Tina Swift Concertina - any good for a beginner?

[Paul Evenden]

I am looking to purchase an anglo concertina for Irish music. I currently have a Wheatstone English but would like to try the Anglo... There is a Tina Swift C/G in new condition near me for a good price ($800CDN). Are they any good? There is not much information around about them, even on the manufacturers site... are they 'Irish made' or Chinese? Is they quality good and playable without being frustrated? I don't have a 'big' budget for what I would like..  so thought this might be a place to start, learn the instrument and play along in sessions... 

 

Comments?

A good purchase or stay away??

[Ken_Coles]

Never heard of them, which leads me to suspect they might be rebadged, imported instruments. But I may be out of touch; let's see if someone here knows more.

 

Getting started on concertina without a big budget is challenging, though it can be done. Best of luck on the journey.

 

Ken

[Jillser Nic Amhlaoibh]

They're Chinese made. If it's near you and you're able to try it out then that will be the best way to determine whether it is likely to frustrate you and impede learning or be playable enough to keep you going til you decide to upgrade - there doesn't seem to be a lot of consistency with the Chinese made beginner instruments so you might find one that does what it says on the tin and you might find one that's merely a concertina shaped object. Best of luck whatever you decide.

[Oberon]

They aren't Irish made, they're Chinese. The Tina Swift is the same model as the McNeela Swan. They have the exact same construction and internals. 

 

The reeds are accordion reed plates waxed to the underside of the action board. 

 

The general consensus I've seen in regards to these instruments is that quality control is a bit all over the place, though a number of folks start on these though I've noted seeing those folks sell them fairly quickly as they wish to get a better playing instrument. 

 

If you want an Irish made box and not spend as much as the concertina reed models, the Clare is the best you can do for Irish made specifically and a lower price point but still significantly more than $800 CAD. Hand made boxes are always going to be pricey. 

 

I really like AC Norman concertinas as far as hybrids go. Well worth the money. Morse instruments are stupidly fast as well, though the cost of those concertinas are up there, for the same money you can grab many a vintage box, but it's all about what you're looking for 

 

You might find other vintage instruments in that price range though, from time to time. 

If you can't really justify the expense, the Swift is fine, it's not amazing but it's better than a stagi in terms of speed

Edited December 25, 2024 by Oberon

[Paul Evenden]

Thanks for the comments all (so far)

the budget is bigger than the price quoted, but not $3-4k big... 

 

If anyone has one for sale..... I'd be open...

Edited December 25, 2024 by Paul Evenden

[Kevin Knippa]

The Tina Swift appears to be a step up from the "regular" Tina...steel ends, leather bellows, stitched hand straps, Czech reeds...

 

Scroll down this page to see ICC's description - https://www.irishconcertinacompany.com/beginner-concertinas

 

I am not sure what they mean by "riveted action" on this concertina. It appears from the limited photos as though it still uses the shared-axle action of the Tina Black and the McNeela Wren.

 

Since it is an ICC product, I wonder if ICC's trade-up policy would apply even though you might purchase from a different source than directly from ICC?

 

 

[juris]

9 hours ago, Paul Evenden said:

I am looking to purchase an anglo concertina for Irish music. I currently have a Wheatstone English but would like to try the Anglo... There is a Tina Swift C/G in new condition near me for a good price ($800CDN). Are they any good? There is not much information around about them, even on the manufacturers site... are they 'Irish made' or Chinese? Is they quality good and playable without being frustrated? I don't have a 'big' budget for what I would like..  so thought this might be a place to start, learn the instrument and play along in sessions... 

 

Comments?

A good purchase or stay away??

Hi Paul, From the description the Tina Swift is a German type concertina and not an Anglo-German. The sound and action can never be as good as the Wheatstone you have. There's nothing you can't do on the English that can only be done with a German but for some drone and um-pa-pa effects. You might want to stick to the Wheatstone. If you want to fool around on a bellows-driven harmonica-type you could probably find a used one for 100-200 and see if you prefer this system. All the best, Juris Poruks

[PaulDa321]

It’s probably a decent way to get into the Anglo world. Buying used at a good price usually means you can sell without a loss when and if you upgrade. If you love it, then you will move up to something else when you can grow the budget. 

[gtotani]

Having in mind that retail price of new Tina Swift from ICC is 850 EUR which is equivalent to 1274CDA$, 800CDN sounds good. 

 

I used to own a McNeela Swan, which I believe to be equivalent to Tina swift. It is Chinese made, accordion reeds are fixed in place with wax, has riveted action. Far better than Wren2/Tina. However, manufacture and/or distributer do seem to have problem with quality control. Mine came with a sticky button due to the positioning of spring.  

 

Assuming that your main concertina is your Wheatstone English concertina and you just want to try Anglo out, purchasing this second hand would not be a bad choice, I reckon. If you find Anglo concertina fun at the end of the day and decide to upgrade, finding a next owner at the price would not be very hard. 

 

Totani

 

 

[Oberon]

On 12/25/2024 at 10:26 PM, juris said:

Hi Paul, From the description the Tina Swift is a German type concertina and not an Anglo-German. The sound and action can never be as good as the Wheatstone you have. There's nothing you can't do on the English that can only be done with a German but for some drone and um-pa-pa effects. You might want to stick to the Wheatstone. If you want to fool around on a bellows-driven harmonica-type you could probably find a used one for 100-200 and see if you prefer this system. All the best, Juris Poruks

It's just an Anglo in the standard sense. I think available in wheatstone layout but maybe Jeffries as well, depends on the company. But yeah, ICC offers instruments generally with the intent to play Irish traditional music.

 

Kevin, it has riveted action. The action is wire stock as opposed to flat stock, riveted to a pivot point. the buttons are Delrin or plastic and extend into the action board. The internals are very very similar to the Phoenix from McNeela too, and since the reeds are waxed to that action board as well, I really am not certain what the big price jump is worth between the Phoenix and the swan (Tina Swift). Reed quality maybe, perhaps bellows quality, but really not impressive enough differences to justify the price increase. 

[fred v]

I have a friend that bought the McNeala version of the Tina Swift and could not play it because the bellows were so stiff. I suggested exercising the bellows to see if they would loosen up. For that quality of instrument you might try a used Honer to see if you like the Anglo.

[Duncan Luddite]

@Paul Evenden It's probably worth looking at sites that specialise in antique Concertinas and see what they have. I just had a look at Concertina Shop's site here in Australia and they have this one, which at Aus -CAD exchange works out at $843CAD. Don't know what postage would be though

 

 

[Paul Evenden]

Thanks Duncan..

I am looking at a 30 key C/G as that is what i hear is best for Irish...