[Rochelle wanted, trade for unique uke?]

I'm convinced.

I'm having so much fun with my 20-button Stagi,

sticking buttons and all,

that I have to step up to a Rochelle.

The problem is that old story-tellers don't tend to accumulate much cash.

 

Several years ago I let a songwriter talk me into buying

one of the very last resophonic ukuleles

made by the highly respected Republic Guitars.

(you often see Recording King or National resophonic instruments for sale,

but it is unusual to see used Republics on offer.

Republic has long been the premier resophonic instrument maker.)

Actually, it might have been the very last one;

the guy at Republic wouldn't even talk to me

until I used my songwriter friend's name,

and it took four phone calls over a three week period

before he stated a firm price and agreed to ship it to me.

 

Anyway, these were offered in a plain brass body,

a polished nickel-plated body with engraving, and aged nickel.

I got the aged nickel, and I think it looks great.

Very authentic, very blues-ey.

If Muddy Waters played a ukulele it would be this one.

These things were made for the pre-amplified world of the 1920s

and they are loud!

They are also quite rare.

 

You can see and hear a Republic resophonic uke being played

and

 

These are excellent instruments and historically authentic,

though (being made in China) there are a few rough-edged screw heads

and a small area of rust on one of the steel-wrapped strings.

This eye-catching uke would be a busker's delight.

The couple of times I took it out in public

people heard it from a long way off,

and between the unusual sound and appearance,

plus of course that un-intimidating ukulele presence,

they flocked to listen and to ask questions and stayed to talk.

I'm genuinely disappointed that my Pete Seeger demeanor

just doesn't work with this strong-charactered instrument.

How would YOU like to be upstaged by your own ukulele?

 

I have other ukes, including an original 1926 drum-headed banjolele,

but the resophonic simply doesn't suit my style.

Think of Arlo Guthrie.

Think really hard.

Can you see him sitting there, all white-haired and chubby,

playing those corny old save-the-world folk songs in the key of C?

Well, now you know the kind of music I play on my uke.

You also now know pretty much what I look like, alas.

It could be worse, I guess.

I could look like Pete...

 

I doubt that I've played this lovely uke more than three hours altogether,

and it deserves better than that.

This attention-getting instrument is in the exact condition as new.

My dial-up internet access is VERY slow and glitchy

so I'll post pictures only if someone is genuinely interested.

For the merely curious, it looks very much like THESE,

including the case, which is fitted, light, rigid, and really excellent.

 

I paid $435 for this uke,

and I assume it has increased in value since Republic stopped making them.

I would like to trade it for a second-generation Rochelle in new or very good condition,

preferably with the case and tutor.

 

If you're ready to part with your Rochelle

you KNOW you need a new, fun instrument!

How about mine?

[Anglo vs English concertina, diatonic vs chromatic: which one should i]

 

And yet I, as a contrary example, can play harmonica perfectly happily, but am rendered completely helpless by anglo concertina and melodeon.

 

 

Isn't that odd.

And I have wrestled with a mouth harp regularly since I was a kid hitch-hiking across the country

and it was only when the anglo clicked for me last week

that that harmonica made the slightest bit of sense.

Finally.

What fun!

[Cheap Concertina]

There are always these hopes that someone will come out with a really inexpensive "Jeffries" or "Dipper" concertina-----

 

Beautifully said.

Both informative and affecting.

A good reminder, too, to cheerfully support small and local businesses of all sorts.

 

I sure am glad I was given this 20-button Stagi.

And I can already see that I'm going to have to have

a concertina in which someone has invested some care.

[Cheap Concertina]

 

And what about gigs? I'd find it somewhat odd to sit in front of people, manipulating what appears to be a concertina, when what they're hearing might just as well be an mp3 of me playing in a studio.

 

 

Or better yet, listening to an actual mp3 of your best studio performance.

Look, Ma! No mistakes!

Ya gotta admit, there's a certain appeal...

[Hot Rodding A Stagi]

Well, you know, nothing posted on the internet ever truly dies. Just to prove a point, here's the stagi upgrade page, ala 2001, courtesy of The Wayback Machine:

 

http://web.archive.org/web/20010727154028/...ewood.net/hmic/

 

Ha!

Thanks, Roy, I was hunting for this today.

I agree with Ken's and Bill's words, too.

Bob has done a real service for those of us

who are saving up indefinitely to buy a Rochelle.

(ouch!)

[Playing Across the Rows]

This is a little disquisition on <a href="http://www.box.net/shared/ts8vzsfayf" target="_blank">Playing Across the Rows</a>. I have mentioned this before but never gave it a thread of its own. It's been downloaded over 500 times at this point, which amazes me. I would assume that some people are finding it useful. Although it's pretty dense it is a handy way of approaching the instrument. It emphasizes the use of your strongest fingers as well as the use of reeds closest to the open part of the grill-work (rather than under your hand), to get the best sound from your concertina.

 

I tried to access this article,

but being seven years tardy I suppose I'm not TOO surprised to find it gone.

All the references to it make me want to have a look-

any chance you might point me to a current link?

 

Thanks a bunch.

[Cheap Concertina]

Here is an upgrade that has lasted a number of years. I installed this action in a Stagi w-15 in 1999

 

 

"Here" meaning.... where?

I'd like to see this, if it's still available.

Thanks.

 

(as you might guess, I have a Stagi in need of TLC)

[Concertina Orienteering]

Stephen, hi

 

I never learned to read music,

but as I have no one to practice with and learn from

I'm finding it increasingly important.

Fortunately, it's not nearly as difficult as my fifth-grade school teacher made it seem.

There are lots of on-line courses and explanations.

I find THIS ONEto be an easy yet useful beginning.

Just click on any of the topics on the left hand side of the page.

 

Between these clear explanations

and Jim's practical directions

I'm finding the learning curve to be positively enjoyable!

[Laugh if you like, but...]

at this price would it make a viable camping instrument?

 

Amazon.com is offering this Hohner D40 for $39.99

and free shipping, to boot!

 

Imagine cruising through the islands on a small sail boat.

You wouldn't want to risk taking your Wheatstone,

but a little concertina music at sundown would be sweet...

[CD naming Contest]

Your wife's response prompts me to suggest

Dog's Breakfast,

though you might think that unkind.

 

Your artwork brings to mind

Around the World in 36 Buttons

(or whatever number describes your instrument).

 

How about playing off on James Cook's splendid achievements with

Cook's Holiday; a Voyage of Discovery

?

 

Congratulations, by the way.

May your reviews be gratifying and your rewards abundant!

[Tutorial for the 20-button Anglo]

When my in-laws visited The Old Country

they brought me back a Stagi 20 Button Anglo.

I had never touched a concertina before,

but after repairing the leaking air button

and a sticky note button or two

I was eager to give it a whirl.

 

Alas, music does not come easy to me

(it took me a year to learn to play the ukulele,

and my kids still flinch when I furtively pull out my penny whistle),

so I needed a start-at-the-bottom tutorial.

I wondered for a while if I had the only 20-button box in captivity

as I had quite a time even finding a 20-circle fingering chart,

let alone a decent tutorial.

 

Last week I hit the jack pot with Alan Day's generous offering.

Alan assumes, as Newton said to Einstein, infinite ignorance and unlimited intelligence.

With refreshing economy he provides the most basic information

without beating the student over the head.

It's like having a trusted friend inviting one to join the fun.

 

I've made more progress in the past week

than in the previous six years,

and I'm having a blast!

 

I give this tutorial my highest recommendation,

and to Alan my sincere, enthusiastic thanks.

 

Actually, I seem to have hit the jack pot twice in the same week-

concertina.net is a fun, friendly, and enormously helpful community!

Thanks for the open door!

 

Shas