Eb C#G# or Ab/Eb concertinas for sale? Preferably Jefferies?

[Abbey Murphy]

I am looking to purchase AN Anglo concertina to play in Eb

[Graham Collicutt]

https://theboxplace.co.uk/product/jeffries-abeb/

[John, Wexford]

Anglo Concertinas generally have 2 names, the formal description, usually the names of the keys of the rows or an informal name.

 

So a C/G concertina is usually "nicknamed" a concert-pitch concertina, whereas a C#/G# would be labelled as an E flat concertina.

 

The concertina for sale at the Box Place is pitched in A flat / E flat, which would typically be called a B flat concertina.

[David Lay]

33 minutes ago, John, Wexford said:

Anglo Concertinas generally have 2 names, the formal description, usually the names of the keys of the rows or an informal name.

 

So a C/G concertina is usually "nicknamed" a concert-pitch concertina, whereas a C#/G# would be labelled as an E flat concertina.

 

The concertina for sale at the Box Place is pitched in A flat / E flat, which would typically be called a B flat concertina.

Explain more, please.  What is the logic?  Also, what is the equivalent C/G label using the same logic?

[hjcjones]

The nicknames may be usual in ITM, where the instrument is usually played in keys other than the home keys, but not for other styles of playing.

 

The OP might also consider a Bb/F. Eb is the equivalent of playing in F on a C/G.

[Don Taylor]

7 hours ago, David Lay said:

Explain more, please.  What is the logic?  Also, what is the equivalent C/G label using the same logic?

I am guessing that the logic is based on playing in D on a C/G concertina - which would make it a "D concertina"?  The same fingering on an Ab/Eb plays in Bb, on a C#/G# it would be Eb (=D#) concertina.

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Give or take few notes you can play in many keys on C and G concertina as it is. Yes, you may have some notes requiring awkward fingering, but you can never the less, play in those keys, if you want to.

No doubt its probably confused you even more?! Sorry😊!

[David Lay]

2 hours ago, SIMON GABRIELOW said:

Give or take few notes you can play in many keys on C and G concertina as it is. Yes, you may have some notes requiring awkward fingering, but you can never the less, play in those keys, if you want to.

No doubt its probably confused you even more?! Sorry😊!

I don't think of my C/G Anglo as D concertina, but follow the idea.  I have played tunes in G, D, C, F and a couple in A (and some of their correlating modes).  I like having the push and pull C#5s of my Jeffries layout.

Edited November 6 by David Lay

[John Sylte]

On 11/4/2025 at 2:56 PM, Abbey Murphy said:

I am looking to purchase AN Anglo concertina to play in Eb

I've converted a few C/G 20 button Lachenals to D/A, which isn't too difficult. Eb is just another half step away. Just an idea.