Warcorrespondent

I'll have it. Just being honest - free lachenel - wonderful. Of course, I'll not take it on false pretenses. If it plays, I can use it. But if it requires reed replacement, new pads, etc, maybe it should go to someone with a bit more spare cash than I have.

Hi I'd be interested for sure. Can you please let me know when it will start.

I'd like the advice of anyone who has rebuilt or constructed from scratch an anglo concertina. Some time ago I bought a Borinwood 30 steel button, anglo concertina for around $200. Recession has hit but I'd still like to play. The concertina itself has decent leather bellows, accordion reeds (but actually sounds and responds like a concertina), however the problem is that the lever mechanism is complete nonsense, buttons slide out of place, stand proud and there's very little that can be done to rectify the situation (have tried - only made it worse). So on to my questions. Lets assume that I can purchase rivetted action levers, with leather stoppers and appropriate buttons. (1) would it be possible to change the original lever and button mechanism to a riveted action one (this way I have a concertina that will perform with some accuracy and will allow me to play reasonably well - at least until the money starts rolling in again and I can afford a decent conker)? (2) has anyone done this before and would like to help? (3) would anyone like to act as a mentor for the process? and finally (4) is it worth doing in the first place (even as a learning experience)? Many thanks in advance. War.

Many thanks to the people who contributed to this article. Apologies to Ken for not including the link to the source web page. In future I will. War.

Thank you David and Alan, for your opinions. I'll take them on board. War.

Apologies in advance, I'm sure you have been asked this question many times, but despite intensive searching I cannot locate the answer. My question is this - "on a c/g anglo, what are the alternatives for a left hand thumb button, that would make it easier to play roles, or triplets in Irish Trad. music (jeffries layout)?" Which notes would be handy to have on a left hand thumb button?

Hi, If any of you have a Jeffries 30 key anglo, I would like to get some dimensions please. Primarily, (1) the distance (across the rows)- between the center of key C and the centre of key G, (I'm assuming that this measurement is constant for all cross row key pairs?) (2) the distance between the G and E (left hand - middle row). (again I'm making the assumption that the vertical distances are all the same) (3) the perpendicular distance between the centre of key G (left hand - innermost row) and the handbar. (4) the height of the handbar. Many thanks in advance to any Jeffries owners who can supply this information and apologies for the work associated with the request.

Apologies - this may not be the correct forum for this discussion, but could someone please give me the dimensions (preferably in mm) between the keys of a Jeffries Anglo Concertina and the perpendicular distance between the hand rest and the keys (for key measurement - approximate centre to centre and for key to fingerboard - centre of key to centre of fingerboard). Many thanks in advance. War

Calling all Irish Trad Players. I have looked at some 'standard' layouts for Jeffries but then looking at other web pages I can see variations in the incidental row. Perhaps we can kick this into touch definitively, sheer weight of numbers should do it. Please do not suggest other custom layouts, I'm trying to establish what the 'standard' layout is for Irish Trad. Jeffries Layout A: The following turned up in the largest number of examples: E/F A/Bb C#/D# A/G G#/Bb --- D#/C# C#/D# G#/G C#/Bb A/D Jeffries Layout B: E/F *A/C# C#/D#* A/G G#/Bb --- D#/C# C#/D# G#/G C#/Bb A/D Jeffries Layout C: Layout given in Mick Bramich's book ("The Irish Concertina"); possibly a Jeffries, as the instruments illustrated with captions are both Jeffries: E/F A/Bb C#/Eb A/G G#/Bb --- C#/Eb Eb/C# G#/G C#/Bb A/D Custom Layout 2: Commonly used layout for Irish playing suggested to me by Colin Dipper: E/F A/A# C#/D# A/G G#/A# --- C#/C# F#/D# G#/G C#/D# A/D (1) what do most of you use? (2) which would you prefer to use (given the choice when purchasing)? War.

Are you in the UK? War.

Fiona, you've given a skype address but it's not active. Can you please email me your email address.

Sorry Fiona, one more question, is it a Jeffries or Wheatstone key layout? Regards War

I'm very interested, and I'm in N.I. as well. Can I come and try it out. Hi Warcorrespondent, Yes that would be fine. I'm not far from Downpatrick. What way are you? Apologies for successive postings, but could you also indicate whether wheatstone or jeffries layout. I'm in derry, could meet in Belfast. Do you have any MP3's, is the concertina responsive enough for an intermediate player of Irish trad. Would appreciate further details. War.

I'm very interested, and I'm in N.I. as well. Can I come and try it out. Hi Warcorrespondent, Yes that would be fine. I'm not far from Downpatrick. What way are you? I'm in derry, could meet in Belfast. Do you have any MP3's, is the concertina responsive enough for an intermediate player of Irish trad. Would appreciate further details. War.

I'm very interested, and I'm in N.I. as well. Can I come and try it out.

Neil don't want to waste your time. What's the asking price.

You lucky &&&&&&&&, but good result, wish I had have thought of that.

Thanks for the kind comments ( big tongue in cheek emoticon ) David, I'm not talking about the hypotetical person you portrait, nor about a bloody venusian buying a concertina. Just about ME. I'm 39 next October and, even working hard all my life, never had too much money for to spend in expensive instruments. In my not so humble opinion, paying such ammounts of money for any instrument, if you are not a professional musician, is almost obscene; more having into account what the huge work is going to be for me to save that almost 4000 euro. I'm not questioning here anyone else's behaviour; I said what I WOULD or WOULDN'T do. The 'I-want-it-all-and-I-want-it-now' referred to the fact that almost everybody nowadays wants instant things, nobody wants to wait for anything or a good instrument, that from my point of view would make it even more worthy. Not talking about, of course, spend a lifetime learning to play it - I've been teaching fiddle and have a slight idea about pupils' impatient -. On the other hand, I think that my 'alter-ego' Snorre understood perfectly my point when I said that I don't deserve it: I'm just not good enough concertinist. I've seen people without the less idea of playing uilleann pipes buying expensive full sets from renowned makers. Well, I feel that is frivolous and presumptuous, and is even worse about people who gathers dozens of concertinas & let them gather dust on shelves ' as an investment'. For f**k sake, if you want to make an investment buy gold, instruments were made to be played. Honestly, I don't know what I said for to upset you in such a way. It's supossed that a forum is for discussion and have different opinions, not for to agree all of us and give each other pats on the back. End of story. Fer PS: Edited by request for languaje. Here here! With reference to your statement - "about people who gathers dozens of concertinas & let them gather dust on shelves ' as an investment'. For f**k sake, if you want to make an investment buy gold, instruments were made to be played". An excellent point my man ... and while we're on the subject... lets also state that those dealers who buy all the available decent instruments (and we all know who they are) and keep the price artificially inflated by releasing only a few at a time on the market (ebay etc) ... man that sucks. War

Dave I have no idea what p.m. is! However, I am interested.

Dave are you in Ireland?

Nope - Borinwoods have keys that are too near to the hand bar. Impossible to use efficiently. I'm really looking for a medium to good lachenel or a reasonably priced hybrid.

Hi does anyone have a 30 key anglo for sale. Reasonably priced and preferably in Ireland so that I can try it.

Have you sold this yet?

Hi All, could someone send me an mp3 of Horse Keane's hornpipe. Without ornamentation and with ornamentation. Many thanks in advance. War

I would also be interested... just curious.