richard

Hi Jesse I'm not sure which kind of concertina, or which source you are referring to but your plan could be a bit misguided if you really want to find the best beginner's instrument for a reasonable price. You would also want a source of that instrument to have a reputation and a quarantee. There is a lot of information on this website about starter instruments and where to find them. Richard

Dana When you say "gap" are you referring to the space between the reed and the shoe on all 3 sides (the tip, and the two side lengths) where air passes? Richard

Hello Not to open up a whole new bag of worms,(that probably has been opened and consumed before)... Frank, What would make the difference between the best Lachenal reeds and good and great Jeffrie's, Wheatstone's, Dipper's reeds..etc. that would have the Lachenal reeds lag behind, in response ? Is it machining and the precise fit and smallest gap between the reed and the reed shoe? The metal quality? Air tightness?..........? Can it be quantified. Is there a way from looking to tell the best Lachenal reeds from the medium/poor ones? Are there other qualities in a Lachenal that tell you, that one can assume they might have the best Lachenal could supply, beyound a concertina being a high end model? For example the end design and material, other custome details..? Thanks, Richard

Hello I just wanted to mention this instrument is still available.. Thanks, Richard

SOLD Thanks, Richard

Hi Marcus Is there a tune on one of her recordings that has a good example of the triplet you are asking about?Where is it in the tune, the A or B part? I am curious too. Thanks, Richard

Hello I am selling my G/D Edgley that was completed in Spring 2005. It is a great sounding and playing accordion reeded concertina. It is the best model that Frank Edgley offers. It has a wonderful deep pitch. It plays very fast. I am selling it to finance the purchase of another concertina, of course! Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Thanks, Richard richardgldbrg@aol.com

This is a wonderful performance. And you can really see Mick Mulcahy's fingering. I'm guessing he is playing a rosewood ended Lachenal? The first tune is one Noel Hill taught us in Oregon a few years ago, OMahoney's hornpipe. The second one I don't know. Richard

Hello Just to set the record straight. I have never heard the notion that concertina players are only satisfied with a "gold plated Wheatstone". Perhaps concertina players over time learn to appreciate the qualities of a great instrument. But over time also all concertina players started somewhere with something and usually it was the kind of instrument you are considering as your first. Good luck, Richard

Hello Ciaran congratulations on your Dipper entering into the realm of soon.Could I ask when you made your order or left your deposit? Thanks, Richard

Hello I have seen a photo of a new Dipper that had an extra bit of wood on each of the palm rests that gives the palm rest a bit of a rise toward the thumbs(rather than flat, and parallel to the concertina end). Does anybody have experience with this and have any comments on the benefits or otherwise of this design? I know this is also an "ergonomics" question, please excuse me. Richard

Hello It seems to me that the misbasis for this passionette argument is concerning all the abstract concertina players out there whose quiver of concertinas is consitent in size to their lack of ablility. I am not sure that really is a large enough group, to sit at home in the parlor stewing and sizzling . It sounds paranoid to me, and I am not even a mental health professional!! Let's not forget to mention the "collectors" Has any one suggested the notion of DEACCESSIONING THE HORINIMAN MUSEUM? Richard

Hello Here is a link to a great radio program about Mrs. Crotty with some nice live playing by Jackie Mcarthy, Dympna O'Sullivan, Edel Fox and Michael Tubridy. Eigse Mrs Crotty - Today's show comes live from Kilrush, County Clare. The Eigse Mrs Crotty Festival of Concertina Music is a celebration of a great musician but it's also a celebration of the instrument. Pat Boran meets The Clare Women (Dympna O'Sullivan, Edel Fox and Jacqueline McCarthy), Baby Kileen, Mary Clancy, Michael Tubridy, Rebecca Brew and Ciaran MacMathuna. http://www.rte.ie/arts/2004/0820/rattlebag.html

Hi Jody Are you saying your right thumb is jammed into that little notch, over the strap, and giving you a second (besides your palm) point of contact? I am just trying to get it straight. Thanks, Richard

Hello In playing Irish music on the Anglo I have some on going inner dialogues concerning using one's right hand pinky as a "stabilizer" , by pressing it against the end plate from time to time while playing: IT SEEMS LIKE BAD IDEA It will corrode a metal end It is a crutch preventing one from learning to control your concertina (especially when playing rapidly and changing bellows directions) no great players recommend it IT SEEMS LIKE A GRAND IDEA You can protect the end with tape It can give an extra bit of control (especially when playing rapidly and changing bellows directions) I know of 4 great player who won't recommend it but do it Any thoughts? Thanks, Richard

Hello I agree that all the makes, that we know and love, of accordion reeded mid-range concertinas would make a good instrument for you. I just wanted to mention that there is a Geuns/Wakker accordion reeded Anglo for sale on the Buy/Sell forum that seems to be available. Richard

Congratulations Jeff I am eager to hear how your Wakker Anglo sounds. If you still have your Guens/Wakker (accordion reeded) concertina, and since you are so facile with posting soundclips could you play and post clips of you playing the same tune on each of your boxes? Thanks, Richard

Does it play concertina??

Wim So would a Eir model concertina take less pressure or force to sound at the same volume and respond quickly for various ornaments like triplets and crans, than an a normal WA-1? Or....... how would you describe the feel of playing the Eir compared to the WA-1? Richard

About the W-A Eir: The model is not really a secret, it is just made exclusively for a dealer that sells our instruments in Ireland. The specifications are slightly different from the W-A1 model. It has raised ends, different reed dimensions and different hand rails. There is also a difference in the type of valves and reed setting. Actually you could say it is a W-A1 customized for Irish players…. Wim Wakker Hello Wim Now I am very curious. Could you be more specific about the differences in the W-A Eir model: i.e. the valves, reed settings and hand rails. Is it designed for people who play Irish music ,or of Irish descent, or both? Might there be photos? Thanks, Richard

Hello I have a Wheatstone and a Jeffries. I've played the Wheatstone since I began playing concertina. I've always had the double C# on my first accidental on the right side and like it. I also like and utilize the pull low A on the first button of the left side G row. I tried keeping my lovely jeffries as it was but I decided to have the notes changed (with solder) to be consistent with my Wheatstone. It's not a big change but it helps me. It makes switching back and forth between the instruments effortless. More importantly I wanted to keep my muscle memory and whatever neurological challenges as uncomplicated as possible and let me optimize my efforts towards optaining the ability to make music. Perhaps I'm squeamish and silly? Richard

Hello Yes, Stephen, I sent two e mails to the seller asking about the ol' push and pull. In the first response he said "ive tried it and the note seems to change on the push and pull of the bellows " and then I wrote him back and asked for less vagueness. and he responded.. ."yes the note definately does change when i push and pull" So that is the narrative up till now. The instrument sure does look like other identified as English. Richard

No. Nor a duet. Model M1 is a 12-button English. Also, the button arrangement is right for an English, not for the others. That is what I thought from comparing it to photos of other miniatures. But I am a bit confused because the seller says that it plays different notes on the push and pull? Richard

Hello Is it possible this miniature is an Anglo? Richard

Hi Has anyone deleted the content of your minidisc and then re-recorded onto them. I know they are to be used and relied on in this way but I just want to confirm that there could be no problems. I want to record material that I hope to be the highest quality and I don't want any screw ups. Thanks, Richard