them! I want to play beautiful legato pieces, or renaissance (I know it's not period), or accompany my voice. There is a real lack of options between the $460 starters and the $1500 intermediate models... I bought a Jack last week and I don't think I can live with those vinyl bellows. It SOUNDS nice, but it's so stiff, and the low notes don't engage quite as quickly as I'd hoped. I realize the bellows will loosen up some and if I wanted (or could afford) a collection of concertinas, I'd probably keep it. I'm looking for something that won't hinder my learning, probably 48 button, that will hold me a couple years. I'm not concerned about cosmetics. If you can point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it. I may also just throw myself on the mercy of Barleycorn and pay the overseas shipping (tried that - it didn't work out). Thanks for reading, you guys are so helpful (I've been reading the forum). All the best. EDIT - Purchased one of Greg Jawisas' lovely vintage instruments. He's great to work with and had something in nearly every price point. My new, old, concertina is a dream to play. EDIT - Sept 2022...Still LOVE my Wheatstone. I just need a mentor now. EDIT - Oct 2022. Found a wonderful teacher in Randy Stein. I've been moderately well self-directed the last five months, but I'm now very glad to have guidance. EDIT - Greg and Randy are totally my concertina uncles now. It's been over a year of lessons, and I've really been putting the little Wheatstone through it's paces. So much so that I'm upgrading - more air, more volume, steel reeds! Thanks SeanC.