pinnman Posted February 1 Posted February 1 A beginner's question. The bellows on my concertina do not open very wide, that is to say I cannot insert my little finger into each fold. I do not want to force it, but will the bellows open more as it loosens up?
Matt Heumann Posted February 1 Posted February 1 Yes, if it hasn't been played for a long time, or if the instrument is new, it will need to be "broken-in" and stretched to relax the joints............kinda like people waking up in the morning.
pinnman Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 No good trying to wake me up in the morning, but thank you for the guidance, which makes sense re my instrument - which is second hand, but seems quite new - and is appreciated.
pinnman Posted February 1 Author Posted February 1 Hi, again, Tiposx, It is the Regondi we discussed in another column. I bought it second hand in good condition, and am happy with it thus far. However, I am a beginner without any reference points. Incidentally, I sent a message to Mcneela to ask about the reeds and their seating; the response may or may not be illuminating.
Tiposx Posted February 1 Posted February 1 That is interesting, I haven't seen one of those. Some players find 30 buttons limiting, but it depends on the music you want to play. My treble concertina collection includes 48,36 and 18 button instruments. I haven't needed more than 36 buttons since I started playing them 7 or 8 years ago. Until last week that is! The answer to your original question is that it depends on how your bellows were designed and built. If they are good then they will loosen up. The angle you should see between the folds of decent, well used bellows when extended, would be very aporoximately 90 to 100 degrees. So on a standard sized treble with 1" folds you should be able to fit your first two fingers in between the peaks. The extension you describe isn't very much at all. Perhaps they will improve with use.
RAc Posted February 1 Posted February 1 I looked at the utube video linked to on this page: Regondi English Folk Concertina I assume your instrument is the same model? The player does not seem to take the bellows to their full extent, but it seems as if the limited range provides a decent enough supply of air for the kind of tune presented here. You may want to post a video so we can look at what happens exactly.
fred v Posted February 9 Posted February 9 Hold the air button and pull out on the bellows then rotate you 2 hands like you were making a snow ball. This will exercise the bellows. May take awhile for them to relax.
fred v Posted February 9 Posted February 9 I play an old 36 button Wheatstone with 5 fold bellows and that is more than enough. Reverse the bellows every measure or two at the most. Reversing the bellows adds an accent so look for spots in the phrasing to reverse. I also reverse on a doubled note rather than hitting the button twice; works great. 1
Chris Ghent Posted February 10 Posted February 10 Not sure I would advocate your snowball method. In use that particular dynamic has no part to play and could only encourage sloppiness in a dimension you don’t want it. Just encourage the bellows to go a little bit wider every time you pick it up. Don’t rush it. Bellows which have been unused can make cracking noises when first restarted, be guided by these; expect some but don’t keep forcing it. Just back off and start again. 2
Alex West Posted February 10 Posted February 10 17 hours ago, fred v said: then rotate you 2 hands like you were making a snow ball Fred I think I'm with Chris on this. If I'm understanding you correctly, you're putting tension on parts and joints which are not good in tension and torsion on parts which are not good in torsion. If the stiff elements are the valley and peak hinges, they need to be eased gently and gradually. My analogy would be a leatherbound book; if it's stiff to open, would you twist it several times backwards and forwards? Wouldn't that break the spine? Alex West
pinnman Posted February 11 Author Posted February 11 Thanks, everyone. The bellows are easing with use, so the broad thrust of advice fits nicely. Yes, the Mcneela video is interesting in terms of economy of movement; I know I need more practice in this respect. One oddity: my instrument has 7 fold bellows, not 6. This suggests a replacement, but I have no complaints while I continue to improve little by little each day.
fred v Posted Sunday at 02:26 PM Posted Sunday at 02:26 PM On 2/10/2026 at 1:30 AM, Alex West said: Fred I think I'm with Chris on this. If I'm understanding you correctly, you're putting tension on parts and joints which are not good in tension and torsion on parts which are not good in torsion. If the stiff elements are the valley and peak hinges, they need to be eased gently and gradually. My analogy would be a leatherbound book; if it's stiff to open, would you twist it several times backwards and forwards? Wouldn't that break the spine? Alex West I think you are both misunderstanding what I mean. It is hard to describe but is not twisting, I can't really describe the motion any better but it does not stress any part.
pinnman Posted Sunday at 04:02 PM Author Posted Sunday at 04:02 PM My guess, Fred, is that you mean moving the ends inwards in turn, rather than contra-rotating the ends which could be terminal.
Alex West Posted Sunday at 08:28 PM Posted Sunday at 08:28 PM 6 hours ago, fred v said: I think you are both misunderstanding what I mean. It is hard to describe but is not twisting, I can't really describe the motion any better but it does not stress any part. Fred We must make our snowballs differently! Alex West
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