saguaro_squeezer

Hi Dan. Thanks. But I'm really looking for a Wheatstone. I've just acquired a Wheatstone Model 1T which is a 48 but might fit the bill. It does fall into the "cheap and cheerful" category though.

Well, then I’m really lucky to have purchased a 79-key Crabb Maccann. My C2 LH dreams have been fulfilled!

Little John, both are nicely done. I wasn't aware that Dipper made a Crane. I'm new to the alternate tunings universe of concertinas but wonder if, being so used to equal temperament tuning, we perceive comma mean tone as somehow lacking? For example, the "sweetness" that some ascribe to common mean tone seems to make certain of the higher notes sound like they are carrying as well or get lost in too big a chord. I have a Tedrow "Harley" Anglo that is tuned in quarter comma meantone and am trying to get a handle on why that is. That said, well done on the playing ... I'm still trying to determine if I want to stray from equal temperament!

So, today (Sep 19) is 'Talk Like a Pirate' Day. I suggest you pull out your copy of Gary's book and sing like one too!

I do wish that he'd done the Toccata Adagio and Fugue in C, BVW564.

inrhearts, here is a link for St. Cloud - https://sites.google.com/site/stcloudconcertinaservice/

Well, inrhearts, I'm sorry that I gave you so many things that you'd already thought of. The US Concertina Assn does have a website - https://concertinamusic.com/ - but most of the activity has moved to their FB page. Ease of maintenance, I'd expect. I don't suppose the gentleman in WI is Gaylen Haas, is it? He's who I bought my Bb Slimline from and is super knowledgeable ... but I don't think that he rebuilds. Anyway, good luck with your repair. If it doesn't pan out, I can give you the contact for my guy here in Tucson.

Hi inrhearts. I'm not going to advertise myself as any kind of Chemnitzer expert, since I've recently acquired two of them myself, but I can share with you what I've learned. What brand is your Chemnitzer? If you haven't seen it yet, there is a US Concertina Assn facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/usconcertina/?fb_dtsg_ag=AdypplhOWHyuMEeDWcfKf8QGpxWQASiIQAkLiP39yeADdA%3AAdx_t_KsW60SVw3qzeXT7ofTwxYGZzJ8ACgtR0jX2cGLoA) that you might want to have a look at and pose some questions to. I'm told that St Cloud Concertina Service is a top-notch facility. Dan Standersen had his (now mine) Schoma Bandoneon overhauled there and he's a pretty knowledgeable concertina guy, so I'd trust his judgement. You might also talk to Smythe's Accordion Center in Oakland, CA, http://www.smythesaccordioncenter.com/. If nothing else, you might also look in your area for a good accordion repair shop, since Chemnitzers are a bit closer to accordions than english/anglo/duet concertinas are. A google search yielded Petrosa Accordions in Lynwood and Bell and Reed in Seattle. There's a book, "The Chemnitzer Concertina, A History and an Accolade" by Lavern Rippley that you can get from Amazon that will give you a pretty good history. I currently have a turn-of-the-century Lenk Bandoneon in with my local Tucson free-reed guy, so we'll see what happens there. I'd at least post your same questions out on the US Concertina Assn FB page to see if they might have some local recommendations!

Now safely home in Tucson, AZ!

I switch between my Lachenal and Crabb quite a bit. I tend to play the Lachenal more when I'm tired because my fingers appreciate the extra spacing.

Of course, we could also discuss the size of Chamnitzers .... 52 buttons, 12" across the flats, 16" side to side ....

Depends. My 69-button Crabb was 9 3/4" across the flats and, I believe, 10 1/4" side to side. I'd wager the 72+ Maccans are bigger. Thanks Captain Obvious.

Kirstee, sent you a PM.

That was what my 69-key Crabb had. But didn't Paul McCann have a 55 that went down to that G, or below? A Connor, or a Crabb variant?

That's a beautiful instrument, Alex.