Parker135 Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 I'd love to hear from folks who own or have played Wakker Anglo concertinas, and in particular, the A4 model which is aimed at Irish playing. Any comparisons to other traditional Anglo concertinas would be interesting (Carroll, Suttner, Kensington, Edgley, etc.) I've tried posting this on social media, and I'm getting the idea that maybe there just aren't that many Wakker Anglos out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Hillman Posted August 19, 2023 Share Posted August 19, 2023 I, too, would be interested to hear from folks in the know. I'm on Mr. Wakker's list and hoping my name will come up sometime this year. Most of his concertinas I've seen in the wild or on YouTube are either English or Haydens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted August 21, 2023 Share Posted August 21, 2023 Some years ago I briefly played one of the earliest Wakker Anglos and liked it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker135 Posted August 21, 2023 Author Share Posted August 21, 2023 I think I may have a chance to compare a Wakker and a Carroll this fall. Maybe I can post something, which will be from the viewpoint of someone with just under two year's experience with the concertina. Still hoping to hear from others! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 23, 2023 Share Posted August 23, 2023 I purchased a Wakker A4 in 2013, and I am delighted with it. Quality of construction: excellent. Reeds, bellows, action are top-notch. Quality of sound: superb. Very well suited to Irish tunes, as advertised. Ease of play: effortless. I have a Dipper C/G and some Jeffries (C/G, Bb/F, Ab/Eb), and they all require a bit more effort, particularly on reels. The Wakker is louder than the Dipper, but quieter than the Jeffries. The timbre is very pleasing. Perhaps a bit less "personality" than the timbre of the Dipper and Jeffries, but that's part of the charm of concertinas. Every instrument is different. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker135 Posted August 23, 2023 Author Share Posted August 23, 2023 8 hours ago, Frosty said: I purchased a Wakker A4 in 2013, and I am delighted with it. Quality of construction: excellent. Reeds, bellows, action are top-notch. Quality of sound: superb. Very well suited to Irish tunes, as advertised. Ease of play: effortless. I have a Dipper C/G and some Jeffries (C/G, Bb/F, Ab/Eb), and they all require a bit more effort, particularly on reels. The Wakker is louder than the Dipper, but quieter than the Jeffries. The timbre is very pleasing. Perhaps a bit less "personality" than the timbre of the Dipper and Jeffries, but that's part of the charm of concertinas. Every instrument is different. Frosty, how would you describe the dynamic range? If you don't necessarily want to be the loudest in a session, can you throttle back a little and still have all the playing qualities you describe? I really appreciate your comments, and I'm happy you're happy with your A4! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 24, 2023 Share Posted August 24, 2023 Yes, the reeds respond well both with lower bellows pressure and with higher bellows pressure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker135 Posted August 24, 2023 Author Share Posted August 24, 2023 Looking more at their website, I see an expected delivery time of 3 to 4 years for a new concertina. Maybe that's why we don't see or hear of them that often! At my age, I don't think I want to wait that long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gtotani Posted August 25, 2023 Share Posted August 25, 2023 I enquired about the waiting list of Wakker Concertina last year. I was informed by mail that > The lead time (waiting time) for a Wakker concertinas currently is 48-50 months (around 4 years). > The waiting time has been pretty stable for the last 30 years, with 3 years as the shortest and 5 years > as the longest lead time. I started playing concertina 5 years ago, and one of Wakker concertinas could have been mine if I had joined the waiting list at that time! Totani Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker135 Posted August 25, 2023 Author Share Posted August 25, 2023 Wow. If only we could see into the future! I didn't know how much I would enjoy the concertina and only recently have begun considering an upgrade from my Clover. Thanks for your info about the wait times. I won't bother emailing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff W. Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 I also have a clover -- I got on the list August 2020, and an e-mail follow up to Wim in June last year put me about "halfway".... so maybe next year?? I figure one day it'll just happen. I'm looking to get a 40-key wheatstone anglo when the time comes. I'm also on a few other waitlists -- I think one thing to consider, Parker, is if you want to upgrade from a Clover it's either going to be vintage or one of these waitlists. Might as well get on a couple now if you think you're gonna stick to it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parker135 Posted September 26, 2023 Author Share Posted September 26, 2023 Hi Geoff. I'm on the list for a Kensington, hoping for one by spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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