HansiRowe Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 (edited) Hi Guys... Just thought that I would let you know that my Lachenal has finally arrived in Australia from the UK! I love it but I can't say I was too impressed with the packing when I went to the airport to pick it up from one of the world's leading courier services… the moment I saw the box I noticed that the bottom of the box had been opened and was badly re-sealed by the courier with a lot of tape. Inside, I found a leaflet informing me that it had been opened for inspection by customs, but, instead of re-packing it they had simply pushed it back into the box, on top of the packing, so that the actual concertina was pressed up against the bottom of the cardboard box without any packing at all in-between it and the box, with just a rubber band holding the bellows together!. Unfortunately, I presumed that such an old instrument would have its own case, I didn't think to ask when I ordered it, so it was simply sent with the rubber band and a lot of polystyrene to protect it from the world. Mmmmmm... Anyway, luckily, it wasn't damaged but I now have to hunt around for a case. I've tried every musical instrument shop in Perth and only one has a cheap canvas bag, which I don't think I'll bother with. I may have to, once again, look overseas for something suitable. The Lachenal itself is beautiful and I'm very impressed with the rich tone… the buttons feel light to touch and nice and springy, the bellows easy to draw and push without any apparent loss of air. In short, a lovely little concertina and now starts the fun of learning to play it... Cheers, John Edited September 13, 2014 by HansiRowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewVanitas Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 John, so glad to hear it made it to you safe and you're enjoying it! Certainly looks lovely, and I assume it's around a 6.25" size across the flats of the frets, nice and trim? Definitely looking forward to how you get on learning with it. If you decide to try some Irish tunes on it, while you could find some tunes in C and play along the C row, one convenient way could also be to use any pitch-shifting tool and take regular Irish songs based on D (and its related modes like E Dorian), and use the tool to shift that digital track down one step. That way you could practice playing along with about any album of Irish music. I've had great success using the program called "Amazing Slower Downer". It's $20 for a computer, but only $5 or so for a smartphone, so I really enjoyed loading tunes onto my phone, and then using the ASD to play them slower (or in a different key, it has many capabilities) and listen to it with earphones while playing along on my melodeon. Just one potential way to get around the "standardization" of Irish to "D" in the modern era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 A suitable box for your concertina: The original wooden boxes look nice but the postage from the UK will be as much as the thing is wrth. The protective value of those old box is not wonderfull either. What I would do, and have done is search around for a secondhand photographic gadjet bag..... these can be had for half-nothing these days as a lot of photographers have moved on from carrying a 35mm Reflex with a spare lens or two and now use a small Digital camera with zoom lens. You just need to find one with a good shape.... Five dollars should buy you one. I carry my very valuable session Wheatstone in one of when out and about at festivals. Secondhand markets , where people sell their unwanted stuff, are great hunting grounds for this sort of thing...... you might even come across a concertina!! The Italian company "Fuselli" make a circular padded bag for concertinas.... sold through shops ... they are ok but no better than an old camera bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansiRowe Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Thanks Matthew… that 'Amazing Slower Downer' sounds very handy, I'll definitely have a look into that. Yes, the Lachenal is 6 and a quarter inches across, a nice compact size and very manageable and light in the hand. Thanks Geoff, that's a good idea about a photographer's bag or case, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and with plenty of padding, I'll have a look on eBay, etc. and see what I can find... Cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maki Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindizzy Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 I was given an old camera case that a friend found in their attic. It's a Sacar like this one ... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Sacar-Leather-Camera-Bag-/380994848714?pt=UK_Camera_Cases_Bags_Covers&hash=item58b51007ca I blocked the interior with some padding and it fits a standard size hexagonal concertina (or my 12 sided Edeophone) very nicely, with about 1/3rd of the bag free at one end for other stuff. It's good and solid, with a decent catch on the lid and both handles and a shoulder strap. If you see one of these, check the size, they came several shapes and sizes. Mine is the same as the one in the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansiRowe Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 Thanks for the info Chris… that leather case does look as if it would be perfect. I'll check out the various on-line buying & selling sites to see what's on offer. The case will mainly be used for just storing the concertina in as I will only be playing at home, so, hopefully, I should be able to find something suitable that will protect it... Many thanks for your advice… cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansiRowe Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 Congratulations! Thanks Maki… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maki Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 Congratulations! Thanks Maki… I just remembered that my wife uses a musical instrument humidifier when she cases her mandolin. Usually we leave our instruments out, but when we have Santa Ana winds, which are extremely dry winds from an interior high, they all get put away with humidifiers. She bought the Oasis brand but we recently read on line that they can leak, so we put them in open zip lock bags. There are other products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansiRowe Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 "I just remembered that my wife uses a musical instrument humidifier…" Hi Maki That's a great idea… I should have thought about that as, some years ago I lived in Vienna, Austria, and during the freezing cold winter months we used to use a room humidifier to protect our piano and my guitars, recorders, etc. from the hot, dry, centrally heated air. Thanks for reminding me… in fact I'm just looking into small, musical instrument humidifiers to see what's available in Australia, and, as you say… there are other products, in fact, quite a few of them. Are there any other members of this forum who live in Australia who use humidifiers? I would be very interested to hear what type you use, etc.? Thanks again Maki… cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spindizzy Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 I believe others have also had success with Vanity cases. If you're lucky you can sometimes find these very cheaply in charity shops etc. You'd have to check out the dimensions but something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professional-Beauty-Make-Up-Nail-Tech-Cosmetic-Box-Vanity-Case-Storage-Bag-/181504135563http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Professional-Beauty-Make-Up-Nail-Tech-Cosmetic-Box-Vanity-Case-Storage-Bag-/181504135563 (in a fetching pink :-) or http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Vanity-Case-/191328177197?pt=UK_Vintage_Accessories&hash=item2c8c0c4c2d http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Pixie-Personal-Luggage-Vanity-Case-/161418710481?pt=UK_Tickets_Travel_Luggage_CA&hash=item25954e0dd1 Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff lowes Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Hi, If you do not intend to use the box for 'travelling' I would suggest a nice glass fronted china cabinet . You concertina would have pride of place and there will be lots of room for other items. Definately not suitable for portability though.Hope you are enjoying your 'new' box. Regards Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansiRowe Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 Thanks Chris & Geoff... That's a good idea about the vanity case… I did see a make-up case on eBay but the inner dimensions were a bit tight, I'll do some searches for vanity cases instead, that might bring up something different and hopefully there might be something here in Australia. I do actually have a glass cabinet that I display my ships in bottles collection in but, I'm thinking that if I have a good case I can keep it in a cool part of the house downstairs during the summer... I've been looking at photographic cases as well but most of them are just a bit too shallow… I'm sure that I'll find something soon, I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks again, cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Storm m2075 virtually indestructible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann-p Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 Re Spindizzy's comment about Vanity cases. I have bought one on ebay , taken all the inside bits out and fitted it with corner blocks made of closed cell foam covered with velvet. Any velour type fabric will do, or green baize. Can glue carefully on the back edge, or sew if handy with a needle! I have a shoulder strap to go with this if I want to take the concertina out. Not good enough to go public yet though! This case is a hard case so safe for that. It carries a 55key Lachenal Maccann whose leather case is very rough and flakey. The vanity case is a black Antler brand. Cost about £7 on ebay and a few hours fiddling around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansiRowe Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 (edited) Thanks Chris & Ann… yes, it's looking more and more like I'll go for a hard-shell vanity case… I've seen a couple on eBay and I've just made enquiries about the inner dimensions of one of them. I love the storm cases but they cost almost as much as my concertina…! I don't think I've ever come across a 2nd hand one unfortunately… thanks for the tips on how to fit out the case Ann, that's roughly what I have in mind if I can find one the right size. I'm only looking on the Australian eBay so it's a bit limited... Cheers, John Edited September 17, 2014 by HansiRowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted September 17, 2014 Share Posted September 17, 2014 (edited) If you look hard enough you may find one of these.Real leather Vanity case large enough for two concertinas. Purchased at auction of £25.Very much admired.Especially by me. Al Edited September 17, 2014 by Alan Day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansiRowe Posted September 17, 2014 Author Share Posted September 17, 2014 Thanks Al… yes, I wouldn't mind one of those, looks really good. There are some good things on the UK eBay but the cost of sending them to Oz is too much and the wait too long. The vanity case that I was interested in turned out to be just slightly too small inside… I've been looking at all sorts of things, make-up cases, vanity cases, tool-boxes, camera cases, ammunition boxes, etc. etc. something will come along one of these days... Cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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