drbones

Many thanks for everyone's help. I've ordered the buttons from Concertina Spares. I only needed 2 so I ordered 4 as back-ups. I'll keep your other suggestions in mind should I need other parts. What a nice, friendly, helpful forum this is!....even t'wards Pirates!

Thanks, Leo. I've emailed the pics to him in hopes they will be enough so I don't have to disassemble it yet.

I've asked around at a couple of shops which support this forum and can't seem to locate replacement buttons for my circa 1956 Wheatstone. I'm sure they're plastic. I'm hoping someone might have an idea where I can find a few. I appologize if I've asked this before, I'm not sure. My memory's not what it used to be. . . what was the question?? Thanks for any help

Aye! I bet she returns with a hefty reserve on her.

My link is something which seems too good to be true.

OK! I tried to stay away from this discussion since I thought, by now, someone would have come up with a logical answer to the question but I can longer bear it. Before I start, was that picture taken with a Kodiak camera? It's simple really 1) That looks like a Russian Brown bear to me and... 2) Russia is closer to Germany than to England, and that looks like a Hohner. 3) Bears don't have jobs so they don't have money, which means... 4) If a bear want's nice things, they have to steal* them so.... 5) He probably walked to Germany since he couldn't afford air fair to England, and ate the owner since... 6) I'm sure, he was ravenous after such a long walk. It must have been a grizzly sight. *Note: I don't mean to suggest only Russian bears are thieves, bears are the same everywhere. Never lend money to a bear, you won't get it back. Lord knows, I can't tell you how many bears owe me money. If someone tells you bears are honest, they're full of pooh. Now for a few interesting bear facts. Some bears are polar, they're white and cold blooded killers. Some are bi and are often arrested for pandaring. Some are bi-polar. Those are the most dangerous. Especially the bi bi-polar polar bears.

I'm breaking my own rule with this post. It's better to say nothing and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. I was going to post this in another nearby topic and realized that one was referring to a duet. I have these 2 diagrams for chords. I don't remember where I found them. 1 for a 20b Anglo and 1 for a 30. Neither indicates what key the instrument is in..or does that matter?? (see what I mean about my rule?) I only have C/Gs. When I use the different diagrams for the same chord, I get different tones. Is it because they're for different key layouts (Wheatstone/Jeffries), is the 20B diagram just as close as you can get with a 20B, or is one just wrong? Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Which would you use?

Bob, I made longer straps for mine for just that reason. I find that by flexing my thumb out, I can control the tightness of the strap. In fact I once asked on this forum about adding a thumb strap to the L side of an anglo and got the usual pros and cons. If it works for me and it works for you, then that's 2 of us. I wonder if there are more?

is it this one HERE Yes Beats me.

EBAY seller says this is a Hohner and someone who bid on it says it's a Jones. I didn't know Hohner made anything that looks like this, but it doesn't look like any Jones I've seen either. Is that German silver in need of polish? I think I'll ask to see it's innards. Edited because I couldn't get the link work.

In that case, I don't think I'd want to admit I was a britter. (Not a good pickup line) And I certainly wouldn't want to be britten. What's up with those Dutch sailors anyway? Too long on the boat?

Well, the price seems a little steep, but after all, it does come with free shipping.

I hate to double post, but it just occured to me, how hard would it be to make the Rochelle with a larger air valve? Maybe Wim will entertain the idea. Also, how hard would it be to just drill a bigger hole in an existing one and glue on a larger pad? I think I'll experiment with mine and let you all know how badly I screw it up. Just in case, anybody got an extra right side action board for a Rochelle?

I appologise to any and all air gulpers out there. I've just always felt gulping was for scotch. Perhaps an English layout would be more suitable for English style. Besides, what's wrong with a little melody every now and then?

Thanks for the info. I live on a small Island and don't get out much. I wonder if the name Britts comes from the fact he is of British discent. I got this from Ancestry.com. "Britt Name Meaning and History. English: ethnic name for a Celtic-speaking Briton or a Breton, from Middle English brit, bret. OK so he's not in England. You have to admit, my assumptions were not without merit..

I have to say, Mr Read, I've never heard of a Koot Brits. Where are they made and by whom? By the name, I'd guess by old men in England.

I agree 10,000 percent. Good old fashioned capitalistic, free interprise. If you want it, pay it, if not, someone else will. This thing looks so nice, I feel like I should pay just for looking! Oh good, that feeling just went away.

JLO, I can't speak on the Morse. I've only heard good things about them although I've never played or heard one. I have a 1956 30b C/G Wheatstone which I bought from someone on this site. It plays very easily, is very responsive and has a nice mellow tone. It's not too loud and not too quiet (Like Baby Bear soup) It's plenty loud enough for me,,,, maybe too loud for my wife but that's her problem. I also can't speak on how well the Morse will hold it's value, if that's even a concern, perhaps someone here has experience with that. I'm sure if it's taken care of, it will do fine, maybe even gain in value. I think a Wheatstone would hold or gain in value regardless of when it was made. They've got that reputation and they've pretty much become collectors items since they don't make them anymore. On that note, you can't buy a new Wheatstone, so you have to be careful to get one in good condition since it probably won't come with a guarantee and restoring one can get pretty expensive. Decisions, decisions... Good luck with whatever you decide.

Sean, Befuddled yet? This debate has come up in the past with nearly the same pro and con opinions and plenty of them. In my novice opinion, the Rochelle will be a good instrument to practice on until you can afford a better one. I started with several cheap 20 button boxes and it was the Rochelle that showed me how much more can be done with a few more buttons. The button layout and size are also more in line with the higher priced instruments, which will make the transition easier. And with the trade in deal, how can you lose? One point though, there are several dealers and makers of nice instruments out there who offer the trade in. The problem is, you can only trade it in to the dealer you bought it from, so, you should look around at the different makes and decide which one you would want to upgrade to before ordering it. I’m sure they’re all fine instruments, but, if cost is an issue, it can vary widely. On the other hand, The Rochelle goes for around $340 new and they usually sell here for about $275 so it’s not much of a loss. As far as the air button issue, The Rochelle is a little tight on air passage, but if you stay on top of the issue while playing, it’s not so much a problem. After all, you’re not supposed to stop and gulp air anyway. I hope this helps and doesn’t hinder. Good luck in your quest.

Ask and Ye shall receive. I just happen to have this one. What are the odds? And a bonus! These guys really get around.

I believe they could be arrested as a gang under the guidelines of the RICO act.

This thing actually looks in pretty good shape..except for the 3 missing buttons. I really like how it looks but I wonder if it could be made a good player? It looks to have wooden levers and they're in a parrellel row so I assume it has the usual german style reeds on the V shaped boxey thing. It has the name "Royal" on it. I'd like some opinions, comments, or personal experience on whether or not it ever was a good instrument and, or if it can made to be one. You know the old saying, "Beauty is only veneer deep." Thanks "> "> ">

Hello, Tony, Welcome to the group. Not that I'm qualified to do so, just trying to be cordial. Most of the people here are straightforward enough and very helpful. Then there are those who aren't at all what they seem. I myself have been known to dress up like a pirate on the weekend and terrorize children. I don't know if it's the costume or my playing. And I know LDT is a dumpster diver, I've posted pictures on here somewhere to prove it. (Sorry LDT, he would have found out sooner or later) I'd say nearly all my useful information concerning concertina has come from this site and I'd have been lost without it. There are some extremely knowledgeable and talented people here who are happy to share their wisdom and some will also share their criticisms, good or bad but at least honest. Look around at some of the past topics. There's bound to something here for ye'. Personally, I don't read music, I have enough trouble with my native language. I play (if you can call it that) strictly from memory and strictly for fun. I'm sure most here are way above me in the musical abilities department, but they still let me stick in my two cents here and there. Cheers By the way, did you realize "Tony" spelled backwards is "Ynot"? That's the sort of thing you're in for. Edited to add smart alecy remark:

Thomas Guest was discussed elsewhere in this forum and there's one on Ebay. Was it ever determined if he made them or just retailed them under his name? I tried to paste links but they don't work for some reason. Thanks!

Greetin's Cap'n, Here's a coupla sites worth pillagin' for Lyrics, sheet music, midi files and the like. http://theseashanty.net http://shanty.rendance.org