Swallow Concertina - Mcneela.. So Many Issues

[chansherly212]

2 stuck keys , a silent reed, a key that won't be pressed.. I've heard good reviews on the swallow, so this is just not what i expected..

 

it has travelled a long way, from ireland to Malaysia (but via passenger airplane! a friend of mine so graciously helped me transport it back,after his trip to Ireland, so i dont think this is due to transit).. and now it has to travel back ..sigh.. Maybe it's just a bad apple in an otherwise good basket, i just happen to draw the short straw... sorry, there's no real purpose for this post, just wanted to vent

 

 

[shelly0312]

I feel your pain. Had a similar experience with a "new" used purchase. Sent it right down to Greg Jowaisas here in the US. He will make it right for me.

[MatthewVanitas]

A Swallow is a hybrid concertina, so couldn't you just find someone in Malaysia who is able to repair accordions (or even reed organs?) and have them fix it up? The problems you describe sound like something that wouldn't be at all challenging for someone with a musical background and some mechanical skill.

[Don Taylor]

I suspect that the Swallow is actually a Chinese mass-manufactured concertina that, at best, has been tweaked by the vendor in Ireland.

 

Does this look familiar? http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Concertina-musical-instrument_309542590.html

 

If it is this concertina, then odds are pretty good that it has a Stagi-like action. The problems that you describe sound very much like the problems folks have had with Stagi actions.

 

There have been lots of posts about fixing these problems so if you are prepared to open the box and you have some mechanical facility and patience, lots of patience, then you can probably fix it yourself.

 

This is the (very old) mother post for fixing Stagis:

http://www.concertina.net/gs_stagirepair.html

The tubing mentioned here is no longer available, but there are substitutes including surgical tubing.

 

If you think that you want to go ahead with fixing this yourself, then spend some time with Mr. Google doing a site search on concertina.net. Something like "site:concertina.net Stagi action repair"

 

If not, then Matthew's advice to look for a local accordion repair shop is good - these actions and reeds have a lot more in common with accordions than they do with vintage concertinas.

 

Good luck,

 

Don.

 

In retrospect, my cynicism is probably unfounded. McNeela does say that it has a riveted action which would not be the same as a Stagi action. Likely much better than a Stagi. I would love to see a picture of the insides of this box.

Edited April 9, 2015 by Don Taylor

[Graham Collicutt]

This is the concertina: http://www.irishmusik.com/the-swallow-concertina/

[Wolf Molkentin]

My guess would be that the "alibaba" model could very well be a rough copy like the Rochelle clones...

[Don Taylor]

My guess would be that the "alibaba" model could very well be a rough copy like the Rochelle clones...

You are right. McNeela's description of the Swallow says it has a riveted action action (plus Italian reeds) so my musings about Stagi actions are probably wrong.

[malcolm clapp]

To quote the advertising hype:

 

"The reeds are firmly screwed on to a newly made reed pan. With other models the reeds are attached with wax, which possibly mutes the reeds."

 

At fear of being somewhat pedantic, this description is, at best, questionable, or, at worst, misleading. It is the reed plates, not the reeds, that are screwed to the reed pan (I hope!!!) And, wow, a newly made reed pan; why would any maker of new instruments use a not-newly made reed pan? As for reeds (or, hopefully, reed plates) that are attached with wax causing a muting of the reeds, I assume Mr McNeela has never played a Morse Ceili....

 

I realise that the above comments are not helpful to the OP, but it is perhaps indicative of a certain lack of care and attention from some retailers that would certainly put me off recommending their products.

 

Good luck, Chansherly, I hope the problems with this concertina can be successfully resolved, and even if you do not return it to the seller, I hope you will let him know of its shortcomings.

[Don Taylor]

"The reeds are firmly screwed on to a newly made reed pan. "

I wonder if McNeela bought a box of concertinas off Alibaba (they look identical to me) and made new reed pans and action boards for them. Not a bad idea if the bellows and ends are serviceable.

 

[adrian brown]

To quote the advertising hype:

 

"The reeds are firmly screwed on to a newly made reed pan. With other models the reeds are attached with wax, which possibly mutes the reeds."

 

A bit further down the page it says:

 

McNeela Instruments provide a great after sales service which includes any repairs free for the first three years.

Free International Shipping

Not sure if the "free international shipping" applies to repairs too, but at least the repair itself should be free.

Adrian

[Wolf Molkentin]

To quote the advertising hype:

 

"The reeds are firmly screwed on to a newly made reed pan. With other models the reeds are attached with wax, which possibly mutes the reeds."

 

At fear of being somewhat pedantic, this description is, at best, questionable, or, at worst, misleading. It is the reed plates, not the reeds, that are screwed to the reed pan (I hope!!!) And, wow, a newly made reed pan; why would any maker of new instruments use a not-newly made reed pan? As for reeds (or, hopefully, reed plates) that are attached with wax causing a muting of the reeds, I assume Mr McNeela has never played a Morse Ceili....

 

This has been discussed before. At least the oddity I picked up by myself back than

 

"It comes with 6 fold leather bellows – one more bellow allows more air through to the reeds meaning the slighest movement creates sound. A better, faster response"

seems to have been removed. Hard to say if it's just a badly written website (Mikefule in the former thread) or there's some significance towards the quality of the instrument itself...

Edited April 10, 2015 by blue eyed sailor