Different volumes on either side

[rebent]

Good morning everyone! I just picked up my first ever concertina after discovering their beauty in a junk shop on Lake Superior. I was able to find a Scholer for $80 on craigslist. It looks like it's in great shape - all the buttons work and it's not horribly out of tune, so good enough for me!

 

I do have a couple of questions about it that I was hoping someone here could answer. First, the notes on the left side are much louder than the ones on the right side and drown them out. Is this typical, or is there an adjustment that can be made? Second, the notes on the right side are a bit hesitant to play, and require to be pushed in a bit further. This I am sure is not standard - have I any options in making them more responsive?

 

Thanks everyone!

[Geoff Wooff]

Looks as if you should make a visit to a concertina or Accordion repairer because this does not sound normal. Some notes might drown out others but if it is as you say that the notes on the left are much more powerfull than those on the right then this sounds like a leak or the little valves by the reeds are in poor condition.

If you wish to take it appart to look for the differnces from one side to the other you may be better able to describe the problems and perhaps someone here can help.

[Jody Kruskal]

I do have a couple of questions about it that I was hoping someone here could answer. First, the notes on the left side are much louder than the ones on the right side and drown them out. Is this typical, or is there an adjustment that can be made?

 

When I had my first Anglo concertina, it was a Bastari and it also had the problem of the left hand notes being louder than the right. This can even be true for very expensive instruments in good repair. If you are playing single line tunes then it’s not much of a problem but for harmonic self accompaniment it is.

 

The way around it is through playing technique. Left hand short, right hand long. That is to say, play accompaniment chord buttons staccato and melody buttons legato. Parallel harmony notes and octaves can also be played long but just tap any om pa stuff with a very short button down duration. Pick your fingers right up for bass and low accompaniment notes.

 

Best of luck with it!

Edited September 3, 2012 by Jody Kruskal