My New Edeophone

[Dirge]

I completed a deal that Mike Acott and I had been moving towards for a couple of years this summer. A long time ago he told me that he'd acquired a 'box that he thought 'had my name on it'; 3 years on I've finally taken delivery.

 

It is a 61 key. Here she is: Normally I would tell you that a 61 had too short a register for me but this one has lost 4 buttons off the top of the LH and gained extra bass notes in the released space. Instead of going down to A as normal it now goes down to F below the bass stave (but with no sharp). The lost LH top notes are a nuisance at times but the extra bass is a good trade.

 

Here's the bass end Not much spare room there! You can see that the bass F has a well loaded reed and I wonder if that was because there simply wasn't room to get the length of a full one in. Perhaps because of this it's a bit sleepy but it is still playing in, and various other reeds are only starting to come to life again as well, so I'm waiting to see.

 

Finally Mike tells me that it has one more bellows fold than is usual in a 61 too.

 

This is a smaller X section instrument than I've played for a while. I've noticed that it is easier to heft and play, but fine control on dynamics needs more concentration than with a big one because every little tremor gets transmitted straight to the reeds whereas the bigger ones damp 'wobbles' out a bit. It's tone is more 'In your face' too. I can imagine it would be a good instrument to play in the pub, forcing it's way over the casual chat. I need that extra bellows fold and still have to watch the air. On the other hand I can play all the Stanley music I have from the ICA on it, which are written for 67 or 71 key instruments, so that isn't bad.

 

So there. New toy. I'm very pleased with it.

 

Incidentally as a result of my visit to Mike he now has my 67 aeola, which is as nice a duet as you could want, it really is a lovely instrument. I couldn't think of a way of convincing Sally I should keep it as well sadly. But if you want a really superb 67 (with the Gsharp swapped for an F in the bass for added utility) you could give him a ring.

[Greg Jowaisas]

Congratulations, Dirge!

 

Here is a picture of a monster I bid on a few years back. Larger instrument i believe and another way to make space for the low reeds.

 

Greg

 

 

[Dirge]

Congratulations, Dirge!

 

Here is a picture of a monster I bid on a few years back. Larger instrument i believe and another way to make space for the low reeds.

 

Greg

 

 

Thank you kindly sir!

 

Wossat then? Got to be a 71 or an 81 but according to a quick count it's too big for one and too small for the other!

[Greg Jowaisas]

Congratulations, Dirge!

 

Here is a picture of a monster I bid on a few years back. Larger instrument i believe and another way to make space for the low reeds.

 

Greg

 

 

Thank you kindly sir!

 

Wossat then? Got to be a 71 or an 81 but according to a quick count it's too big for one and too small for the other!

 

Dirge,

As far as I can tell I only saved one pic of the instrument and the auction, which was 3-4 years ago, is ancient history to me. If I discover another pic of the RH then mystery solved but until then it may be up to your considerable deductive MacCann powers.

 

The game is afoot!

 

Greg

[saguaro_squeezer]

Congratulations, Dirge, that looks like a fine box.. My Crane goes down to F below the staff with a sharp but I'm still in search of that elusive C-2.

 

 

[Dowright]

Dirge,

It would be interesting to know the serial number. My guess is that the serial number is above 3600. All 61-key Edeophone Maccann (14 instruments) for which I have information have serial numbers above 3600.