What notes do you have on left hand button 6?

[Eugenides]

Hello, found a curious difference on my instrument today that I wanted to get some clarification on. 

 

I'm using a brand new Marcus concertina in Wheatstone layout, learning from Mr. Coover's Easy Anglo 1-2-3. In his book on page 57, he says that button 6 on the left side, the lower leftmost button, is a B/A, with that pull A matching 2a push, and makes a note a little later that rarely it will be a G/D. However, looking at a layout chart, that seems to be the case in Jeffries, not Wheatstone, like he's saying. In Wheatstone layouts I'm seeing, and on my instrument, that button is a B/D, with the pull D matching the push D of 7 directly adjacent. 

 

So is the book correct that usually that button is a B/A? Or is it a typo or outdated? I know it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, but I'm curious what usual wheatstone layouts look like.

 

Cheers! 

 

Gen 

[Ken_Coles]

[Note to others: we're discussing anglo concertina here.] Both B/D and B/A are out there; I find both varieties on Lachenal/Wheatstone layouts. Some may have been altered later in their lives. Many of us find B/A more useful (as that same D is in two other places on my anglo), but you learn to use whatever you have. That button is one of the things I'd check when considering whether to buy an anglo (along with the entire accidental row).

 

Ken

[Jesse Smith]

I have an A there on my Lachenal. I wouldn't prefer a D there since I already have the same pull D on the C row.

[gcoover]

I've seen it both ways, seems more common on Lachenals to have B/D, but the Herrington I originally learned on had B/A. Not sure why B/D even exists since there are plenty of other D's floating about, and that A is really useful.

 

I recently purchased Marcus #101 (1999) and it had B/D. That note threw me off just enough (gotta have that low A), so I went to Marcus in Newport, Wales, last September and Dave swapped out and tuned the new reed on the spot. I'm sure he'd be happy to fix yours too, either in person or by mail. Dave and Jayne are both lovely folks to deal with.

 

Gary

[Eugenides]

18 hours ago, gcoover said:

I've seen it both ways, seems more common on Lachenals to have B/D, but the Herrington I originally learned on had B/A. Not sure why B/D even exists since there are plenty of other D's floating about, and that A is really useful.

 

I recently purchased Marcus #101 (1999) and it had B/D. That note threw me off just enough (gotta have that low A), so I went to Marcus in Newport, Wales, last September and Dave swapped out and tuned the new reed on the spot. I'm sure he'd be happy to fix yours too, either in person or by mail. Dave and Jayne are both lovely folks to deal with.

 

Gary

I agree that the low A seems like it would be more useful there, since the note I'm getting is directly adjacent, but I feel like shipping a concertina from the US to Wales and back while having to pay by bank transfer would make this into a much bigger deal than I would like to make of it. I do agree that they were lovely people to work with and they make beautiful instruments, and I know they'd oblige me if I requested. I just wonder if it's worth putting them all through the trouble for one note that I technically also have on that hand. 

 

Editing to add that the more I think about it, the more I feel like I would enjoy having that swapped out, but it's probably not worth shipping costs. Including labor, currency conversion, and shipping, it would probably be another 25% of the cost of the instrument originally to change out one reed on a wonderful, perfectly playable instrument. Perhaps if I ever visit Wales in person I'll bring mine with me and drop in.

Edited July 8, 2024 by Eugenides

[Jesse Smith]

2 hours ago, Eugenides said:

Editing to add that the more I think about it, the more I feel like I would enjoy having that swapped out, but it's probably not worth shipping costs. Including labor, currency conversion, and shipping, it would probably be another 25% of the cost of the instrument originally to change out one reed on a wonderful, perfectly playable instrument.

Marcus concertinas are hybrids with accordion reeds, right? I'm not exactly sure what kind of reed plates you have, but I would bet there is an accordion fettler much closer to you who could swap out the reed and/or plate without too much difficulty.

[gcoover]

Or I'll bet Dave could send you a new reed plate and you could install it yourself since they are only held in place with two small screws. Not quite as exciting as a trip to Wales, though!

Gary

[Takayuki YAGI]

Back to the topic, my early Jones and Henry Harley had G/D on LHS button 6 push /pull. Connor and Edgley had B/A. One of the Lachenals and early Bastari had B/D. And another Lachanal had B/C. So it varies. But I prefer B/A.

[jkmelb]

As I said in another post, my 20 button Lachenal has B/C on button no. 6, as Takayuki YAGI mentioned. Is that common or unusual for Lachenals?

 

https://www.concertina.net/forums/index.php?/topic/28952-extreme-re-tuning-a-lachenal-reed/#comment-244883