Jody Kruskal

My old Microvox mics finally died after 30 years of contra dance band gigs playing the G/D Anglo. To last that long, I guess I've been luckier than most. Since those Microvox attached mics died, I've been using the two mics on stands solution, which seems to work pretty well at a dance. One advantage to playing into a pair of a fixed mics is that I can hug the mic if I want to play louder (assuming I'm playing only one side at a time) which works great for bass lines. Crowding the mic accentuates the bass (proximity effect) to make it even more effective for bass lines. Working the mic is more organic that pressing pedals, so it's been ok so far in performance. Still, I miss plugging into my old pedal board, a vintage unit (Korg Tone Works AX30G) that has helped me craft my concertina contra dance band sound for decades with Grand Picnic and my other dance bands. Going through this Korg floor based stomp board gave me control over a variety of timbre, EQ, distortion, reverb and compression combinations in user defined voices. Also, with a tap of the foot, I could turn my rig off and on silently, which is quite handy in live performance. Also the Korg pedal board I used included a pressure pedal so I could program in dynamic wetness (or any other feature). Slight pressure would add a pitch just a bit above (2 cents), hard pressure would increase the wetness to 15 cents or more if I stood on it. This feature let me sound dynamicly more present without actually being louder. Great for solos that stand forth but don't drive the sound man crazy with an actual increase in volume! Also, have you noticed that the concertina sounds quieter as it plays lower in pitch? Melody that goes into the left hand on my G/D Anglo kind of disappears into the mix. So, a highly compressed voice lets me cut through on those tunes that go low. I miss all that functionality my Korg board gave me at the dance. So now, I've just ordered the Myers Feather 2 mic system which should allow me to go back to using the board again for dances. I sure hope it works out! I'll let you know in a few days.

There’s been many’s the time when a tune comes to me, and I really think it has possibilities, but it slips away, never to return. It’s sad. All those lost tunes that I will never remember. But now I have my smart phone. It makes a great recorder of my latest diddle. I can sing the tune into my phone by reaching across my pillow and touching it. I have done this several times, in the dark, even after my head has hit the pillow.

BTW, In writing my previous text... I cribbed much of it from advice given to me by repair master Bob Snope of Button Box fame.

I know this problem as my Bastari has the same issue. If you are handy it is easily solved. The buttons are attached using rubber tubing which degrades over time. Replacement silicone tubing should last longer. Open the instrument up and one at a time, remove a button, scrape off the old brittle tubing and replace with new. Use silicone tubing: 1/8" inside diameter/1/4" outside diameter. You can probably find this at a good hardware store or Amazon. When cutting it to length, you want the button to be snug on the arm, but it needs to be able to wiggle back-and forth a bit so the button doesn't jam in the hole. Usually around 1.8" or a bit more is about the right length. Be careful that the tubing doesn't catch on any adjacent arms, trimming as required.

Thanks for your comments Łukasz, Simon and John. Since I posted about my un-named new tune book, the tunes are still coming thick and fast. Here are the latest additions, bringing the list up to 35. Slushy Night Watch Out! Haole Rag Jaunty Time On The Loose And Then Again? Jump Up

Congratulations Phillip on your new C/G Anglo. Sounds pretty good to me. Perhaps one reason you like your new box better is that it’s in better tune. Maybe your clicking sound on low reed bellows reversal is a slow valve. Playing those notes using bellows articulation (load the bellows, then press the button) will improve that I bet. Replacing with better quality valves could help. That button click you show us sounds like the lever is hitting something inside. I have had this problem too and improved it by attaching a bit of thin damping material like high density foam rubber where the noisy contact is made. Instead of hitting wood, the lever hits the foam and that strike is quieter. One thing I’ve found is that many of these problems with a new instrument just go away with use. Best of luck with your new toy!

I published my latest tune book Strange Times last summer https://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?/topic/26102-strange-times-jodys-new-tune-book/ Since then, I can’t seem to stop writing more dance tunes. Sometimes two per day. Does this malady have a name? Tune writing syndrome? Here are some of the titles in reverse chronological order, the first in this list of 28 being my most recent creation. Sun At My Back She Loved Me Cold and Wet Rug Cutting Squirrel Night In Brooklyn Ditmas Park Flatbush Polka Walking One Day Step and Hop Goodnight, Goodnight Moving Slow Tuesday's Tune Just in Time Fat Times Pleasures of Thursday Sunday's Child Squirrel Chase Thursday After Christmas New Year's Day Jigity Jog Doldrums of Christmas The Christmas Feast Boxing Day Dubious Lover Monday Lunar Quickstep Goodbye Norma Jane After Party They are all great tunes that demand to be played. When I get a few more, I’ll likely put them into a collection which I will call...?

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Price reduction to $1100 plus shipping and insurance.

A word or two of explanation: I saw the picture of the concertina springs image years ago. It was published here on C.net. I thought it interesting and downloaded it to my photo library where it sat by it self, all alone. for a long time. I sometimes thought about that spring photo, but could not find a context for this mysterious graphic. Then I started to put two and two together and came up with this idea of two unrelated images where the viewer could bounce between them to make a sum greater than the two on their own. So, many thanks for indulging me. Please do add to the concept with concertina images of your own that mangle relationships and comment on each other in interesting ways. But more important, keep squeezing!

Sounds like BGG to me.

If you want to play old style Afrikaans: ‘Boer music with all of those luscious chords, then this machine will do it.

I agree. Though I do read music, there is so much more to a performance than just the information represented on a page of music. “Transcribe!” very helpful for emulating a performance you admire.

https://www.unbeatablesale.com/sunp004-sunpentown-su-2081b-digital-ultrasonic-hum

I keep concertinas and other sensitive instruments at 50% humidity in a funky old display case. 4'X4'X14" with glass sliding doors. After 5 years of winter use, my SPT SU-2081B is still going strong. No filters and I have to fill it every 10 days or so. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000O3I2BC/ref=emc_b_5_i?th=1

Price reduction to $1150.

Christmas and New Years are past, but 12th night is coming... so, I want to share this old recording from back in December of 2008, the Gower Wassail. This selection is one of over 40 posts, still up on my web site with MP3s, sheet music, pictures and stories about interesting tunes and my doings and travels. I called it Tune of the Month. Check it out here http://jodykruskal.com/tune_of_the_month/list.html Gower Wassail http://jodykruskal.com/tune_of_the_month/December_2008.html

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