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I find that one of my Concertinas sounds much better if it is played a lot but never sounds happy if it remains in its box too long. After a hard night (or weekend) of playing, especially at sessions or with the band playing for a Dance, then it positively sings.... and if it is not played for a few days is sulks for an hour or more before coming alive. This is a 115 year old Wheatstone and one might think it had stabilised, grown up and knew how to behave! Now, I know from my day job as an instrument maker, that a new instrument needs to be 'played-in', usually for the best part of a year in the case of my instruments... but does this happen with Concertinas too ? I have recently recieved a new-ish Concertina which does not look as if it has been played much but the sound has improved since it arrived last week, I think because I have played it for a couple of hours each day for five days.. What do you think ? Are these things just mechanical boxes that sound as good as they will from the first day of their life or do they improve, sort of 'warm to the task' so to speak ?