[why do you play]

Hi folks, I am new to this board and in the process of buying a concertina.

 

As I can't get involved in any technical discussion or ask real questions until I get an instrument... I will ask a lame personal question...

How long have most of you have been playing and why did you start playing in the first place?

Why do you keep playing?

 

 

 

Just passing the time until I can play along with you.

Alden

Because I am as mad as a hatter.

 

Thanks for that Dick. I laughed like a drain and feel less alone in my madness too.

 

Ian

[why do you play]

Greetings Alden,

 

I've been playing for less than a week, which is tantamount to saying I can play the scale of C and not much else yet but I did play melodeon a bit before. It helps me lessen the stress I can't avoid any other way and will expand my contact with eccentric people I suspect (and believe me, because I think only dead fish swim with the stream, I mean no insult here).

 

At the moment the challenge seems almost insurmountable but I soldier on knowing, based on my experience with the melodeon, that I can learn to play it if I don't give up.

 

Best of luck and do let us know what instrument you end up with.

 

Ian

[71 Key Lachenal Maccan]

The price seems very reasonable indeed, compared with the Ab/Bb Jeffries currently for sale at the Button Box. That one can be yours for $13.000.00 !

There's no rational here, you simply cannot compare prices of the different concertina systems. They each have their own pricing structure which isn't remotely connected with any form of logic other than market forces.

 

Chris Algar told me that Anglos had gone through the roof but the English was holding its price. Just as well that's what I wanted, thought I! Of course, I could have done with an extra 500 knicker but as a beginner right at the start of a recession, I had to be a bit sensible (and my wife would have had parts of me for garters had I been too carefree with the wallet).

 

Ian

[Dino Baffetti Melodeon]

In order to afford my concertina (yes I've been converted) I am selling my Dino Baffetti Red Pearl II melodeon in G/D on ebay:

 

See here

 

Ian

 

Alas! This only got to £310.00 and that's far too low for such an instrument so I'll keep it for a rainy day I suppose.

 

Ian

[Wheatstone Treble, Aeola TT & Jeffries.]

I'm too new to make an informed comment but I was surprised at how differently they sounded. Observing other players is always useful and thank you for letting us see you in action.

 

Ian

[A Happy Bunny]

Thanks for the useful links Leo.

 

In answer to John: I messed around with a melodeon for a few years and could play it a bit but I never really took to it. Having a concertina in my hands once convinced me this was what I wanted to play really. The limitations of melodeons was one of the down points to me and I wanted something chromatic and thus an English. I will play all sorts of music on it hopefully: classical, music hall, folk and so on. Singing with it would be good and I would also sing some of my own songs I've written over the years.

 

Ian

[A Happy Bunny]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone and I will also check those videos Pete. The fact that I can crack a joke about this means I am still on track I think.

 

Ian

 

PS Having looked at the first video by Martyn I am impressed by his work here. He has created something beyond what many professional recordings I have seen in other areas achieved and I join a large group of people grateful for his efforts. Now, if only I could somehow entice him round for a glass or three and a lesson...

[Congratulations Members!]

You can add one to that because I'm not going anywhere but am so new I haven't been able to post five things yet.

 

Ian

[A Happy Bunny]

A few hours ago I received my concertina from Chris Algar. Now, as Chris explained to me when I ordered it, this is a bog standard Lachenal English concertina, albeit a 'decent instrument'; nevertheless I am falling in love with it and hating it in equal measure. I always thought myself as having small hands for a bloke but now they seem to be sides of beef.

 

No doubt this will come as no surprise to many of you but I found Chris Algar to be very helpful, and ordering from him was free of any of the usual aggravation found when doing business with most anyone else these days alas. So thanks to Mr Algar and also to Tallship who gave me useful help too. For fear of offending anyone, I must add that a well-known repairer rang me back and he also was most helpful. Unfortunately, I have forgotten his name.

 

I salute the creators and maintainers of this site too.

 

But enough currying favour and grovelling: back to the infernal agony of practice.

 

Ian

[Is this a new feature]

Thanks Leo. I was having the same problem.

 

Ian

[Dino Baffetti Melodeon]

In order to afford my concertina (yes I've been converted) I am selling my Dino Baffetti Red Pearl II melodeon in G/D on ebay:

 

See here

 

Ian