Iowaharper Posted April 26, 2023 Share Posted April 26, 2023 I'm looking to buy my first concertina (hurrah!), and so have been reading up, and also listening to/watching a variety of youtube videos. I've noticed that with some concertinas I can hear a clicking sound while it's being played, but not on others. Is that normal, or maybe a sign of a not so great instrument? Thanks for any guidance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDF Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 Tricky to say without at the least links to the videos.Could be a fantastic instrument which has pads that have gone a bit hard could be a not so good instrument with no bushings in and around the buttons? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Schulteis Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 The recording setup will also affect this. Mics set closer to the ends will pick up more action noise than a single mic a few feet back from the center of the bellows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMON GABRIELOW Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 I have noticed the sound to ( when I have seen videos) but I would not worry about the clicking, as I do not think it really matters overall; in. a way it is no more than playing mechanism of a real physical instrument, being heard, like the similar effect to hearing a guitar plectrum clicking over string, or the key or pedal of a piano thumping as it is used.. just all the effects of using real acoustic instrument in the hands of a performer.🌝 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerT Posted April 27, 2023 Share Posted April 27, 2023 It might be the sound of valves closing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papawemba Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Hello, I asked myself the same thing... Look at this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpCBdONhtjk You can hear the clicking sound...Not idea if this is a good or bad concertina, but the result is amazing 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Clicking can come from any part of the mechanism that is poor quality, worn, or badly adjusted.. On a metal ended instrument it can be the side of the button contacting the edge of the hole in the metal end plate, which usually only happens on an old instrument when the end bushings are worn. Lachenal action can sometimes click if the levers are worn or the spring pressure is too low Riveted action can click if there is wear at the rivets. Badly adjusted levers may hit the underside of the end frets if the button travel is too great. etc, etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDF Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 4 hours ago, papawemba said: Hello, I asked myself the same thing... Look at this video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpCBdONhtjk You can hear the clicking sound...Not idea if this is a good or bad concertina, but the result is amazing 😉 That one does sound like buttons without bushings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDF Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Just looked at another of his videos and the thumbnail to it show where I imagine the noise is coming from. The buttons are un-bushed and look quite slack in the end board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iowaharper Posted April 28, 2023 Author Share Posted April 28, 2023 Thanks everyone - I appreciate the replies. Does it make any difference if the buttons/keys are made of Delrin vs metal? (If it's a very basic question, please remember I'm just beginning to learn) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.elliott Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 The usual cause is that the felt dampers around the guide pegs at the base of the keys can compress or disintegrate and the guide peg taps on the bottom of the guide hole in the action plate. Hard pads are percussive but the sound is much duller. If pads that have too thicker felt is fitted, and then action height is adjusted to compensate, then the lever arm pad end grommet can strike the underside of the fretting. I have never had a clicking off action arms, riveted or other wise, nor from worn keys and bushes, the amount of play is not enough to generate an impact. Delrin (nylon) will make little difference (to tapping), other than to spoil the 'originality' of a traditional instrument. Bone keys are also traditional, and give the same characteristics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Eskin Posted May 1, 2023 Share Posted May 1, 2023 (edited) On many older instruments, I feel like the clicking of the mechanism is almost a integral part of the sound. I was recently transcribing a recording played on a really wonderful sounding old Jeffries C/G, and the clicks of the mechanism added an additional lovely rhythmic dimension to the cuts and rolls, sounded almost like they were double-cut and didn't distract from the music at all. Edited May 1, 2023 by eskin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seanc Posted May 1, 2023 Share Posted May 1, 2023 To me.it’s like fret noise. The squeak you hear on a guitar. It is just character. And part of the package. I would not get hung up on it. But, if it really bothers you. there are things you can do, as Theo has mentioned. I think that click, actually ADDS, to the sound and feel and in certain music can add a percussive component. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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