[Reed Problem:reed Plays But W/high Pitch Metallic]

Hello folks

 

My Wheatstone (early 1930's) has a very nice clear and sweet tone consistently on almost all the notes but not all.

 

A few notes have a high frequency metallic aspect to their tone. It is subtle but I can hear it and notice it. I can compare the two Bs (G row #4 on the push..and the C row #6 on the pull). The B on the pull has a metallic edge to it that is very distressing. Also that note is noticebly lower in volume. the response is good though.

 

The same is true for my G row (#5 D on the push).

 

Since the same notes on the other side have a nice tone could I assume both reeds should sound the same, symmetrical, and could this be a problem that is fixable?

 

Another problem is that two other notes are noticeably louder. their tone is nice but they stand out too much. The notes are the G row G and B on the push (#3 & #4). Can this be adjusted?

 

How adjustable are the reeds and the sound they make?

 

Does one have to accept the less than perfect notes on a good instrument?

 

Is it inevitable that every concertina will have its ideosynchrises, strengths and weak spots?

 

I would appreciate any advice.

 

Thanks a lot,

Richard

[Short Thumb]

Hi

 

My thumb isn't abnormally short but I had the same problem with my stagi.

I sawed off about a quarter of an inch of the thickness of the piece of wood under the thumb and revarnished it and that made it just right. I was careful not to take too much off which would have weakened the wood.

 

Richard

[Tweaking Wheatstone Reeds For Better Response?.]

Hello

 

I just received a wonderful early 1930's Wheatstone Linota. I really love it so far and it is a great pleasure and a real step up for me. The action and reed response are very good. But a few of the reeds are a bit slower than ones adjacent to them. I would appreciate those with more experience putting in their 2 cents whether there still might be room for improvement in these reeds that relative to others don't seem as quick.

 

 

Maybe I shouldn't expect "perfection" especially when this instrument has such great qualities. Someone once told me "just get a good concertina and learn how to play it". I think that is good advice. I can and will adjust to playing this instrument and learn how to work with it, conciously and unconciously.

 

But.... I still would like to know, could I expect the response to be able to be improved "a bit more" for these few particular reeds?

 

Thanks,

 

Richard

[How Do A Dipper Clare And Cotswold Compare?]

Hello folks

 

I am deciding between a Dipper Cotswold or a Clare model C/G Anglo concertina. I was hoping people with experience with one or both of those could share their impressions about the instrument(s), especially how they compare with one another. I understand the Clare is specifically for Irish music and is "fast". I was told the Cotswold is sweeter sounding than the Clare but does not have the speed ("but is in no way slow"). I am leaning towards choosing the Cotswold. I play Irish music and would like an instrument that has a lovely tone and will play and respond as fast as I might be able to play some day. Would the Cotswald hold me back? How is the tone of the Clare? Is it the smaller size of the Clare that makes it easier to handle and thus faster. I am curious.

 

Thanks

Richard