Looking to buy starter Anglo 30 key C/G

[Lukeagreg]

Hi there!

Hoping I can find some help here. I'm in my 20s, and recently became very interested in learning the anglo concertina. I've done enough research to know that I should pass up the McNeela Wren 2, so looking for something akin to the Swan or Phoenix. Considered the Rochelle, but it seems a bit bulky, not opposed to hearing offers for a used Rochelle, Rochelle 2, or Minstrel though. Budget is limited to ~$700, but willing to consider other offers if it's an amazing deal. For reference, I'm located in Southern California.

Thanks!

Edited April 29, 2025 by Lukeagreg
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[David Lay]

Buy a better used instrument in good condition rather than a new Chinese made one.  Spend as much as you can.  A better instrument will keep its value much better so that even if you quit, you will sell it more easily.

[Alan Day]

Have a chat with Paul Groff (A member here) who restores concertinas and has a good reputation. He may be able to help you.

Al

[gtotani]

I play Minstrel and used to own Rochelle-2 and McNeela Swan. 

From my experience, there is a huge "jump" between Rochelle-2 and Minstrel and they are not really comparable. 

Minstrel is budget Clover but not luxury Rochelle/Rochelle-2. 

 

Yet, if your budget is really limited to 700USD, which is far less than the price of a brand-new McNeela Swan, Rochelle would not a bad choice as a starter instrument.

 

FYI, there is a shop in Kyoto which specialises in celtic music. The shop sells generic(?) McNeela concertinas at the shop's own brand names. They tend to be generally lower-priced than McNeela and you may consider buying one from the shop.  For instance, Shamrock (equivalent to Swan) is priced at JPY153,700. This is something like USD1,080. I do not why, but Heather (equivalent to Phoenix) is priced lower at JPY134,700, which can be converted to USD950. 

 

Totani

https://celtnofue.com/store/concertina.html

[Lukeagreg]

On 4/29/2025 at 3:04 PM, Alan Day said:

Have a chat with Paul Groff (A member here) who restores concertinas and has a good reputation. He may be able to help you.

Al

Do you know how I could get in touch with him? Found his account on here but seems he hasn't posted since 2022.

Edited May 1, 2025 by Lukeagreg
grammar

[Lukeagreg]

On 4/29/2025 at 5:51 PM, gtotani said:

I play Minstrel and used to own Rochelle-2 and McNeela Swan. 

From my experience, there is a huge "jump" between Rochelle-2 and Minstrel and they are not really comparable. 

Minstrel is budget Clover but not luxury Rochelle/Rochelle-2. 

 

Yet, if your budget is really limited to 700USD, which is far less than the price of a brand-new McNeela Swan, Rochelle would not a bad choice as a starter instrument.

 

FYI, there is a shop in Kyoto which specialises in celtic music. The shop sells generic(?) McNeela concertinas at the shop's own brand names. They tend to be generally lower-priced than McNeela and you may consider buying one from the shop.  For instance, Shamrock (equivalent to Swan) is priced at JPY153,700. This is something like USD1,080. I do not why, but Heather (equivalent to Phoenix) is priced lower at JPY134,700, which can be converted to USD950. 

 

Totani

https://celtnofue.com/store/concertina.html

Thanks for all the info! I put $700 as I'm possibly able to stretch to 9, but wanted to leave myself a buffer. 

I checked out the Celtnofue store, and my only concern is shipping (and tariff) cost from Japan. I found the Heather model from them listed on ebay for ~$1400, which makes me concerned. Do you have any insight on this?

 

[Alan Day]

8 hours ago, Lukeagreg said:

Do you know how I could get in touch with him? Found his account on here but seems he hasn't posted since 2022.

I have spoken to Paul on your behalf and due to an accident Paul is not trading at the moment and cannot help you. Good luck with your search. Al

[Lukeagreg]

1 hour ago, Alan Day said:

I have spoken to Paul on your behalf and due to an accident Paul is not trading at the moment and cannot help you. Good luck with your search. Al

I hope he's ok. Thanks a ton for reaching out though!

[gtotani]

Sorry, I have no clue. 

Better ask Celtonofue directly. 

The website is not very English-friendly, but they have good command of English. 

The shop usually responds to inquiries in a day or two, but Japan is enjoying a big holiday season (so called "Golden week") and responses at this time of the year may be delayed. 

 

FYI, the listed price includes domestic 10% tax in Japan, and you may be able to ask for discount since your purchase is not a domestic consumption. 

Should this work, the discount may offset some portion of S&H cost.

 

Use this link for inquiry to Celtonofue. You need to fill in the fields:

Your Name

Your email address

Title of inquiry

Detailed inquiry

 

https://celtnofue.com/contact/contact.html

 

 

10 hours ago, Lukeagreg said:

Thanks for all the info! I put $700 as I'm possibly able to stretch to 9, but wanted to leave myself a buffer. 

I checked out the Celtnofue store, and my only concern is shipping (and tariff) cost from Japan. I found the Heather model from them listed on ebay for ~$1400, which makes me concerned. Do you have any insight on this?

 

 

Edited May 1, 2025 by gtotani

[bonenfant4543]

16 hours ago, gtotani said:

Sorry, I have no clue. 

Better ask Celtonofue directly. 

The website is not very English-friendly, but they have good command of English. 

The shop usually responds to inquiries in a day or two, but Japan is enjoying a big holiday season (so called "Golden week") and responses at this time of the year may be delayed. 

 

FYI, the listed price includes domestic 10% tax in Japan, and you may be able to ask for discount since your purchase is not a domestic consumption. 

Should this work, the discount may offset some portion of S&H cost.

 

Use this link for inquiry to Celtonofue. You need to fill in the fields:

Your Name

Your email address

Title of inquiry

Detailed inquiry

 

https://celtnofue.com/contact/contact.html

 

 

 

I just put a Wren 2 for sale.

[Lukeagreg]

 

9 hours ago, bonenfant4543 said:

I just put a Wren 2 for sale.

I appreciate the heads up, but looking for at minimum a swan. Thanks!

[bonenfant4543]

I'm looking for one too.

[johndon]

Hi. At 67 yrs old and a non-Musician I wanted to learn concertina on an entry level instrument. I’m in Australia and ordered a Rochelle 2 from Concertina Connection in US.  It arrived in less than a week and with no damage. I love the sound and really enjoy learning on it.I have a concertina teacher who plays a very expensive concertina and at lessons they sound quite in tune together.  Pretty soon I will want to upgrade. 

[alex_holden]

1 hour ago, johndon said:

Hi. At 67 yrs old and a non-Musician I wanted to learn concertina on an entry level instrument. I’m in Australia and ordered a Rochelle 2 from Concertina Connection in US.  It arrived in less than a week and with no damage. I love the sound and really enjoy learning on it.I have a concertina teacher who plays a very expensive concertina and at lessons they sound quite in tune together.  Pretty soon I will want to upgrade. 

 

I think they have stopped making the Rochelle 2, though perhaps it might be possible to find a used one.

[Daniel Hersh]

Someone is selling a Swan on eBay at https://www.ebay.com/itm/396597862200 .  I have no connection with the seller or the sale.

[pentaprism]

On a limited budget, I’d rather buy a decent 20-button concertina than a so-so 30-button. Later on, when you upgrade, the 20-button can be kept as a backup or a travel instrument. But a so-so 30-button has to go and thus ends up costing more.

 

A bad instrument always makes one wonder whether the problem is in the player or in the instrument, not a good thing especially when you are learning.

[bonenfant4543]

If you're still looking, I have a 5 weeks old Swan for $1000 cad. I play the fiddle, tin whistle, c#/d and b/c accordion, and mandolin. Do I need to learn another instrument ? No.

[Mandolinguist]

Hey I've got a used Rochelle 2 that I'd be willing to part with soon. The Concertina Connection has stopped making them, so they are even harder to find these days. I think its been a great beginner instrument and the buttons, made of delrin) are very easy to play and the action is good. I just finished a repair on the rivet for the low D/F# key which was popping up. The bellows are much easier to move than when I first got it, but you will find them to be utterly outclassed by the bellows of a $1500+ concertina. They are good enough for the job, and nothing more. The layout of the reeds, being flat on the pan, makes it sound like a decent step up from the OG Rochelle and other junkware concertinas. C/G Wheatstone layout. I'd let her go, given their scarcity, for $650, but I'm certainly willing to entertain offers. Let me know your thoughts