Lynn S.

The Swan has been sold.

Hi everyone, the Swan is not yet sold. However, my new concertina is on its way to Ireland for the repair of a reed. Right now, I'm using the Swan to keep my skills up. I'll post again once the new one is back.

SOLD For Sale: Almost-new McNeela Swan Anglo Concertina, 30 button, Wheatstone layout, C/G chromatic, leather bellows, Czech-made Swedish steel reeds, responsive buttons, very nice sound, includes nice storage box. I've had it for eight months and it has had very little play time. Retail $1,235 new, currently on sale at McNeela for $987, I'm asking $700. I'm in the Annapolis, MD (US) area so you can get it in person if you're nearby. Otherwise, I have lots of bubble wrap to ship it. (If you're asking why I'm selling an almost-new instrument, I bought another one I like better.)

And now I realize you were the person with the brilliant idea for the lever! I have the materials and will attempt to replicate your lever. Thanks so much!

Oh, cool idea!! Thanks!! I will try that.

Thanks for the idea! Taller would not work because my thumb just cannot get there. I appreciate the suggetion of the plastic modeling material; I'll keep that in mind. First, I'm going to try to make a lever as suggested by Bill N.

Brilliant!! Thank you!! I found the post and it has a really nifty idea for a lever that attaches with a loop to the strap. I think I can fabricate something like that.

Thanks for taking the time to write this; I appreciate the playing advice it contains. My problems is purely physical. I literally cannot reach the air button.

Yes, thank you, I did see the arthritis and anglo thread. I also searched for other ideas or more specific descriptions for how to address the lever issue. I did not find anything helpful -- hence my query here.

Thanks! I already have to wear fingerless gloves to protect my skin from the stiff straps. I think I need something like a piece of plastic that spans the distance between my thumb and the air button. I was hoping someone had an idea. I'm a history/law teacher, so engineering is not my forte. It's nice to know the bellows will loosen up with use. Thanks again for answering!

Greetings! I'm a beginner with the concertina and I'm having two major problems. I have a new McNeela Swan Anglo. The first is that my thumb cannot reach the air button. I even took the strap out of the bracket on the side of the palm rest to move my hand closer to the button, but to no avail. My thumb tilts out and away from the button (genetics, cannot help that). Does anyone have a suggestion as to something I can do to augment the reach of my thumb? A lever of some kind under my thumb that pushes the air button or something that goes on top of the air button to make it larger? I greatly appreciate any suggestions. My second issue is with the bellows. They are leather and pulling the bellows is a hand/arm exercise that takes away from learning the notes. It's a struggle. (Yes, I know that the air button or another button must be pushed to open the bellows without causing damage to the concertina.) Will they loosen up with time and practice? Is there anything I can do to hasten the process? Right now, fighting with the bellows and trying to reach the air button is making my practicing difficult and certainly short-lived. I truly appreciate any suggestions for either issue. Thank you very much!