conzertino

Price reduced to 1.500 Pound!!

I just posted two metal ended Wheatstone English-system concertinas here. I would regard the model 21 as middle class, the model 22 as lower upper class;-) They may be a little expensive as beginners-instruments, but they usually keep their value - and a decent instrument is more likely to inspire you to stick to it... I also have a really bad brass-reeded Lachenal for 250€ - but you only get 250€ worth of fun out of it... You can ask Jim for his opinion - he is both a connoisseur of concertinas and a friend of mine;-)

I just have too many of them right now - so two must go... I bought the model 22 about three years ago off Chris Algar at his place. In fact, he had several, I tried them all and picked the best one. She looks and plays as good as new: new six-fold bellows!!! ( usually they only have 5 ), new pads, new valves, good (probably not original ) thumb-straps, concert-pitch. She comes in her original sturdy leather box - unfortunately as often without the lock-hatch and strap - it will protect her well on her trip and will be nice little restoration-project;-) In fact she will benefit from some playing, as I didn't play her at all. I bought her mainly for my girlfriend, who then decided to quit playing... Number 26662 http://www.horniman.info/DKNSARC/SD01/PAGES/D1P0670S.HTM. I'm looking for 2.500€ The model 21 is number 27031 ( http://www.horniman.info/DKNSARC/SD01/PAGES/D1P0820S.HTM ). It has rosewood frames ( often they are black ) and ( as it looks ) original 6-fold bellows. It has a very light action and is quite loud... It has flat metal ends while the M22 has raised metal-ends. It is supposed to make some difference to the sound!? It comes in its original hard-box ( not leather ), which is in good condition. Again I bought it off Chris Algar about 6 years ago but un-restored and had it restored by David Robertson ( http://www.concertina-restoration.co.uk/ ). He didn't do the woodwork ( which is not perfect, but ok ), but he did valves, pads, thumb-straps, pull-down to concert-pitch and some cosmetic work. I played her for a while ( on the road ;-). I am looking for 1.700€... The boxes are located in Germany… PM me for further information and bigger pics... Here you will find them both: http://www.concertina.com/pricelists/wheatstone-english/Wh-Pricelist-Eng-c1918.pdf, still at bargain-prices;-)

I started off on exactly the same Lachenal rosewood-ended bone-button 5 fold-bellow instrument ( 1975 ;-) - and I loved it! A year later I was able to acquire a Boyd-Wheatstone - which is as shrill and loud as they come. Shortly after Steve Chambers sold me an ebony-ended Aeola ( 31xxx ) with quite enclosed fretwork, which is really loud but has a soft quality to it's sound. I never played a box like it... The ends make all the difference: I once swapped one end of a Wheatstone Model 22 ( very loud box! ) against a matching end off an early six-sided dot&comma Aeola ( extremely soft ). The reeds or bellows didn't make any difference - just the ends! But there is hope: 10 years ago I sold a nice model 22 to my friend Rainer Süßmilch, who does a lot of singing, especially jazz. So he successfully experimented with leather under the fretwork to baffle the sound. You can hear him here with the instrument: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqnNN59vQvU I currently have both a Wheatstone model 21 ( six folds ) and a model 22 ( 6 folds and leather baffles ( Rainer played it for a while ) ;-) for sale ( both of course metal ended ), but unfortunately I live on the other side of the big ocean... Unless you really want to invest in a good Aeola I can highly recommend the model 22 - and the option with the baffles lets you define your own favorite sound...

I have seen a couple of wooden-ended Jeffries English concertinas, but has anyone seen a metal-ended one?

It is now my beautiful amboyna instrument - thanks to the support of sqzbxr!!

Thanks, Jim, but I am in fact both looking for a small ES concertina ( like the one you are talking about ) and a ME baritone Aeola ( in a different thread )

A while ago I missed the baritone Aeola that was offered here... May be the buyer changed his mind - or someone else has a spare one!?

I just wanted to bring this cute little one back to your attention;-) I let her go, because I managed to buy a 31.xxx model - just a matter of personal taste;-)

Euros, Pounds, Dollars or Lira??

I am still looking for a small ES concertina. After seeing pictures of a 24-key Jones and of a 24 key Aeola I feel the desire to get such a little one I tried a Stagi mini, but it didn't convince me...

As requested here another great song from Rainer's latest concert. I feel that Rainer really uses the possibilities of the English concertina to it's limits: http://youtu.be/IqnNN59vQvU Enjoy!

So, you got Number one? By the way, I recently got a Tortoiseshell TT - which could well be the fourth one on that table;-)

Here is another one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2LwpghJsKk Enjoy!

I have a few more in the pipeline;-)

I love this little film!! And I was delighted to find my favorite of all my concertinas, the little Amboyna piccolo, featured here - after over 50 years!!!

Rainer gave a little concert recently. I just love his playing - and singing - and acting... http://youtu.be/bzeZCgPSd-E

I wouldn't mind a copy!! Any hints?

So far I have been quite successful with some of the oddest requests - So I try again...

I am just back from England where I picked up two Instruments from the restorers: David Robertson did a fantastic job on my Tortoiseshell TT - it looks and plays as good as new! Steve Dickinson put new super-bellows on my Amboyna piccolo-sized treble ( 5 1/2 " ! ) and revoiced her. This now is my absolute dream-instrument - loud, fast ... and so much fun to play ;-)

I'm just back from Chris Algar's new place. I had been looking for a specific ME TT ( 31.xxx, closed ends, not so loud ) for a long time. He had about a dozen quite different ME TT Aeolas for me to try - and I finally found the perfect one for me!! My ME tenor came up at ebay a few years ago, but it wasn't described as a tenor. I was the lucky one to notice;-). It was custom-made for Alf Edwards ;-)

Last time I tried one of these was during my visit to the button-box a few years ago... I must admit that I was quite surprised about it's dynamic range and it's light but precise action, when I played David's instrument two days ago!! A great little box - not just for tango... This certainly is a good chance to buy a perfectly fine tenor at a fraction of the price of a vintage-instrument ( I am lucky to own two 48-key tenor-Aeolas;-)

What's your reserve!?

Thank's Marien - I was tempted, but is not quite what I am looking for....

I am in fact looking for an English System mini! But the Anglo one gave me the idea to try;-)