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Dave Marcus

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Interests
    Contra dance and English Country Dance (Playford] musician and composer.
  • Location
    Atlanta, Georgia

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  1. Wim Walker will be doing an action and reed overhaul - I amtrusting that will get it very right (being Wim).
  2. Hi Mark, i am the new owner of this instrument. I you do find any pictures of Harry Beard, I would appreciate you forwarding them to me. My emsil is dmsrcus123@gmail.com Do you think Harry might have been the original owner? Dave
  3. A friend here in the States is looking for an English concertina and has about 750 USD to spend. What is current thinking on the best options? Thanks!
  4. Had my first contra rehearsal with it last week. Early feelings are that it may be heard to get the drive and lift out of it for reels.
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkfGIUobkD8&feature=youtu.be: An English Country Dance performed to an Irish slip jig (the Foxhunters) last month by 'Round Robbin, we being Meredith Doster, flute; myself on concertinas; and Robbin Marcus, piano. Some nice noises on my new baritone in the middle - I am TERRIFICALLY happy with the instrument for playing this kind of music..
  6. Gorgeous. Interested in the answers to the questions others have posted.
  7. I would be one. I live on the outskirts of Atlanta. Dave
  8. No time right now to either describe the terminology (of which there are in fact different versions/variants for some instruments, depending on who's doing the describing) or locate old posts that do so, but I think I can answer for those you've listed. - 30-key treble - from G below middle C up to first C above middle C, and lacking enharmonic accidental duplications - 35-key treble - I don't see this on their web site, but I would assume a low note of G below middle C and a high note of C two octaves above middle C, with a full keyboard (including all the enharmonic duplicates) - 56-key extended treble - four full octaves, from G below middle C to G four octaves higher - 56-key tenor treble - four full octaves, from C below middle C to C three octaves above middle C - 64-key tenor/extended treble - same as the above, but with an additional half octave on the top, going up to the next G Thanks Jim!
  9. Is there a guide somewhere online as to what the range is for various English concertinas? For instance, on sale right now at the Button Box are these, and frankly, I don't know exactly what half of them cover! - 30-key treble - 35-key treble - 56-key extended treble - 56-key tenor treble - 64-key tenor/extended treble And other of course there are the minor variations: 45-, 47-, 49-, and 50-key. D
  10. I today received a baritone bought from David Robertson and thought that some might like to hear comments on this instrument. It is a Wheatstone, estimated by David at ~140 years old. Flat wooden ends (ebony?) with metal buttons and steel reeds. I paid about 3/4 the price I was expecting to pay for a very good baritone - David described himself as "not a greedy bloke" and that was accurate. No idea what he paid for it, but given that the good price he offered included new thumb straps, new pads, valves and bushes, and a bit of refinishing, he certainly isn't trying to become rich quickly. I feel very good about the value received; had I paid what I expected, I'd still feel good. To my surprise, the reeds, other than the very bottom, are pretty quick and the action is fast (and quiet). David commented as we discussed the instrument by email "I think I have only ever had one baritone that performed better than this one, and that was a 1950's Crabb," I thought that was hyperbolic but it isn't. I can definitely play a note-full Irish reel up to tempo on it. More useful, I tried a 16th c. theme and variations on it, with some of the variations being quite fast and found that it was not only playable but also sounded 'right' on the instrument. Getting used to it will take a bit as it is my first baritone and I suspect that as I learn the pressure and velocity to use across different parts of the range the sound will only improve. It has already marked improved after 2 hours of playing with it. David finished it up very nicely and tuned it nicely as well; the reeds sound very consonant in chords. I don't find the reeds too "tubby" and the sound in most of the range the reeds have the same sound and characters. It is a somewhat muted sound - not a very sharp and bright sound - and that is just fine for me. David's comment: "The tone is typical of the period - nowhere near as harsh as, for example, a Model 21 Wheatstone treble". But nowhere as dull as, say, a cheap Bastari. As for size and weight, it is 71/4" flat to flat, and weighs in at 3lb 10 oz. It was well packed and there's only one reed that in my view needs a bit of adjustment; I expected more of them to protest the travel. In sum, I am happy and I would cheerfully do business again with David. Dave
  11. Over-late, I'll add that I played that instrument when it was at Hobgoblin in London. It is a gorgeous instrument - visually. Otherwise, I will simply say that the decision to not buy it was made quickly, although I did buy another one that day
  12. Hi, I would like to buy a high-end baritone English concertina - good action, excellent shape, fast reeds, concert pitch. Please contact me if you have one you are interested in selling. Dave Marcus - dmarcus123(at)gmail(dot)com. THANKS!
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