Wolf Molkentin

Since I don't have use for a neck strap I can only comment on one detail: As to my Lachenal EC, the thumbstrap screws had been a critical point due to the amount of pulling I regularly put on them. There were no threads at all, the screws had simply been screwed (just a little bit) into the action board. I decided to drill through the board and applied machine screws with female screws on the inside. Might be a solution for your desire of firmly and safely applying a neck strap as well... (edited for removal of a typo)

Well, it might get hard for any panda to be recognized as more than Ursa Minor..., which might in fact fit... Let's presume the "unique instrument" to symbolise Polaris, so that the owner can just revolve around it with his various listings... (déjà vu included every 24 hours then) Thus Colin might be outta danger at least.

Thanks for the ineluctable opinion, good Sir Dirge! Blimey yes. I must get round to looking it up. Roughly it means that your opinion is made of stern stuff indeed with which nature itself cannot contend. Blimey again. My man, we are living in a world full of mystery, spectacle, and the unfathomable. Blimey, indeed... Gosh. Déjà vu (ici)...!

The inimitable Iris Bishop played it at the opening night at Tenterden 2013 - I simply had to learn it the day after...

Here's the related entry...

Chris, that's very nice, both in terms of the carol itself (my compliments to your wife!) and the pub performance - really enjoyed it! Besides, I liked the folky "The Holly and the Ivy" too, having participated in performing the very different setting by John Rutter as a (bass) chorist very recently... I hope you both had glad Christmas days! Great work! A very thoughtful arrangement. Loved it. Thank you for the kind remark - glad you like it! And Jody, didn't you play "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen" last year at the Seaford Folk Club? I still remember the whole of your "veni - vidi - vici" performance very well... I wish you a Happy New Year! Wolf

Havíng just recorded a German Carol I must admit that I already have the squeeze of my dreams! Happy Christmas to you and all!

Didn't find time to record my already announced contribution until 'twas Chrismas Eve. So here it is: Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen (see other thread - will add link later on). Merry Christmas to everyone!

But in fact that had been (and still would be) my (minor; see below) concern as well - not only due to the Stagi/Bastari brand in general but also because the buttons don't seem to stand consistently in parallel but somewhat erratic, which might be an indication of the above-mentioned kind of action. OTOH, you might well dare removing the ends; reassembling the buttons would be nothing impossible, just a matter of patience and some amount of time... I dealt with that problem myself some years ago when trying to "cure" my eBay 20b Stagi bisonoric "German" concertina (which I never came to play properly due to persistent problems with sticky buttons)....

As to the kind of instrument I'd second Don's opionion. My guess would have been Stagi (whereas Bastari widely meant the same manufacturer), it is most likely accordion-reeded. If so you could unworriedly take it to the lokal accordion repairman. Good luck to you exploring the EC universe...

...well, walking on water would almost perfect it!

Seems to be just in the middle of nowhwere... (and as to ISPED same with me, google doesn:t return anything sensible regarding your case)

That's again a very fine (in this case self-) explanation... You had been moderate with that matter in fact - I simply couldn't resist pointing a finger at the overlooked remark...

Well that's really mean due to the intrusiveness of these forays..., he's been creating sort of a confidential setting, and then...

As to me we don't even know if there had been a deliberate omission at all...

Really? I don't recall ever playing a vintage instrument where that was possible. (And I certainly wouldn't prefer it.) That's what I seem to have learned from 2012's German Concertina Meeting - maybe it's my fault to have taken the words of few for more than single opinions - but I clearly recall a Lachenal New Model with that feature; I wasn't able to play my tunes on it satisfatorily...

As to the material it depends on your goal(s); silk (that's what I applied to my instrument) won't affect the sound at all (that's what I wanted). If you want some muting you'll go for other kinds of material. This matter has been discussed quite recently. The question of the button height depends as well. If you are talking about the height of the pressed buttons: The majority of (English) concertina players I've met prefered buttons that "vanish" in their holes (nearly) competely, whereas I'm just happy with the buttons of my instrument which still have some mm above the surface when pressed down. I'd guess the height of the released buttons is subject to personal preferences as well. Good luck with your restoration project!

Did he? I second this judgement all the same...

Very elegant, with a nice light touch on the instrument!

But you didn't wear one of those "classic" shirts did you? Anyway, congrats on the honourable election!

Why didn't I feel any curious about the outcome when following the link...

That's exactly what I did (albeit my instrument is just about 90 years old) in order to attach the thumbstraps real firmly to the instrument (by having it connected to the sound board itself). I was feeling a bit nervous but not, well, blaspheming...

You mean those stereoscope images? (Only appropriate, as it seems that Charles Wheatstone built the first stereoscope. ) I'm sure you know that I was talking about attitudes rather than seminudes...

Very nice Gary! And I've sent you a PM (in order not to mess up the surpise factor) regarding the announced final surprise...

Having a hangover and being illuminated are two very different animals aren't they? Strengthening the intellect should have told you the difference... Anyway, I appreciate those Victorian views, just as a matter to consider among others...