Maarten Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 As a starting player of the english concertina I discovered that notes / buttons have been switched. The F2 and F # 2 (left) have swapped places. The same for the low B and Bb (right). Very difficult when learning to play the instrument properly. Does anyone recognize this? Factory error? Do I have to open the instrument and change the reeds? (Scary!) Who has good advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 We need to know a little more about the instrument. Traditional type construction with concertina reeds? German/Italian type construction with accordion reeds? Hybrid construction with accordion reeds? Are you the first owner? A picture is worth a thousand words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 Thanks David, I try to upload a picture (JPEG), but the upload seems to fail all the time...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 There we go..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Molkentin Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 2 hours ago, Maarten said: As a starting player of the english concertina I discovered that notes / buttons have been switched. The F2 and F # 2 (left) have swapped places. The same for the low B and Bb (right). Very difficult when learning to play the instrument properly. Does anyone recognize this? Factory error? Do I have to open the instrument and change the reeds? (Scary!) Who has good advice? it wouldn't make any sense to include both a sharp and a flat note in the middle rows - and even less so, when the swapping isn't repeated in the upper octave(s). best wishes - 🐺 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 I want to get rid of the F# and the Bb in the middle rows. But am afraid to open the instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little John Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 As it looks like a brand new instrument this must be a factory mistake. As Wolf says, it makes no sense. Can you take it back to from whom you bought it? Incidentally, when you refer to "F2" I assume you mean the second F up from the bottom. Elsewhere F2 is used to mean the F an octave and a half below middle C (which is C4). As a matter of interest, you will sometimes find the B and Bb "swapped" on old tenor or bass instruments. These play in a natural key of F and so are referred to as "F tenors" and "F basses". They were built for playing Eb parts from brass band scores (while the normal "C" instruments played the Bb parts). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 Thanks. Second hand (new) instrument. F/F# top line staff. B/Bb under first ledger line staff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex_holden Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 It might be fairly easy to swap the reed plates around inside, depending on how they are attached. If you aren't confident enough to tackle it yourself, an accordion technician should be able to do it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 (edited) Does the person you got it from (or do you) have the receipt? There’s no way it’s going to be corrected without taking it apart. If you can’t return it for a correct one, you’ll have to fix it yourself or find someone who can. [Alex’s similar suggestion appeared as I was writing this.] Edited November 18, 2020 by David Barnert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 It was a 'Marktplaats' thing. That's the Dutch Ebay, so to speak. I think I have to fix it myself. Unscrew it carefully. I watched some instructional videos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Molkentin Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 go ahead, Maarten 😊 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 Thanks for the mental support 😉 I'll make some pictures of the, hopefully succesfull, "into the heart of my concertina expedition".😱 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 This concertina has accordion type reeds held in place with wax. Anyone who does accordion repairs will be able to change the notes round for you. A few years ago I was contacted by an instrument importer near me. They had received a large delivery of concertinas with the exact same error in the note layout, which could only have been a factory error. Yours is almost certainly the same. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Posted November 18, 2020 Author Share Posted November 18, 2020 Thanks Theo, I won't start repearing (destructing) the instrument myself. And look for an accordeon specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 I did it anyway 😅 Since pictures often make more sense than words, I have added a few. The reeds seem to be screwed onto small wooden plates. A metal reed (right) and a 'thing next to it' (left). The wooden plate appears to be glued to the air drawer (is this the correct name?). Who can advise me what to do? Is this a common accordion construction? p.s. The instrument has been reassembled and still works fine. Also the swapped notes......😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Molkentin Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 very good 👏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maarten Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 The wrong notes are still on the wrong place.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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