seanc Posted June 3, 2020 Share Posted June 3, 2020 All, I fainally traded something and am within striking distance of making my upgrade happen. Looking for a bit of advice from the people that know a lot better than I do. I currently have a 48 button Lachenal. Steel reeds 6 fold. It sounds good. But looking for something faster and louder. The intent is at some point to do Irish sessions. And for a bit of reference, I have a metal ended AC Norman Anglo that I am making the fast/ loud comparison. trade to be transacted through the ever awesome Jazzy Greggie J.. the two available that I am looking at are a Wheatstone 21 and. Holmwood 56 TT. the 21 seems like the “everyone agrees” vote. But the Holmwood seems to be everybody’s “coulda woulda shoulda.. the one that got away. And . I should have grabbed it when I could” vote. Greg has also advised that the shape of the Holmwood buttons are not like everything out there. And this is not the lightest of beasts. can those that have immensely more experience give some thoughts? and unfortunately, with all that is going on “going out and trying them” is not possible. thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 (edited) My vote goes with the 21 every time. As you state your intention "at some point to do Irish sessions" ; I lived in Ireland for many years and have played a LOT of sessions on English concertinas. At one stage during those years I had a metal ended Wheatstone Aeola TT , a very good one, but I sold it when I came by a 48 Treble Rosewood model 5. It just had a sound more in keeping with Irish Trad. More recently I have owned several model 22's , my latest has more than enough power for sessions and the very noisy French trad band I play in. I also have a a wooden ended Aeola, no shrinking violet either, for playing at home. I have no experience of the Holmwood instruments. Edited June 4, 2020 by Geoff Wooff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanc Posted June 4, 2020 Author Share Posted June 4, 2020 Geoff, so far that seems to be consensus. A 21 is within reach, a 22 for time being is out. but this (so far) seems to be based on people having hands on experience with the Wheatstone. And not based on experience with the Holmwood. The Holmwood could be a superior choice. But there just seems to be a lack of feedback due to rarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 My vote goes to the 21 as well. I’ve had one Holmwood in my hands, also a Tenor Treble. Beautifully made and sounded good but it was heavy, possibly a little heavier than an equivalent Wheatstone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W3DW Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 I can't speak to the Holmwood, but my model 21 is quick and assertive, but not abrasive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Clearly there’s no wrong choice here. They’re both fine instruments, and whichever you choose you’ll probably to be happy with. The only likely regret would be wondering about “the one that got away.” Nearly 50 years ago, my father taught me a way to make such decisions between two seemingly equivalent choices. Flip a coin. Then, when you see which way it lands you have one chance to “turn it over,” that is, to reject the outcome and make the other choice. But it must be immediate and final. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Harrison Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Wheatstone........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanc Posted June 4, 2020 Author Share Posted June 4, 2020 3 hours ago, Theo said: My vote goes to the 21 as well. I’ve had one Holmwood in my hands, also a Tenor Treble. Beautifully made and sounded good but it was heavy, possibly a little heavier than an equivalent Wheatstone. Theo, aside from the weight? Is the 21 just a faster, louder, sharper instrument? And just all around better, maybe just not as attractive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Jowaisas Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 (edited) The contenders Edited June 4, 2020 by Greg Jowaisas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanc Posted June 4, 2020 Author Share Posted June 4, 2020 Greg.. yes the Holmwood is gorgeous and yes. You ARE killing me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Jowaisas Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 10 minutes ago, seanc said: Greg.. yes the Holmwood is gorgeous and yes. You ARE killing me. Hopefully, with kindness...and opportunity! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanc Posted June 4, 2020 Author Share Posted June 4, 2020 16 minutes ago, Greg Jowaisas said: Hopefully, with kindness...and opportunity! Definitely no complaints about you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Taylor Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 What the hell, just buy both of them and 'plan' to sell the one you like the least. That is what I tell my wife... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanc Posted June 4, 2020 Author Share Posted June 4, 2020 13 minutes ago, Don Taylor said: What the hell, just buy both of them and 'plan' to sell the one you like the least. That is what I tell my wife... I am struggling to sell enough for one.. two is way out at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcoover Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 I read somewhere online about Holmwoods that in addition to recommending wrist straps due to their weight, the buttons are rather pointy (half-spheres as opposed to being slightly domed), so this might be a factor in your decision. My Herrington Anglo has buttons like that and yes, they are not very comfortable. So perhaps Greg J can enlighten about this Holmwood. Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 Am I the only one who thinks the Holmwood fretwork looks like Trilobite fossils? I mean this in the best way, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Coles Posted June 4, 2020 Share Posted June 4, 2020 I guess that never occurred to me because there is no pygidium/tail. Ken (works across the hall from a trilobite paleontologist!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanc Posted June 6, 2020 Author Share Posted June 6, 2020 On 6/4/2020 at 7:49 PM, Ken_Coles said: I guess that never occurred to me because there is no pygidium/tail. Ken (works across the hall from a trilobite paleontologist!) I don’t see a tail.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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