Pete Dunk
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Posts posted by Pete Dunk
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Hi
'Museum section'?????????
where?chris
It took me a while to find it, then I lost it again but here's a link to the Concertina.net Museum
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I have a problem! The d on the C row, right hand side of my concertina has stopped sounding. I was playing this evening when there was an audible pop noise and I found that there was no response when trying to play d. However the e on the same button still sounds perfectly. With great trepidation I removed the end ( I had never done this before) and even removed the reed shoe - if this is the right term - a block of metal with 2 reeds fastenened to it. There was nothing obviously wrong. My concertina is a hybrid type - a Geuns Wakker. Does anyone have any ideas what might have happened or do you think I should get in touch with Wim Wakker himself?
Thanks for any help.
Nigel
Nigel, you should definitely get in touch with Wim. You'll find him most helpful, I'm sure he'll talk you through things. Good luck!
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I found a shop online in England called The Music Room. They have Stagi also (a 50P difference to the Rochelle but a bright red thing). Do you advise to keep my hands from the Stagi and to go for the Rochelle??? ghs
As you live in Austria you might be better off buying Rochelle and Jackie concertinas direct from Concertina Connection. Remember that the prices on this website are less tax so you have to add 19% to the amount shown. Wim Wakker, who designed these instruments, provides excellent support if you have any problems.
I have a Jack and a Jackie and I'm very pleased with them. It's a long time since I played a Stagi but I do remember it being pretty awful.
I might have an 'as new' Jackie for sale in a few weeks time but postage to Europe could be quite expensive.
You say your son has 'high function' autism, does he have Asbergers or another form of ASD? I ask because I work at a specialist school and we have a number of pupils with Asbergers. I will happily have a word with the music teacher regarding instruments best suited to ASD sufferers if you wish but I won't be back at work for another two weeks.
Pete.
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Has anyone located a hard case, or container, that will fit a Rochelle? I know it comes with a soft gig bag,
but I wanted a little more protection than that provides.
If you are in the UK, Hobgoblin have what they describe as a large concertina case - model GR4873 @ £14.99. I bought two for my Jack and Jackie and if anything they are slightly too large but that leaves room to fit blocks for a snug fit. These cases have been reduced to clear and there are only 8 left.
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I had a Stagi 18b that button EC shipped to me. The E button buzzes when being pushed, but not on the draw. I know that I could send it back for a fix or a trade if I need to...But being very new at this...Is this something that will work itself out? Or do I (dare) do something...or what?
lmc
Sounds like a valve problem. I would speak to the vendor (Button Box?), depending on the construction the valves for the push reeds may not be easily accessible. If you've bought this instrument recently you may invalidate the warranty by opening it up before speaking to the people you bought it from.
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am I missing something?
Dan
Hello Dan, you should read this article on concertina reeds. Blowing through the frame will not result in any sound at all, the reed needs to be drawn down into the frame slot in order for a note to be played. The reed tongue itself makes no sound, it is the air passing through the small gap around the tongue, between it and frame, that makes the note we hear. Blowing air through the frame would only push the reed away from the slot resulting in no sound at all.
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Many thanks for all of the input, I'm just sorry I missed the original thread and went back over old ground. It turned up a few more interesting comments and ideas though.
I've got my eye on a second hand gauge but the shop was closed for a half day today. If that doesn't work out I'll be making something to set the first key accurately and then trying out Dana's idea (while double checking my accuracy with the gizmo).
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Some players of PA have ideas above their station!
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If I understand correctly what Wes describes, there would appear to be a fatal flaw in that, in order for a reed to sound, air has to be drawn through it from the tongue side, not blown through from underneath.
Now, ...a vacuum pump.....
I would stick to the bellows and plate - tried and tested
Cheers
Dave
Hello Dave, the type of (bellows) foot pump mentioned also deflates air-beds etc, so it can blow or suck depending which port you attach the hose to. I'm still tempted to try it out because it is the work of minutes to put it together, parts costs are negligible and it will either work or not. If nothing else it's an interesting experiment!
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I need to replace all of the springs in a 48 key Wheatstone concertina because they have become weak and some even have trouble exerting sufficient force to seal the pads properly. I've bought the springs and I'm ready to go but I have no idea how to go about setting the springs to give a fairly uniform tension of around 60g force throughout the instrument.
Obviously the longer levers will overcome the spring pressure much more easily than the shorter ones so I assume that some kind of force meter is required in order to ensure that the keys have a uniform response. I googled around a bit and was alarmed by the cost of proper test instuments. So is there a simple method of setting spring tension? Is there some simple device I can cobble together myself that will give me a near enough indication without resorting to laboratory test kit?
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I guess I still don't fully understand the difference between concertina and accordion reeds, beyond the way they're mounted.
Try reading this article, it may explain a few things.
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That's interesting Wes, I posted pictures in another thread of a box I made to support a concertina while working on it. It occurred to me at the time to make a bolt on top with a reed slot in it and drill a small hole in the side so that I could use the kind of camping foot pump you describe. I wondered if such a contraption might not work properly as it wouldn't really be anything like a set of bellows.
I'm encourage to try this out now as you are obviously pleased with the results you are getting and it's slightly less involved than making a full blown jig from an old set of bellows with no end frames. Foot pumping seems a bit better than knee operating too.
edited because of the usual typos.
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Alternatively, you might consider the Jackie or Jack for similar money, from Concertina Connection or Button Box.
Leonor, I'm with Ken here; if you want to try English concertina I can thoroughly recommend the Jack/Jackie concertinas because I have one of each. I'm looking to upgrade shortly but I'll probably keep the Jack because vintage baritones are that much harder to come by and therefore significantly more expensive. You'll have a playable instrument that will retain a good portion of its' value if it doesn't work out or you want to upgrade at a later stage. It's a lot cheaper than the 56 key Stagi too!
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I want one of everyting
Oo er! I'm sorry to have to tell you that you are showing early signs of CAD (concertina acquisition disorder) which is the slippery slope to bankruptcy! Once you have one of each type you will want all of the variations and all of the makers.. you'll hunt down a Louis Lachenal as well as a Lachenal and Co. You'll drive yourself frantic trying to find a Wheatstone label which reads 'By His Majesty's Letters and Patents.. etc' as well as 'By Her Majesty's Letters and Patents.. etc'
You'll lust after Aeolas, pine for an Edeophone, dribble over pictures of a Jeffries. You're doomed I tell you, doomed!
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Hi,
I am a complete novice with reed instruments. I have played the piano for many years but now have an urge to give it a go on the concertina. I do not know whether I would like it or manage it and do not want to spend to much on a starter/experimental instrument. I am more then prepared to make a better investment in 10 - 12 months from now if the concertina manages to maintain my interest.
Hobgoblins in London sell the Scarlatti 20 key C/G Anglo for £89 and a Stagi model 20 key C/G for the same price. These appear to be cheapest around. Has anyone any experience with the Scarlatti and Stagi? Will you suggest anyone of these for a beginner and if so which one?
Your thoughts are really appreciated.
As you are already a musician you'll know what I mean when I say that a really poor instrument is the worst thing you can give a beginner, cheap and cheerful is ok but almost unplayable certainly isn't. I can't see how any concertina at that price can be anything other than awful.
I would advise you to look at other concertinas like the Rochelle. It's a good starter instrument that holds it's value quite well and there is a trade up policy at Concertina Connection which means you get your money back when you buy a much better instrument.
(Edited cos I can't type!)
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The A-56-N is a 56 key tenor/treble. Retails in the UK at £495. One company in the UK discounts squeezeboxes massively, don't ask me how they do it, they just do. I keep being tempted by the Stagi 18 key miniature at only £168.75 (including tax) when most others sell it at around £250
As long as it's the right model and that's what you want, snap it up.
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All and all it looks like if you put on a costume, and perform on public, the notion of mere one hour per year per dance of practice is poor excuse.
Actually no, all this proves it that you cannot understand the British psyche. Getting up in public and making a complete fool of yourself is a way of life here. It's not about being the best or even being good, it's about doing something you believe in and want to do, and, dare I say it, having fun in the process, if others want to stand by and jeer that's their problem.
I'm the first in line to ridicule Morris dancers but I have to say that if I go along as a spectator I always have a really good time.
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The Clover will be hand made at “our new shop” in China which is especially set up for this instrument, and its english counterpart (available 2008).
Hello Wim, good to hear you are heading for the mid priced market in a big way; how many keys will the new English model have, and will it be available as a baritone too (I love my Jack!
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Thanks for clearing that up Woody, I'd looked at the Stephanelli boxes on the net several times and wondered if the Chinese had ripped off the Rochelle and were selling it cheaper elsewhere with a different badge.
If only Wim Wakker would settle down and create an intermediate design costing around £450-£500. That would knock Staggi for six and create a really playable instrument that would serve new players well through the first two or three years of real progress before they needed to think about upgrading. This is probably more of an issue with the English models which have such a limited range, it took me just three months to run out of notes at the top end. The r/h top G# is available as a l/h Ab but learning alternative (and distinctly odd) fingerings doesn't seem to be the way to go.....
I suppose he only has a limited amount of time to spend on design, coupled with the fact that there comes a point where the next level of improvement becomes disproportionately expensive. But we can dream, eh?
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I'm more impressed with the guitarist. He's doing some pretty neat things. Including, BTW, using his left thumb to finger the F chord (actually Bb, since he's capoed up a 4th).
The left thumb over the top is a pretty common thing amongst fingerstyle guitarists David. Never encouraged as a thing for beginners to do because it's classed as poor technique. I felt guilty for years using this trick until I saw a film of Segovia doing the self same thing in the middle of a classical piece with great aplomb, now I feel I'm in good company!
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I wonder if this is something anyone here might be interested in helping out with?
Hello Christian, I've done a fair bit of audio cleanup work over the years using both SoundForge and WaveLab, feel free to post or PM any queries and I'll do my best to answer them. It might help if I know which software/plugins etc., you are using; and what, if any, outboard hardware.
Pete.
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Anyone interested can e-mail me.
You've got mail!
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Hello Iain,
You say the action has been rebuilt, do you know who did the work? What general area do you live in and would it be possible to take a look at it in person?
Pete.
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If we are all called Chris, perhaps we'll need numbers to differentiate one Chris from another. Number 6, anyone?
Regards,
Chris.
Well said Chris!
Chris.
Position Of Instrument On Leg
in General Concertina Discussion
Posted
So it would seem Dana; the little icons are now 'hot' showing when we are on line and allowing shortcuts to member profiles, PMs and so on. The wonders of modern technology!
It would seem that posting options have been upgraded too. I guess we old folk will just have to feel our way around for a while.