bellowbelle

1 more thought -- Judging by sound alone, I didn't think the difference in the 2 was all that extreme (as I remember). But the fact that the Geordie Is slightly larger - Just a pinch - may mean that the action requires a little more work. I think the main difference in sound showed up in the lower tones.... That's where the Geordie sounds its warmest. I'm using a phone and using voice to text. Geordie Has to be manually put in though, since it shows up as Jordan or ' joy tea' and all kinds of things!

I have had the Morse Treble Albion since about 2002, and just recently got the Morse Baritone Geordie. I did in fact try out the Baritone Albion, too, at The Button Box. I will have too write a longer reply later, as I'm pressed for time right now, but I'll say something anyway.... I fell in love with the warm, rich sound of the Geordie baritone, over the Albion -- though the Albion still is great. There IS a slight difference in the tones, and going by what you say, if I understand you correctly, you just might prefer the Albion baritone over the Geordie baritone. (Maybe you could ask The Button Box to play a few notes on each, even if over the phone?) After playing the Geordie for a few weeks now, I am happy with it. It IS a bit heavier and slower than the treble, it seems, but not much. I don't try to play very fast stuff, anyway... and if I want to, I do have the treble. More later.... I am not often on a computer these days -- usually just have my phone.

Guess I forgot to state the obvious, Or not so obvious-- That this would be called a concertina book. Or an accordion book. Because of the kind of folds.

IPad? Hmm, yeah can't glue pictures on that!

You'll be right near UMASS, Amherst College, and Mount Holyoak... not too far from Smith... and there's probably another one somewhere. I don't know why you'd want to go to any of those, but... maybe. My daughter went to UMASS, and though that was a while ago, I drive out to The Button Box every once in a while. Just did so the other day, to pick up my foot bass, nicely repaired. In Amherst, Bart's has good ice cream. When I drive back home (east) I like to take route 9... in the town of Ware (a bit of a drive, not really near the BB) there is the Berkshire Blanket Factory Outlet Store. The best blankets!!! And cheap... since it's the factory outlet. Further east on 9 (but... too far, really) in West Brookfield, I like The Book Bear. If you like used books, though, I know there's also at least one or two bookshops in Amherst. I'm sure there's so much more, but I've just never had the time to find it all.

The Tune-O-Tron (here at concertina.net) can be fun! I picked out several of my tunebook entries, and saved the small .jpg images that show up for each. I printed them out but made them even smaller by setting my printer for 6 copies to a sheet. Now I'm working on the scrapbook part... stamping, cutting, pasting, etc. It's not done yet, and I'm not trying to be too particular -- just relaxing a bit by working on a fairly simple creative craft. Paperbag Tunebook (in progress) by bbelletunes, on Flickr Maybe I'll get more sophisticated as time goes on... (or, just older ha ha).

It was a relief when the worst was over, but I'm okay here in Worcester County (central Massachusetts). Even my plastic pop-up greenhouses are both intact! A canopy I thought would make it, though, is a twisted mess. Lost power for almost 24 hours, expected to go without it longer, so that was nice. I think we were prepared for this somewhat by the ice storm of... 2008, was it? Anything that could fall down, did so, then.... I hope. I have some very, very tall pine trees towering over my house! My concertinas are all fine. I hope our New Yorkers did not suffer any big losses. About a week or so before this, too, we had the strongest earthquake tremor I'd ever gone through. Sounded like a mob pounding on the walls, and it took me a while to realize what it was.

When I have it I'll see if I can make some good (though, amateur) recordings. Sometimes that's easier said than done, though.

Well, I went to The Button Box and after trying few different concertinas decided on a Geordie Baritone. So, I don't have it yet but... pretty soon! The Geordie sounds GREAT. As well, I took a chance on Ebay and got a Bastari EC (since I'd wanted a Stagi, I'd thought). True, it's a cheaper concertina and not like the high-end ones, but it's really quite okay for singing along with, or for learning, etc.. This one shows very little wear, has one note that sounds slightly off but should be an easy repair. I've decided, though, that when it comes to Stagi or Bastari, it's the sound of the Mini (18 button) that I like, more than the full-sized. And how nice that we have this forum where we can share our excitement. I don't meet many people that share my interest in 'that harmonica-sounding thing.' So far, haven't even told some close family members. By chance, saw an old guitar-player friend at a fast-food joint last night, and made a point of telling him -- he seemed to understand!

Well, I think I've figured out what I'm going to do, but I need a few days still before I say for sure. House-building.... hmm, well, my house is less sturdy than my concertina case right now, in some spots! Really. Needs some repairs. But, hopefully we'll get through the winter.

I am not at all tired of my Albion treble EC... but I'm going to get another EC. Will be making a trip to The Button Box sometime soon. I was set on getting a Stagi because I've always thought those are nice for singing with if (like me) you have a not-so-loud voice. Lower price than, say, a new Geordie baritone.... yes, that's the other consideration. I do actually have a Stagi, too, though it is an 18-button mini one. Kind of tiny. But, the sound is definitely the Stagi sound. I suppose I could keep that and use it when I want to hear myself screeching. Anyway... I don't know what I'll decide on. Have always wanted to get a baritone EC so that just might be what I decide on. Has anyone here compared the Albion baritone with the Geordie baritone? Any preference for either?

Years ago, I found a website somewhere... I'll look to see if I can find it still... that offered free printouts of all different geometric layouts and whatever. As I recall, what I downloaded was just the 'brick wall' printout for 81/2 x 11 paper, and I think I drew on my own circles for buttons. I used black pen or marker. Then, I scanned or printed that as needed. Rather primitive, but, that's that. I'll give this example, a PDF -- Valentine 2012 (1544 in the TuneOTron) -- to show how I used my 'system' to jot down my finger placement for the chords I used. (The same link is with the song, in the Tunebook.) But, I'll get back to this thread, later, probably, to clarify if necessary or add a few words. Way tired at the moment....

Here's a very good sample of on YouTube. (Sorry if I'm way off, Dave!)

It makes me think of 'A Time For Us' -- which I don't even really know, but that's what comes to mind. You can find a sample of it at Amazon, but... I realize it's not exactly like what you gave. ?????

Well, well, well. My word!

I have a used Stagi, I don't want to sell it, but I just found this site that you might find interesting: Brunner (Stagi)

Here's another one: lightningsource

Just found this thread, so I still have some reading to do.... For the record, there is also a site called createspace.com (Create Space), for publishing. I can't remember why I chose Lulu over create Space, but I did, some time ago. Maybe I simply understood the mechanics better. Anyway, as for Lulu, I have just over the past few days got my husband's autobiography (...god help us all...!! ) published there. I haven't yet received final (I hope final) proof of his book, but when I do I'll hit the 'approve' button to take the next step in making it available for distribution. It's already available on Lulu, just can't go elsewhere until further steps are taken. However, it's very findable via Google and so on. My mother just published her first novel. My daughter and her husband did a music CD. I'm going to get something published one of these days.... I think I'll probably use Lulu again. I'm thinking a hardcover spiral bound, though... EDIT: ...and I wasn't done. My dog was barking angrily at me while I posted my previous bit, and he got me frazzled. Anyway, to continue... I would probably use Lulu again to publish some form of a 'scrapbook' that would include photos, tunes, recipes, whatever. Sort of anything I felt like including.

There's a CD called SQUEEZE THIS! by 'Those Darn Accordions.' I just found it on Amazon.

Here's my concertina: I do have more pics, and with other instruments, but at the moment I'm not sure where they are. But, this is the Morse Albion English Treble.

Well, I see there's no point in trying to make YOU eat your words! But, no, haven't eaten too many good books lately. Though, on my ereader, the BYTES are very good.... Anyway. The accordion page is interesting... I see there's a mention of the band 'They Might Be Giants,' and my (vegan, semi-accordion-playing) daughter was just playing some of their songs for me. I've considered doing one or two on the accordion, at the noisy open-mic night, since I can't stand to play the concertina in the middle of all that background noise.

In my wanderings over the web looking for stuff to play on my English concertina, I visited ratface's site -- where he has since put this file, as an update (to what was the same but all as jpegs). From his JPGs, I made PDFs, then used PDF Merger to make one big PDF. I did this so I can use it on my Nook Tablet ereader without any interruption of the files -- if I left it all as JPGs, I would have to search for and open each file separately. So if anyone else would like a very nice 5.1MB PDF for the English concertina, here it is -- or visit Danny's site, where there is a lot more good stuffl! Brandon Faulkner's English Concertina Music Book 1 or, the direct link (instead of the box site) to the same file: http://www.box.com/s...da394ceaf3f.pdf I have a ways to go before I'm playing any of this very well. But, it looks like it'll be good to play.

I notice that the book is "cloth bound". Of course, if it were about our concertinas, it should be bound in leather. Well, some of us are vegetarians, Jim, if not entirely vegan... So, not too sure about that one. Edit (confession) added: I aspire to be vegan, but actually I don't even succeed at being totally vegetarian, just to be honest. However... another thing to consider... I've just decided to take up the art of quilting. So, my concertina book cover is quite likely to be CLOTHbound!!!

I don't have in front of me my copy of the printed version, which -- I just now remembered -- I received from Bruce Boysen (... I think?). ( It wasn't until a while later that I started playing it, since reading music (instead of playing by ear) was still quite a new thing. But, I'm quite sure it's all the same. And, Jeremy's photo shows a stamp (lower right) that says "Arranged by Henry Stanley." Yes, Bruce... Where are you these days? I was wondering! Anyway... as for playing that music lately, well, I will just have to record it and add it to my website. I simply can't plow through the commotion in a sports bar. (Not that I want dead silence with everyone staring at me -- that's creepy.) I did go play again, a second night, but I still found it rough. I guess if I really want to, I'll try to find some other open mics that might be at more 'bookish' places... some book stores used to have them, but now that everyone has laptops and magic phones, not so much! Ah, well. Not sure I really want to bother, anyway. I think I just wanted my daughter and her husband to be able to say I gave it (open mic night) a whirl. Edit added.. It's a wonder I got out from under that tackle in the sports bar.... seems like they may have mistaken my concertina for a football! Guffaw!! Ha Ha!! (just kidding...)

Made my day! Thanks for this. More news later when I am at my computer (using ereader).