varney

Just out of curiosity - are these Rochelles or another chinese company imitating them--- they certainly look similar: http://cgi.ebay.com/Anglo-Concertina-Accor...e#ht_2445wt_941

To all you folks who were kind enough to offer advice may I say a big 'Thank You'. I really hadn't a clue about concertinas when I started this thread but thanks to the wealth of information you all contributed I'm much more educated in what to look for. I wouldn't say I've reached any definite conclusion but at least I've decided a couple of things: 1. a regular sized instrument is the way to go. Even though she's only a small six year old she'll adapt to the instrument she's given. If I went for anything in a reduced size it's only going to make things harder if and when she moves on to a regular instrument. 2. "Buy the best instrument you can afford" is good advice, but probably means "Buy the best instrument you CAN"T afford"!!! I was set to go with a Rochelle but then people were suggesting that for a bit more money you could get a 'real' concertina - e.g. a wooden end Lachenal. I've now started to look for one of these but it's a lot more than I can really afford to pay. On a personal aesthetic note, ( and I know this has nothing to do with the playability of an instrument, ) - I think that while the Rochelles may be superior in internal construction to the Stagis etc they look pretty awful. Surely the Rochelle makers could have opted for something more attractive than glassy black celluoid and cartoon-like f-holes? At least the Stagis look like concertinas and have wooden or metal ends with reproduction fretwork. I know this will get a blast of criticism but it's based purely on a visual assessment! Once again - many thanks from a confused forty-something Dad...

Thanks for all that advice folks - much appreciated. The main point people made seems to be 'buy the best instrument you can afford'. In this case that happens to be a Rochelle, which people on the site seem to favour as a step above the cheaper chinese instruments ( Scarlatti etc ). Nobody has answered my question about this instrument - namely it's large size and possible suitability for a child. I've read around on the net about the instrument and one comment made me think twice about the Rochelle - namely that it's an accordion in Concertina clothing (!), very large in the hands and the bellows are stiff even for an adult. Are the Scarlattis or Stagis smaller in comparison? I see some of the top end Stagi models here http://www.jollybox.co.uk/images/5conc.jpg priced in the around £350 and over. Are these still considered inferior instruments in comparison to the Rochelle? I have to say listening to people on Youtube playing the brands mentioned above the one thing I noticed is they all sound like small accordions. Is that just me?!

Hi Folks, I've started looking for a concertina for my six year old daughter. It would be for learning Irish music so from what I can gather she'd need an anglo concertina ( 30 button ). The general discussions on beginner instruments which I've read here all seem to be for adults ( unless I've missed a few..). The general consensus seems to be the Rochelle, but ( and it's a big one in this case ), I've noted that people say this is probably the biggest of the anglos and that some adults have difficulty reaching the air button. If this is the case then it doesn't sound like the instrument for a small six year old kid - would people agree? I've looked at some Youtube videos of the instrument and it does look very big even in adult hands. What would people suggest as an alternative bearing in mind it's for a small ( but determined!) kid? A man I met recently had his son start off on a Scarlatti 30 key which he thought was absolutely fine. He's since moved up to something better. I see these on sale with case for around £200 stg, and was all ready to go out and buy one until I started reading around. Now I've gotten confused as there are several entry level instruments priced the same or a little cheaper - namely Ktone and Stagi Concertinas. If all goes well we'd hope to move her up to a better quality instrument in a couple of years. Would the Scarlatti or similar hold their value at all? I'm now wondering if it would make more sense to spend the money on buying a proper lachenal or similar which would mean she could stick with the same instrument if she progresses, but if she gives it up at least we can sell it on for what we paid. Which option would you knowledgeable folks recommend? What sort of price would I be looking at for the right instrument? Where is the best place to buy? Sorry for the heap of questions but we want to make the right choice for her and not put her off by getting a bad instrument. many thanks, Michael.