Snorre

Only Irish tunes, more or less. I try to balance new tunes out (1-3 per week) 50/50 between stuff I already play on the fiddle, and new tunes (often tunes I hear played on concertina on albums or the web).

I second everything that has been said. I went from Stagi(Wheatstone) to Morse(Jeffries), and have ordered a Suttner(Jeffries). One "upside" to playing Wheatstone layout, might be that it seems there are more second hand instruments floating around with that layout. On the other side two C#s do come in handy. Anyway, buy a Morse, and you're in for a treat:-)

For music from the island of Gotland: http://www.gotlandstoner.se/web/

My only experience over time is with the Morse: Playability: Good. Responds quickly, and feels "tight". Had a comment that the the bellows were a little stiff (from a player that plays a Suttner and a Jeffries), but she said it would probably soften up (my Morse was only two months old at the time). Handstraps: Adjustable. The people at The Button Box also supplied me with a new set of straps with an extra set of holes ($9) after the originals were stretched a bit (after about 6 months of playing). Sound: It sound like it has accordeon reeds, but it sounds nice at that. Volume is ok, but not as loud as the Suttners I have tried. Overall: I am very pleased with my instrument. It is very playable, very light action, loud enough to play in sessions, very light (just under 1 kg I think). Size: I think it is of a "normal" concertina size, if there is such a thing. The buttons make no noise when played, probably because the instrument is well and precicely put together. More than I could say about my Hohner.... Layout: I went from Wheatstone to Jeffries layout when I got the Morse, and it was less of a hassle than I thought. However, I still try to learn tunes involving C# in a way that would make a future transition as easy as possible. I heard someone (on this forum?) say that it wouldn't take more than a couple of weeks of practice to go from one to the other. Edit: crossposted with JimLucas

The service level at the Button Box is very high. How much money are you looking to spend? My playing (hours per day) really took off when I got my Morse, and I suspect it will again once I get my Suttner (in 2013.....). Lycka till! S

I think "Katy" is really Lorraine O'Brien.

Thanks for the heads up! Will be tuning in as soon as they publish the program.

Can't seem to find it on the webshop. What's the title?

I think that's what makes it good. After a while many of the runs/ornaments/variations came through as "functional" for the concertina. Playing these transcriptions out on fiddle (which is my first instrument), is a whole different kettle of fish........ Anyway, good work there Aogan! S

Chas, I am very, very happy for you.

Hmm.. The Trip to [Windsor/Herves/Manilla/Pakistan/Durrow/Miriam's/Nenagh/Dublin/Birmingham/Fanore] are all reels Either way (or Road) you're bound to end up in Sligo....

Mike, which track?

What are you getting?

Snorre, What was their response? I'm sure you must have asked how many buttons it had. I blew up the picture a bit and it appears that the buttons are metal. Is that consistent with the time period stated for its production? It is possible it has a drone button as well but can't tell for sure. Steve The first mail was answered with price, shipping and the seller having gotten it from his uncle. I sent the following, which didn't get a reply: Thanks for your rapid answer. I may be interested, but there a few more things I need to know about the instrument. First, how many buttons are there on both sides. Second, and this might prove tricky if you are not a musician, what tuning is it. One way of determining this would be to make a recording (on your computer) of the lowest notes, pushed, on the middle row, and send an email to me. Some of these concertinas were made with tunings that are awkward to play in sessions, but still are attractive to high level players. I am more of a novice looking to buy one instrument to last me a lifetime, hence the pickiness.... thanks for your patience.

I sent a mail to the seller, got one answer, sent another mail, no answer. If it's in good shape, it is a bargain.

A few good tracks here : http://www.itma.ie/English/concertinas.html

Tony Sheehan passed away this morning in Nesodden, just outside Oslo. He was a singer par excellence, and a player of concertina, quindola and ukulele. As a long time participant on the Oslo trad/folk scene, he will be fondly remembered for his quick wits, great voice, wonderful songs and lovely playing.

I'll lay my head on the block with Sliabh Gullion Braes played by Tony O'Connell on his and Andy Morrow's album. It is so far the best slow air I have heard on a concertina album.

Hi Clare FM (http://www.clare.fm) recorded the concertina recital at this years SSWC. The clips were aired on Tuesday 21st (http://www.clare.fm/music/ClareFM%20trad%20archive/Music%20In%20The%20Glen%2021st%20July%2009.mp3?l=12) and Monday 20th of July (http://www.clare.fm/music/ClareFM%20trad%20archive/Coisle%20An%20Cheoil%20Monday%2020th%20July%2009.mp3?l=12). The good stuff is some 20min+ into the shows. Be quick, these files usually disappear after a week. S

Got confirmation from Mr.Suttner about the spacing (slightly wider on the A-2) and on deciding (don't have to decide now). This means I can try both models when in Ireland next, and make a more qualified decision. Oh Happiness! Thanks to all contributors for making this thread interesting! Snorre

I have been using it on and off, and like it. It's also great for an "unindexed reference" for triplets, runs and variations. Mr. Lynch is a fierce player, but I haven't used the cd as much as would have liked to, as I keep the book in the shed, where there's no power for the portable cd player I don't have..... Is there a slower version or just up tempo? I only know of this version. I find that the cd is good for hearing what Mr.Lynch make it sounds like in tempo, then I can try to figure out the tunes nice and slow. For slowing down recordings, this app has been very helpful for me : http://www.ronimusic.com/ (Click on Amazing Slow Downer) Snorre

Not yet......I don't know what degree of chromaticity I will need 5 or 10 or 20 years down the line. My only experience in that department is fiddle, and I know that the better I've become, the more difficult tunes I have taken on, sometimes with a higher degree of chromaticity. I think the point is to have the right buttons. Granted, I very rarely use the notes extremely high in register. But I would more than likely use alternates to "common notes", like G#, Bb and F#.

I have been using it on and off, and like it. It's also great for an "unindexed reference" for triplets, runs and variations. Mr. Lynch is a fierce player, but I haven't used the cd as much as would have liked to, as I keep the book in the shed, where there's no power for the portable cd player I don't have.....

Or some "sympathetic" reeds for a harding concertina? I think we're moving into murky waters....a guy here made a harding mandolin.....not so sure what to think.

I think time is the critical factor there. Whichever you get, if you later conclude that you would prefer the other, you could almost certainly sell the first to fund the second. But if you have to wait several years to benefit from the change, that could be a problem. Back to factors influencing your choice: You already have a Morse Ceili, yes? Do you find its 30 keys limiting? I.e., do you find yourself "looking for" particular notes in particular bellows directions, but not finding them? I think having another G# would come in quite handy. Also the Bb. These are the notes I can think of now. There might be more in 4 years time Good point, but at the moment I am not where I can see this clearly. I am practicing Irish tunes like mad to get some mileage and general control....maybe some quarter-tones would be handy for Norwegian music The A-2 is at 1.4 kg and the A-4 weighs in at 1.54 kg.....a bit heavier than my Morse (just under 1 kg). The positioning of the rows are also a bit different AFAIK. I tried a 30 btn Suttner in Ennis this spring, and when doing a roll on push E (RS mid row) and C# (RS outer-row) they seemed to be set at a slightly wider angle on the Suttner than the Morse (didn't have to cross my fingers as much). I also was offered to try a 38 at a session, but the extra buttons, together with a beginner's nerves, completely botched up the tune I was trying to play. I don't this will present a problem in the future.... The "non-reversability" is becoming an important factor for me, or at least more important than 0.14 kg and the difference in price. I think it will be worse to have an instrument where I might, in the future, feel something is lacking, than have 38 button instrument of which I only use 30, or less buttons. Again, I am very grateful to all contributors. I just bought a house for the first time in my life, but buying a concertina seems to be trickier