Beginner Duet Concertina Recommendations?

[klaustukast]

Hello everyone. I'm new to concertinas and I'm really interested in a duet system, because I like the idea of playing melody and accompaniment together. I'm looking for some recommendations on what duet concertina I should buy. I know that duet concertinas are a bit rarer than Anglo or English ones and there might not be a lot of resources for duet systems (at least that's what I've heard). However, I don't really feel discouraged by that since I have some basic music understanding and I can play a guitar.
My current balance is around 1k euros. After doing some google searches I've found Elise Hayden concertina, but I feel like it might be a bit limiting especially the restricted key range and the lack of full chromatic scale on one hand. I've also found Stagi 46-key Hayden concertina, but I'm uncertain about its quality and suitability for a beginner.
Could anyone share their experiences or recommendations regarding these models or suggest other options around my budget ? Thanks in advance. 

Edited June 4 by klaustukast
fixed some spelling errors and missing words

[David Barnert]

Don’t be led down the path that says Beginner = Cheap.

 

The more expensive a concertina is the more likely you’ll be able to sell it for what you paid for it if it doesn’t work out, and cheaper instruments are likely to be more difficult and frustrating to play, especially for a beginner. So the advice is (and I’m certainly not the first to say this): Get the best instrument you can afford.

 

Granted, a thousand euros doesn’t leave you much wiggle room. There may well not be a good answer at that price, but you may find a vintage Maccann or Crane at an estate sale if someone doesn’t know what they’ve got.

 

As far as choosing a duet system, they all (Hayden, Maccann, Crane, Jeffries) can be very satisfying and achieve what you’re looking for. I’ve been playing a Hayden for nearly 40 years and I’m very happy with it, but you won’t get anything like mine for 1K€.

[Josh in Hartford]

I was very much where you are when I bought by Elise six months ago: strong musical background, no experience with concertinas, but interested in what a duet system offers. I got a refurbished Elise from Concertina Connection for $350, and I have been very satisfied with it. I play bass and trombone, so I had no experience with  instruments that aren't fully chromatic, but I've found the Elise to be up to the task of any song I've taken on. The only caveat is that it matters what you want to do with the instrument. I got mine because I wanted to accompany myself while singing, as a change of pace from ensemble playing. So I get to pick the songs and I can arrange them in whatever key suits the instrument. If I were trying to blend in with a band that already had a bunch of songs in established keys, or if I wanted to perform pieces as they are written, I might bump up against the limitations of the Elise.

[klaustukast]

Thanks for the input! I've decided to start with an Elise Concertina to learn the basics. While I'm learning and seeing if I truly enjoy the instrument, I'll also be slowly saving up for a higher-quality one in the future.