Wolf Molkentin

quarter comma meantone might be more likely historically

I recorded this with little practice on the particular instrument, but listening to the first tune might give you an impression. The 22/24 have a very special tone which could perhaps be described as bright and fat - simply different from both a Wheatstone Aealo and a Lachenal, whatever model.

Yes, definitely!

I can recommend Piascore PTU-2 (I'm using the iPhone app), but you would have to find the center ("opposite" the wolf) and determine the pitch level first. You could as well, as Geoff might prefer, use a table of deviances from ET.

IMO the answer is simple and clear: go for a Wheatstone Model 22 or 24 - they can be as close to a Jeffries as EC come... All the best - 🐺 P.S.: I could provide you with a SC link to give an impression of the sound (I even used some EQ to filter the high partials).

Having been able to give it a try some days ago I can only confirm that it's a lovely and highly desirable instrument!

Thank you Geoff - I had a vague notion re Nils' baritone, as he was actually involved in the sale and told me of his alike instrument (which I believe to have met in former years)! I really love the sound; it's different but not inferior to the one of a baritone Aeola IMO. The only tone not speaking so well are the extra low Fs (which I only had to shift from right to left), maybe I'll have to work a bit on the voicing of these two reeds; and as with any (EC) instrument I'm torn between the F and F# (resp. Bb and B with the TT). All the best - 🐺

Hi Steve, thank you for the encouragement re this instrument. Actually it's my first New Model concertina; I loved my first "real" (disregarding the Hohner/Stagi) concertina, which happened to be an Excelsior, Lachenal's Old (Top) Model if you will. The sound was perfectly balanced for playing melody with harmonies. The action was o.k., the bellows all too worn, and overall a lack of sufficient air supply. Needs some TLC (valves, bellows patches, bushings), but I believe it will keep being too slow for fluently playing honrpipes and stuff, now that I'm spoiled for it (by my Model 24 in particular). I really like my very plain and simple Lachenal Mahogany 20b Anglo, and I love the sound of the Rosewood G/D. Most of the time in the nearer future I will just switch between the G/D and the New Model Baritone I guess. Return of the Lachenal instruments? in a way. But I can't gauge a top level Lachenal treble, i.e. New Model or Edeo, as I never played one. However, my Aeola TT and Model 24 are both exceptional instruments as for me... Do you think your 56 baritone is slightly larger? rather not so I guess, and I reckon it has the partly radial, partly parallel reedpan like mine... All the best - 🐺

I can encourage you to buy from them - my wife wanted one, and I was quite sceptical up to delivery, but the box (an even cheaper model) was very much in tune, and turned out to be sounding lovely... Best wishes - 🐺

That's amazing, Geoff. Did you then replace it with your Baritone Treble? Would you care to rate your former instrument referring to your own playing? Do you know who owns it now? I really like the sounds mine is making (resp. letting me make)... All the best - 🐺

Lachenal Baritone, riveted action, low F

While I’ll have to provide the digits of my Excelsior at some point later I have to hesitantly inform the public of another acquisition which I‘m very happy with:

I seem to recall that an Inimitable would not necessarily have long-scale reeds, as opposed to the Excelsior.

I think it’s what we call an „Inimitable“, with the extra of glass buttons (and maybe more)...

which then went for a really good price when in decent condition - congrats!