My new Jeffries Anglo

[Mikefule]

A while ago I got into a "frank exchange of views" in this forum during which I said I'd almost certainly never be able to afford a better concertina due to artificially high prices. Let's not rehash that discussion, but the good news (for me, but not my neighbours!) is I've now got one.

 

It literally meant adding to the mortgage, and yes, I could have done with carpets and furniture, but I now have a beautiful professionally restored B flat/F Jeffries Anglo. I'm not sure quite which keys you do or don't count, but including the drone and the air button it's about 40. More than I know what to do with anyway!

 

I have also to thank the great generosity of spirit of my friend and teacher who could certainly have got rather more on the open market than he asked me to pay. (No, I won't give figures.)

 

It has one or two non-standard touches like 7 fold bellows, and one or two of the accidentals have been moved to avoid confusion when transferring tunes from one box to the other. It's a beautiful working instrument, rather than a display piece, and it's all I can do to put it down.

 

After two years of enjoying playing my beloved G/D Marcus, it suddenly feels slow and clunky by comparison. Musicians who have heard the Jeffries comment on the warm tone of the reeds. Somehow the buttons are just in the right places - it takes longer for me to adjust back to the Marcus than it takes me to adjust to the Jeffries.

 

It's a huge pleasure to own such an instrument, but an even huger one to play it.

[Michael Eskin]

Congratulations!

[Alan Day]

Good luck and congratulations.

A few hours writing down all the notes on the push and pull will not be wasted.

Al

[Ptarmigan]

Always good news indeed, to hear that a vintage instrument has found its way to a good home!

 

Have fun & congratulations.

 

Cheers

Dick

[david_boveri]

congratulations! glad you have a new friend,

[Greg Jowaisas]

A good Jeffries is pure joy! (At least for the player!!)

 

Much happy playing,

 

Greg

[michael sam wild]

Well done you have a generous friend . I was similarly fortunate. Any chance of a few pics?

[Jim Besser]

 

 

It's a huge pleasure to own such an instrument, but an even huger one to play it.

 

 

I went the same route a few months ago and haven't regretted it for a second. Other concertinas are nice, but if you admire the Jeffries sound, there's nothing else that satisfies the itch. And the Bf/F is, to my ear, the most sublime of Jeffries (I have a G/D, which is wonderful in its own way).

 

Congrats.

[Azalin]

I know the feeling, when you're longing for the special instrument but can't manage to get one for a long while... it's simply pure joy when you finally get your hand on one! Great concertina reeds make all the difference don't they? :-)