Advice On Upgrading From A "jackie"

[Kaz]

Hi there! Just joined this forum today

 

I have a Jackie English concertina which I really love playing, however I am thinking of upgrading to a vintage instrument and would really appreciate any advice or suggestions on what models to look at ? my budget would be up to around £1000.

 

Many thanks,

Kaz

[Geoff Wooff]

First advice is that £1000 does not go very far towards a vintage EC. You could be lucky but the 'Find' rarely appears when you are seaching. I would plan to add somewhat to your budget.

 

I group vintage EC's in two basic categories; Players and Collectors:

 

Collectors would include all those beautiful rosewood instruments from the Victorian era, with bone or Ivory buttons, sometimes nice inlay decoration, Brass reeds, four fold bellows and hexagonal box. They can be nice players too , if in tip top condition ,but usually are harder work than those from my 'player' category. Makes include Lachenal, Wheatstone, Chidley,Scates, Case,Nichols etc etc.

 

Players are, for me, usually from about the turn of the 1900's until 1939 and either Lachenal or Wheatstone instruments, with metal buttons and steel reeds. Great improvement developments on the accoustic / playability side were introduced in at the end of the 19th century giving better dynamic range to the concertinas. 5 and later 6 fold bellows give easier wind management.

 

I am not sure of the current market values but a phone call or email to one of the dealers will establish these, but a flat wooden ended 48 treble from Lachenal, with steel reeds and metal buttons should not stretch your budget too much.

 

If I were you I would buy the best and don't cry over the price, the reason is that a fine instrument is usually always saleable. In 45 years of owning concertinas I have never lost money on re-selling.

 

My personal choice models (regardless) of price:

 

Lachenal New Model with Raised wooden ends.

 

Wheatstone with Raised ends in either Wood or metal. Also the Aeola models.

 

When one considers just how much time and fun can be had from playing an instrument they are not expensive items. The vintage models usually do not go down in value and they ain't making anymore of them....

 

My 'Band' instrument was made in 1898 and apart from a new bellows and straps it is all original and still playing up a storm.

 

So , buy one good concertina and keep it for life!

 

Good hunting.

 

Geoff.

 

PS; of course there are exceptions to all statements but Metal buttons usually run in felt bushes which makes movement smoother at all angles of finger actuation ( not all buttons are pressed with a perpendicular motion ) and steel reeds usually give a better dynamic range.

Edited May 6, 2017 by Geoff Wooff

[Kaz]

Thanks the advice Geoff,

 

I am currently looking at Lachenal models, metal buttons, steel reeds around my budget