bellowbelle

Hi, Alex, didn't mean to be so slow to reply. Yes, the Bastari has rounded buttons (white buttons in the pic). The Geordie buttons are not extremely smaller but they seem solid and more.... pithy is the word that comes to mind.

Hmm, I'll find out about that, whether or not I'd decide to do it. My Albion treble EC is an oldie, I think it was 2002 when I got it (number 108 I think?). The Geordie baritone is much newer... time flies and memory fails, don't have the papers in front of me but I guess it's about....5 years old (?). Number 1039. At this point, I never play for a long period of time anyway, so if my fingers are in pain I can always practice with the Bastari and then switch to the other buttons. I have some thin, natural silk glove liners and they help ease the impact on the fingers and aren't too bulky. It's a little annoying to wear them but it works!

I like everything about my Morse concertinas, the English Albion treble 37-button (which I haven't played for a long time because I have to get a repair done) and the Geordie English 45 button, the baritone (the one I play, needs no repair). BUT....those Delrin buttons...hmm... I know they are probably the best choice for getting the best action, but I also have a Bastari 48 button English and an 18 button Stagi. I really like those cheaper plastic buttons because they are (apparently) hollow. They absorb the vibrations of hitting the notes more than the Delrin (solid?) ones do. I am one who has problems with very sore fingers at times, so maybe I notice this difference more. Of course, The Bastari is a much cheaper concertina, but I choose to play it sometimes because the buttons will take the vibrations and not my fingers. I guess if you want the very best action you'd go with the solid buttons but....glad I have both to choose from.

I don't know if it's the best option, but I like to use Mod Podge decoupage as a glue. I like the Dishwasher Safe formula, and I think I once used it as a glue (instead of a surface coating) but diluted it with some water first. The other Mod Podge formulas are good, especially a dilution of the one intended for use on fabric (but on paper). Best applied with a small foam brush.

I don't like much social media involvement. But I have a flickr photo site, and I joined 2 "groups" there: Concertina, Melodeon, and Accordion -- and The Art Of The Concertina. Of course, they are for photo sharing, though I see there is a link for discussions, too.

Thinking of you all, kind of wish I were there too! Haven't been to NESI in a few years at least. Maybe the next one... Nice weather I think, this time. I am near Worcester MA but I think it's about the same weather today.

Ha ha, I like that one! Steam punk Cheeseburger... Ha ha

Caterpillar a.k.a. woolly bear. I have a photo I call 'Similarities in Nature' that is composed of my EC and a caterpillar. I don't think I can upload it right now, though I do have it at my website and here and there.

Nice! Got it

Aha, yes... that clears up some of my question. Thanks. Thanks everyone for your answers! Edit added... Geoff, all of your reply is a very informative answer...but I just mean that that bit in particular was very helpful re my own questions while muddling through something. I made myself some 'crazy little charts' that at the moment I don't want to present or explain (will get to that someday), but they kind of have to do with playing intervals. Does involve patterns, in a way. As I go along, using my own charts, and trying to figure out what I want to say about them, I am coming up with all kinds of questions. Like the one which prompted this thread.

Yes, thanks!

I'm just curious about what other English concertina players do when it comes to playing in keys where your fingers could choose one of the two same-sounding notes, like C# or Db, G# or Ab, etc.. I was playing something in the key of C# this morning, a simple tune, and if I was 'correct' and strict about what note to play, I had to consciously be careful to choose a d# (d sharp) when I encountered that note. What my fingers naturally wanted to play was actually the eb (e flat). At least in this case. I know it doesn't really make a difference, as far as how it sounds. And I'm guessing that if I were playing something very classical or complex, I'd probably find it more normal to play 'correctly.' But, with a simple tune, I find that my fingers just want to balance the distribution of buttons between my left and my right hand. Any thoughts on this?

I am no pro on this subject but I am reminded that Michael Turner's Waltz (The Sussex Waltz) is said to originate from Mozart: https://thesession.org/tunes/7077 It was the TOTM for May 2014 (tune of the month) here in that forum.

Aww, thanks! I'll still bother with the ABC and I can share that. I just don't want to keep up the home recording. For me, it's more trouble than it's worth!

Thanks. I first have to work out whatever I'm playing on just the concertina -- no foot bass. When I've played it so much I could probably play it in my sleep, then I add the foot bass. I love the foot bass now, but for a while there I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep it. Now I wouldn't want to part with it! I will keep playing, of course -- it's just recording that's difficult. My recordings have never been the best anyway, and now I should update my recorder and software and so on...or just forget it. Leaning towards the just-forget-it. More time to read my books!