Hooves

My CNC machine is from K2devices. it has 25x25 inch work area but the z axis is only 3". they make a newer model with a 6" z axis, plus larger models. Current prices at thier site have gone up. I paid 1500$ or so plus another 350$ for the controller and motors which I got from Stepper World. the machine itself is very rugged and can handle a porter 1/4 router. I have a second attachment to use a roto-tool, but these generally have loose bearings and are not very suited for fine milling. My machine uses CAD software on your computer to design the parts, and the compuetr itself sends signals to the controller to move the router. The company itself is somewhat unorganized, and it took several emails to actaully get all my parts. This was a couple years ago and maybe theyve got it a little more together now. Right now my machine is not set up (drat!!) as I keep moving because my job takes me all over and at the moment I live in a dumpy neighborhood so will be moving again. CNC is not for Gypsies! I bought mine to build mandolins and citterns, but I have a few plans on the back burner for boxes and tinas, if I can ever settle down.

Don't play while sitting on the can...

I'm certainly no expert as anyone who has read my posts can confirm, but I do know the modes play an important role in lots of music, and in Irish or Celtic music D dorian is often played and not D major. D dorian uses all the same notes as the C major scale but you start and stop on D instead of C (I believe this is correct if I'm wrong anybody jump in). So the F# and C# are flatted in the Dorian mode to thier natural versions. Lydian and Mixolydian show up in jazz/blues, and I have heard mention of those modes as well in regards to Celtic music (usually Mix though). On a fiddle however you can slide notes flat or sharp, thus you can actaully play in "Just Temperament" as opposed to "Equal temperament". For this reason, the modes actaully sound different than they do played in Equal temperment, like on a guitar or piano. I think this is one reason why modern music centers around major/minor, because in Equal temperment the modes are less distinctive, and so tend to sound like either Major or Minor.

I saw this site several months ago. I think it would be a useful item for quiet practice, but I think I would like it better if actaully squeezed in and out. I can see how it could be used as is for english or duet systems, but for anglo practice I don't see how you could indicate direction without a switch ora physical movement. The creator has stated he is not working or planning to work further on the device. heres an Idea: get a junky cheapo tina , pull out the accordion reeds and cheap aluminum action and replace with switches for the buttons. They make pressure sensors and I bet it would not be hard to make a directional air flow switch. then, you would have a practice instrument which looks and feels like a real tina and could be perfectly quiet. I believe there is a company that makes such a beast, but I think you could do it for a whole lot less keeping in mind its for practice or sequencing.

I'll throw my 2p in for 'Maggie Lauder'. I think That would be a great song to play on your tina, mind you that you have had a few pints and belt out the words in your best scottish accent. I myself have not attempted it on the tina - Yet whenever I think of Robert Burns I think of Maggie Lauder even though it was actaully penned by Francis Sempill, but on "Burn's Night" your likely to slip it through.

I had wondered about that especially with the Triumph sytem duets as I know the SA players tended to use chordal accompianment, so it seems like they would need more bellow folds or bigger bellows to keep from running out of air. Most of the Duets I have seen pictures of, or read the dimesnsions in descriptions, were the typical sized concertinas, which is what I'm looking for. I had not noticed if the MaCaan system duets were larger/smaller, or bellows fold count, but I have seen some of the Hayden sytems and they look to be larger.

You might also try MIDI accompianment. I use Band-in-the-Box for backup on octave mandolin and guitar, yet I have not tried it with concertina or accordion. Whats nice is you can enter chord progressions and change rhythm, though most of the included patterns seem more suitable for some types of music than others (the "irish" style doesn't sound even a wee bit celtic to me). Still, its useful for practicing improvisation and feeling out songs and if you actaully take the time to create your own "styles" you might be able to get something closer to waht you want than the included patterns.

I had my account hijacked by a phishing site too. It can look very real, but now I know to be extra careful. In my case the phisher ran an add for motorcycle parts, fortunately it was actaully caught by Ebay and not me. I had to talk to an eBay representative on the phone to confirm my identity. I also immediately changed all passwords on Paypal, Ebay, and my bank account. I don't see why these individuals can't be caught, or why "spyware" isn't illegal yet

bump

Steve FWIW: A search in JC's ABC tune finder gives this result Have fun Completely off topic: Henk, whats that box in your member picture?

Ive seen several very nice 55 key cranes up on the block, but what I would like to find is the less desrirable and thus less expensive 35-42 key models. I've never played duet and after examing the systems availble, I have decided the Crane/Triumph looks like something I would like to try. I would think there would be lots of the Triumph Salvation Army boxs about since I read the SA had a fleet of box players.

Yes Ive seen the layouts on concertina.com, I have looked through a lot of material on that site, including the McCaan and Hayden duet layouts. Did you think you were bidding on something else other than a crane duet?

Yes, I would say that is most likely a duet. It has the right layout, I don't think it could be anything but a crane/triumph system duet. have you had a chance to try the instrument out? Thats pretty much what Im looking for, though I suspect that box has never been retuned since its original construction. Do you play/hear notes well enough to tell if its in tune with itself? thanks

Thanks, but thats just a little out of my price range. Its sounds lieka fine instrument however I'm more interested in the 35-46 button models as I know they go for much less. Someday I might get a 55 key, but not anytime soon.

Hello Concertina aficionados, I'm looking for a Crane (triumph) system duest. I would rather get one of the snmaller 35key types, as I know they generally run lower in price. If you have an old Crane/Triumph you might think of parting with, send me an email.

Castagnari makes a very small accordion they call the "Giordy", its a bit pricey at around $800, more than the stagi mini, but thats an option too. I would guess the Giordy is better quality than the 18b, and its actaully smaller I believe. Plus its a Castagnari. How about one of those really cheap toy accordions you see on ebay, with only 1 row and a price tag less than $30? She could try it and if it doesn't suit her act she can give it away as a party favor. Then again theres always horns and the elegant resonance of the kazoo.

I have lived in California for quite a long time, in different parts of the state. I have also been to numerous Goodwill, Salvation army, and other local Thrift stores. I have never seen a concertina at one of these stores, much less any other musical instruments, but I would guess there are some lurking about. I think this is due to the fact that people don't just give stuff away like they used too, nowdays most people actaully sort through thier junk and pick up the good bits, and it shows up on eBay... Thanks to eBay and shows like "the Antique Roadshow", lots of people are or have combed through these stores, but you never know, I have found some good stuff at thrift shops and resold for a nice profit. The best items seem to me to be things that get looked over, have you ever talked to a Radio collector? I suspect this chap, if he did find it at the local thrift shop, will make quite a profit, and begin his combing of all local shops for another gold nugget.

Did you ever see a smaller Anglo ("4.3/4" inches in diameter") with metal ends and of full compass? The size! That's what I missed. Yes, thats what caught my attention as well. On Morgana's wondeful mini-concertina site is a similiar "Jones" concertina restored by The Button Box I believe. But for me, it would just be a novelty, the minis go for a lot more than I would want to pay. Still, unique and historical could be endearing. If it ever gets restored, you should submit your pictures (and sound clips!) to Morgana.

I was amazed to see how much it went for. Seeing those heavy hitters in the final minutes really surprised me. Up until a few posts ago, I didn't realize cocoa was Barleycorn. Hopefully you will be able to restore the instrument, I estimated around 200-400 pounds, but you would need to take it to one of the pro restorers and see, it may be less. If you do retore it, I would guess you would make your money back in the very least, especially with all the big shots interest.

Yes, I suppose, however I am not famaliar with Thin Lizzy, though I have heard the name. Bands I like more than Horslips, now that I am older and more musically expierenced, include Silly Wizard, Old Blind Dogs, Dan Beimborn, Mick Maloney, Lunasa, John Williams, the list goes on... Mostly I play octave mandolin, the last few years I have been working with a B/C Irish button accordion and only dabbling with the concertina.

I have seen at least one home made MIDI concertina, at least that has the keys in a fashion similair to a concertina. But for me, and a lot of people with more sense than me, acoustic instruments will always be my preffered choice. Theres just something about an acoustic instrument, knowing its NOT a synthetic beast, that makes it more fun and endearing. I suspect that acoustic instruments will be around for a long time and will always be in demand - especailly during black outs.

I don't trust a zero as far as I can throw him. Let the ankle biters cut thier teeth on Stagi's and lamp shades. It just sends a shill up my spine, ripe stupid wowsers.

What the devil is with all these blasted zeroes? Some of these chaps have been members for over 4 years, yet no feedback. Ebay allows you to search by bidder, some of these people have had thier hands in some big auctions, rarley winning. Now I understand you must start somewhere, but I find it hard to believe anybody has enough self-restraint to not buy in that much time. I think Ebay needs to filter out these disturbed individuals.

I am famaliar with the band Horslips, as they were actaully my introduction into celtic music some years ago. I rember seeing the album cover you mentioned, and at that time I only knew it was a"concertina". The band itself uses a variety of instrumentation, including the concertina, as well as whistles, horns, and of coarse the traditional electric guitar... I recall a track on "Book of Invasions" where you can clearly hear in stereo the alternating left /right side of a concertina, which now that you have brought up the english on the cover could very well be what is being played, I never thought about it much. The band itself is a bit of a pop group on most tracks, celtic music with a rock/pop twist. Some of the songs are clearly traditional pieces with a modern arrangement. Some of the songs are a bit too poppish for my liking and are apt to make me gag.

I noticed that too, perhaps an amateur restorer had his hand at it, or the owner couldn't afford an entire overhaul. Those bellows look like the original leather was green, but the ends are reddish brown, as is the staining on the papers. It looks to me like somebody has had a go at it with with brown leather shoe polish, I would wager that the bellows ends were actaully green at one time.