Toneking

[Silver]

So I’ve settled my heart on a certain brand or two to get next, but I keep looking at eBay anyway for funzies. 
 

I see a Toneking from Germany recently posted. Does anyone have any info on that brand? The only thing I keep seeing is an old thread asking this 5 years ago with no answers. I’m hoping maybe there’s answers now. 
 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305592351326?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=7Yz4tUIKR2W&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=gxev9b5brg2&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[richard]

My amateur guess is that this is a neat and cool looking instrument that looks in good condition. I think that the value of it is in its cool look, and good condition. I am skeptical whether one should pay this much for it if they really wanted a good quality instrument. In other words its value is as "collectable" but not as a musical instrument. It might be OK for a beginner instrument but be careful not to spend too much. If you love the look I suppose the price listed would be acceptable, but as far as being playable that is a gamble.

Edited June 2, 2024 by richard

[Theo]

I'd hazard a guess that the ebay description was written by the AI that ebay now offers sellers.  I tried their AI recently when I sold something there and it produced a load of plausible sounding waffle.   I think this description is in the same category.  Try asking the seller if all the notes play and when it was last tuned.  The answers will be revealing.  For this price you would expect a German concertina to have been serviced and tuned in preparation for the sale.

[digver]

Boy, that sure does sound like AI -- a lot of words with almost no useful info

[mandojoe]

Right!  I appreciated having the use of AI pointed out.  It immediately became clear to me why the copy read as it did ... and I began to see this language everywhere including in descriptions on Amazon.  When AI isn't scary, it's amusing. 

[Don Taylor]

On 5/31/2024 at 3:30 PM, Theo said:

load of plausible sounding waffle

I think that perfectly describes the reply I received  when I asked my (UK) MP a question about an issue in the forthcoming election.  Or maybe politicians perfected 'plausible sounding waffle' a very long time ago and the AI companies have been using their speeches as training material...

[Stephen Chambers]

On 5/31/2024 at 4:48 PM, Silver said:

I see a Toneking from Germany recently posted. Does anyone have any info on that brand?

 

"Toneking" was a brand name used (on various instruments) by The New York Band Instrument Co., once the largest music store in New York.

 

Their concertinas were made in Germany for them and were of (typical) "disposable" quality. This one is simply a cheap German instrument with nicer, fretcut rather than drilled, ends than usual.

 

 

Edited June 5, 2024 by Stephen Chambers

[Clive Thorne]

"Beatiful brown colour": I.e. It's brown.