conzertino Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 I am looking for a small ES concertina for a child. Unfortunately I just missed a 18-key Stagi at German ebay. I have come across smaller instruments such as a 24 key Aeola or a piccolo-sized treble.... Any offers ( PM ) or comments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Holder Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 I am looking for a small ES concertina for a child. Unfortunately I just missed a 18-key Stagi at German ebay. I have come across smaller instruments such as a 24 key Aeola or a piccolo-sized treble.... Any offers ( PM ) or comments? I've always been of the opinion that the time you need the best instrument is when you're learning. A poor quality or limited instrument will only stifle the enthusiasm. What about a basic Lachenal 48 button EC, plenty of scope for learning! You can do some great chords when you've got lots of buttons! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reed Bellows Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I'd say go for a Jackie. They're 30-button EC's and if you get one brand new it's nice and stiff, which (I believe, your mileage may vary) is good for developing the "concertina muscles". Once they've learned on the Jackie and broken it in a good bit, then see if there's interest in upgrading to a standard 48-key box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johanna Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 The Button Box has a used 18-button Stagi in stock. I doubt that a child who's too small for a standard 48-button EC would be able to handle a Jackie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellowbelle Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I have a used Stagi, I don't want to sell it, but I just found this site that you might find interesting: Brunner (Stagi) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle's cook Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I would agree with Andy that a good basic Lachenal EC might be a good place to start - it will hold its value and if it falls out of favour for a few years it is likely to remain fully playable if properly stored (not so sure same can be said of Stagis and similar). I would also think contacting the likes of Chris Algar Barleycorn concertinas) or Theo (of this forum) might bear fruit in matching your specification to things they might have in stock or be aware of through their networks - that way you'll be getting a fully playable instrument with some sort of warranty - as a child I was completely put off playing the violin by being given a poorly set up instrument to learn on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johanna Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 as a child I was completely put off playing the violin by being given a poorly set up instrument to learn on. I've played Stagi concertinas, and I've played (or tried to play) poorly set up violins/other stringed instruments, and in my view there is no comparison between the two. Maybe you or others have had a different experience. In fact, the 18-button Stagi was my first concertina (although I was fully grown at the time), and as you can see, it did not put me off. But again, my experiences do not define everybody's. Of course, you have some limitations because of the 18-button range, but not as many as you might think. It depends what kind of music you want to play. For example, you can play probably 90-95% of the tunes in the Paul Hardy tunebook with no modifications. If you want to play music with a lot of accidentals (including harmonic/melodic minors), that starts to become a problem. I don't know how small a child we're talking about here, but if it's someone whose hands are too small to reach comfortably from the thumbstrap to the pinky rest on a normal EC, the 18-button Stagi might be a good solution, because you can adjust the length (as distinct from the tightness) of the thumb and pinky straps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conzertino Posted May 10, 2014 Author Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) I am still looking for a small ES concertina. After seeing pictures of a 24-key Jones and of a 24 key Aeola I feel the desire to get such a little one I tried a Stagi mini, but it didn't convince me... Edited May 11, 2014 by conzertino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilfein Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 If you want a baritone, I'm selling my Jack. http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=16585&do=findComment&comment=157392 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted May 25, 2014 Share Posted May 25, 2014 If you want a baritone, I'm selling my Jack. http://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=16585&do=findComment&comment=157392 I'm sure that by "small" Robert means physically small in comparison with a standard vintage 48-button treble English. The Jack, unfortunately, is not smaller, but much larger. I can understand the attraction of the smaller instrument. .Many years ago I had an opportunity to play with a friend's 24-button Lachenal EC. It's lowest note was middle C. Limited, but lovely within those limits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conzertino Posted May 26, 2014 Author Share Posted May 26, 2014 Thanks, Jim, but I am in fact both looking for a small ES concertina ( like the one you are talking about ) and a ME baritone Aeola ( in a different thread ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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