Robin Harrison

But maybe not.............piano accordions, like all free reed instruments, are great and might get him interested enough in to the extent that he wants to spend 150-250 pounds on a 2nd hand but excellent one. There are loads of them around; just do a eBay search......( not a really popular instrument just now) Worth making the point again that if your son has a gift for music ( but even if he doesn't ), trying to learn on a clunker is tough sleddin'. Now if you only lived in Ontario, I have one he can have for free.................you can come and collect if you like ! Stay over . Cheers Robin.....................

................also worth noting that for some odd reason it is often easier ( I didn't say better!) to play a tune new to you faster rather than slower. And thus are habits formed. In my case I think it's because playing slower needs more control not less. Robin

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Wonderful......for an anglo player it's an inspiration too! We may not have the full access to notes as duet players do but it gives many ideas for the left hand. Thanks for posting. Robin

Marching Band cape.....might work ? Or this..............Accordion cape Robin

Pretty sure, given the raised ends on the anglo, he's playing his Dipper. Robin

Can't easily get it in Canada either................but I'm curious to know about Roger Thomas. The name is not familiar to me as a concertina repair person. Robin

I also play both..........and quite simply, I believe the answer is "No". If you are content playing melodeon, trying to learn an anglo will complicate your life. Robin

Could you elaborate on this ? I have a number of concertina friends here who regularly cross borders ( national , that is !) Thanks Robin

There is shrinkage between the outside veneer and the mahogany ( i think) action board. Everything is very solid but the veneer needs to be supported underneath. Just run some epoxy in the gap ? Can epoxy be diluted a little so it runs in rather than having to smear it in. Or inject it in from the bottom of the gap ? Thanks Robin

..............this is from Steve's post. The trick (and it is a learned skill,) is to learn to play quietly. Robin

Welcome to the site, Michael....and best wishes from Ontario too. Robin

Tx all for the suggestions. Robin

opinions Here's mine, Dave. Leave it where it is and when someone wants to buy it, let them choose. Robin

Very nice, Mike..........enjoyed it. What was the audio problem ? Robin

Just this summer picked up a set for a Wheatstone model 22 made by Dave Robertson. In my view they are of original Wheatstone quality...........wonderful workmanship. Robin Can post images if required.

And just to complete the picture............... Alistair Brown, who plays anglo/melodeon and lived in Ontario for 30 or so years, on the left of the picture. The tune, Waiting for Emily, composed by Brian Pickell who live here in Paris, Ontario. Robin

Just opened up a Lachenal tenor, in response to another thread, and noticed something interesting. The large valves on the non-chambered side seem to be held in place with bent brads/pins (don't know the correct name) Or were brads/pins at one stage much longer and have fractured ? seems odd so many have fractured neatly at the same place. .......see image where valves have been replaced with much shorter ones. And why on the non-chambered side only ? Any ideas ? Robin

A few years ago I was able to buy from Jurgen Suttner some buttons (keys) to replace some very, very thin ones I did not like on an anglo. He doesn't sell them anymore however. They came two parts; the stem and the chrome (or S/S ) cap, allowing you to customise the length. Anyone have any ideas where I might now get some now ? Thanks for any help. Robin

Dave.............I'm looking to re-button a 38 key Jeffries. I bought the current buttons from Jurgen Suttner a few years ago (5 or 6 ?) and at that time he sold them in one piece or in two. I find them much too long for my playing style such that I've never really played the instrument much..... I imagine these buttons are still available somewhere as concertinas are still being built. I will give away the current buttons to anyone who could use them....they will be no longer useful to me. Thanks Robin

Thanks John & wunks .....The first doesn't seem to do new and the second, not the right sort. Need to keep looking.....................I wonder if any concertina builders out there could point me in the right direction. Robin

Tx Theo..........funny that so many have broken off; wrong material, I guess. Robin

Hi L. Nice family ! I'm particularly interested in the transposing tenor. I bought one off ebay a couple of years ago that is similar to yours with parallel reeds chambers. Mine has the raised ends; I can't see if yours does or not. And like yours transposes to F on the inner rows. Also,I noticed a feature on the large reed valves I have not seen before....I'm about to start a new thread, Cheers............Robin

Hi Christine; no-one is biting here so I'll just say there are as many opinions on hand strap tension as there are concertina players, possibly more ! And probably as many players who like them loose as there are ones who like then snug. For myself, I like like part of my hand to be snug ( around the thumb area) and the rest loose.....and can do this with an english style thumb strap on an anglo. Robin

No worries...............Paul didn't order the either ! Robin