Looking to get my first concertina

[maestroAJE]

Hi there folks,

as the title states, looking to dive in. My local store I believe has a Rochelle on the shelf I can grab today for somewhere near $450 out the door after tax. 
 

for those that have been in this hobby for a bit, or may have experience with the Rochelle, what feedback might you have on it and how far did it take you before feeling the need to upgrade.

 

I’m a professional musician and teacher that tends to pick up new instruments fairly readily, I just want to make sure I’m not shooting myself in the foot if I don’t immediately spring for a more intermediate or vintage model. 
 

thanks for any feedback, I appreciate it!

[Ryan Galamb]

The Rochelle is solid for learning! I played one for a while and have kept it around as a loaner whenever friends are interested in learning.

 

That said, the difference between a Rochelle and a nicer instrument is insane by most measurements: sound, playability, weight, and cost.

 

The Minstrel is the next step up in the Concertina Connection line, and it goes for ~$1750. But that price tag gets you an instrument that

• sounds much better
• feels much better to play
• looks much nicer
• is small/light enough to play standing up

But that's a steep price tag to decide if you like the instrument. If you can swing it and are confident that you'll stick with it, then you'll have a much easier time starting with something at the level of a Minstrel.

 

The Rochelle is where I'd recommend starting if you're not sure (or don't have the budget for a Minstrel.) Before buying local, I'd call/email Concertina Connection to see if they'll honor their trade in program if you bought from another store (or someone here might know.) If they do, then the Rochelle is a pretty safe bet. You can buy the Rochelle now and upgrade later, trading the Rochelle in for its original purchase price. (I have seen other stores honoring the CC trade-in system, but I wouldn't plan around that without checking first.)

 

I'd 100% upgrade to the Minstrel before you start performing with concertina (since you mentioned you're a professional musician.)

 

You can't really go wrong either way though (as long as your choice fits in your budget, of course.) Good luck starting out your concertina adventure!

[jgarber760]

My one question for the OP: did you decide already on an anglo vs. English or other system? Much depends on what genre(s) of music you want to play. Also, what keys you intend to play in. I am a trad musician so the anglo is right for me and I am learning method of playing Irish tunes. You said you were a pro musician but did not mention what instrument(s) you play. If you want to play classical or jazz you might want to explore other some of the other systems.

Otherwise, if you have explored those possibilities and came to  decision on anglo, I agree with what Ryan posted above. 

Edited March 22 by jgarber760

[maestroAJE]

22 minutes ago, jgarber760 said:

My one question for the OP: did you decide already on an anglo vs. English or other system? Much depends on what genre(s) of music you want to play. Also, what keys you intend to play in. I am a trad musician so the anglo is right for me and I am learning method of playing Irish tunes. You said you were a pro musician but did not mention what instrument(s) you play. If you want to play classical or jazz you might want to explore other some of the other systems.

Otherwise, if you have explored those possibilities and came to  decision on anglo, I agree with what Ryan posted above. 

I did decide on Anglo - mostly using for trad. 

I'm a trumpet player originally but play bodhran, whistle, and I was taking uilleann pipe lessons for a while before I sold my set in November. Started working on guitar/bass/banjo when I began teaching a few years back since they work well in the general music classroom. 

3 hours ago, Ryan Galamb said:

The Rochelle is where I'd recommend starting if you're not sure (or don't have the budget for a Minstrel.) Before buying local, I'd call/email Concertina Connection to see if they'll honor their trade in program if you bought from another store (or someone here might know.) If they do, then the Rochelle is a pretty safe bet. You can buy the Rochelle now and upgrade later, trading the Rochelle in for its original purchase price. (I have seen other stores honoring the CC trade-in system, but I wouldn't plan around that without checking first.)

 

I'd 100% upgrade to the Minstrel before you start performing with concertina (since you mentioned you're a professional musician.)

 

You can't really go wrong either way though (as long as your choice fits in your budget, of course.) Good luck starting out your concertina adventure!

I appreciate the insight. I did end up coming home with the Rochelle today - since this is really the first instrument remotely in this family I need to see if I can train my brain to the muscle memory of it before committing more money. The local store I got it from is House of Musical Traditions and I'd hope that the upgrade program would be honored with Concertina Connection since they're a big store in the trad scene, but I didn't buy it with that as a deciding factor either way. 

 

Like all the instruments I've picked up along the way, I wish I started earlier. Only just found out about Kensington Concertinas which were made right down the street from me. Hope I can be worthy of one eventually. 

 

Happy to be here and thanks for the advice!

[davidevr]

If you have the means, start with something better. 
I am not a professional, but still a long time musician, and had all sorts of trouble with my first concertina (a McNeela Phoenix which is supposedly a much more refined model than a Rochelle). You'll read it a thousand time in this forum, but it's not cliche: stay way from beginner model, unless you're just buying it to test whether if you like it or not. Although, to be frank, you might end up thinking you don't like playing concertina, but with a super beginner model you never tried a proper concertina...
With some instruments (guitar, fiddles) you can get a super beginner model and learn the ropes, even use them for years, for the better ones are not radically different things. For some other (pipes, concertinas) the beginner models just don't work as expected, unless you are super lucky. I upgraded from my beginner Chinese fiddle (a 80$ model) after 5 years, no regrets; I sent back my first concertina after 6 months.
This just an opinion of course, but I can definitely say that the difference between an entry level and an intermediate instrument is really night and day. 
 

[David Barnert]

18 hours ago, maestroAJE said:

The local store I got it from is House of Musical Traditions...

 

Does Wendy Morrison still work at House of Musical Traditions? She’s a fine concertina player and used to post regularly here (@wendina) but hasn’t in over a decade. If she’s still there she might be a good resource.

[Doug Barr]

With your background I would say save your money and move right up to an intermediate instrument.

[Ty Bowen]

The Rochelle is a rough instrument. Rochelle 2 is harder to find, but a much better starter instrument. I have one that I keep as a backup/camping concertina, and I keep on hand in case I ever end up teaching. 

[Johanna]

Hi neighbor, and welcome to the concertina club!  I play English, not Anglo, so I can't advise you on specific instruments (I used to have a Jack, the baritone English counterpart of the Rochelle, and I found it to be a very solid beginner instrument...but we English players don't have to deal with rapid bellows reversals).  But if you're ever looking for a trad session, come hang out with us here: https://omcpubband.com/hyattsville-irish-session

 

4 hours ago, David Barnert said:

 

Does Wendy Morrison still work at House of Musical Traditions?

 

I'm pretty sure she does not.  She used to be the driving force behind keeping HMT's shelves well stocked with concertinas (so it's thanks to her that, fifteen years ago when I walked into the store and asked for help finding an instrument that I could play with my left wrist in a splint, I walked out with an 18-button Stagi mini English), but that hasn't been the case in quite some time.

[maestroAJE]

10 hours ago, Johanna said:

Hi neighbor, and welcome to the concertina club!  I play English, not Anglo, so I can't advise you on specific instruments (I used to have a Jack, the baritone English counterpart of the Rochelle, and I found it to be a very solid beginner instrument...but we English players don't have to deal with rapid bellows reversals).  But if you're ever looking for a trad session, come hang out with us here: https://omcpubband.com/hyattsville-irish-session

Thanks! I've put in a request to join the Facebook group. Sundays are so much more accessible than what the other local-ish sessions run. 

 

11 hours ago, Ty Bowen said:

The Rochelle is a rough instrument. Rochelle 2 is harder to find, but a much better starter instrument. I have one that I keep as a backup/camping concertina, and I keep on hand in case I ever end up teaching. 

It's certainly keeping up with my own capacity at the moment, but I can also tell where its limitations lie. For the price I paid I'm not mad. Even got it at a bit of a discount. 

 

On 3/22/2026 at 10:45 AM, Ryan Galamb said:

 

 

The Rochelle is where I'd recommend starting if you're not sure (or don't have the budget for a Minstrel.) Before buying local, I'd call/email Concertina Connection to see if they'll honor their trade in program if you bought from another store (or someone here might know.) If they do, then the Rochelle is a pretty safe bet. You can buy the Rochelle now and upgrade later, trading the Rochelle in for its original purchase price. (I have seen other stores honoring the CC trade-in system, but I wouldn't plan around that without checking first.)

I did reach out to CC this afternoon. The gentleman I spoke with confirmed that they can directly handle the trade-in program when/if I opt into it, despite getting it from a local store. 

[Johanna]

9 hours ago, maestroAJE said:

Thanks! I've put in a request to join the Facebook group. Sundays are so much more accessible than what the other local-ish sessions run. 

 

The Facebook group has some useful announcements (and some not-so-useful ones), but you're also welcome to just show up.  2nd and 4th Sundays, so the next one is on April 12th.

 

9 hours ago, maestroAJE said:

I did reach out to CC this afternoon. The gentleman I spoke with confirmed that they can directly handle the trade-in program when/if I opt into it, despite getting it from a local store. 

 

I'd say the trade-in program is most relevant to Hayden duet players, since CC is just about the only source for mid-range Hayden duets these days.  With the Anglo, your next upgrade might be a Minstrel or a Clover...but you could also choose a new instrument from any of a number of other makers, or one of the vintage instruments in circulation.  In that case, you can just sell the Rochelle (assuming it's still in good condition, which, if you don't abuse it, it should be), either privately through this forum or back through HMT.  You won't get back 100% of what you paid for it, but you'll recoup a good amount of the cost.

[David Lay]

Note that for better instruments, wait lists can be in years.  ICC is most recently the shortest, though I have not heard how long it might be to get a Clover.  If you eventually decide to go better, buy an instrument you can keep forever and skip the in between upgrades.

[pinnman]

The Clover is 16 weeks - checked the website site today.

[John Sylte]

I went from an older 30b Bastari that I got for $55 on ebay (still have it and it still works pretty well, just sounds bad and hard to play) to a $300 20b Lachenal that I really enjoyed playing and learned lots of tunes on (without accidentals), to a 30b Lachenal that I paid $2500 for on ebay and was worth every penny. I'd say don't rule out a vintage instrument, especially if it's been previously owned by a player who has upgraded. Barleycorn has a good selection and seem to be at par with the market. I think of more expensive instruments as an investment not an expense, because you can always sell them and get what you paid back out, and sometimes more. I think of the Lachenal brand as the VW of the concertina world, economical, practical, and well built. 

Edited March 24 by John Sylte
grammar

[PaulDa321]

Somebody in Montreal just posted a Morse Ceili for 2200 USD on the buy/sell page.  That would be a fantastic intermediate instrument that you could potentially never grow out of (depending on your preferences for sound), but at a good price.  Considering they don't make them anymore, it won't lost its value.  It may seem bonkers on the outside to jump in at 2200 dollars, but if you're a musician already, then you'll likely play it for a lifetime or, if you hate it, you'll sell it for no loss at all.

[maestroAJE]

2 hours ago, PaulDa321 said:

Somebody in Montreal just posted a Morse Ceili for 2200 USD on the buy/sell page.  That would be a fantastic intermediate instrument that you could potentially never grow out of (depending on your preferences for sound), but at a good price.  Considering they don't make them anymore, it won't lost its value.  It may seem bonkers on the outside to jump in at 2200 dollars, but if you're a musician already, then you'll likely play it for a lifetime or, if you hate it, you'll sell it for no loss at all.

While I'm only a few days in with my Rochelle, I do think this is something I'll stick with long enough to justify a purchase like that. However, in the last six months I've acquired a new guitar and a new trumpet and I'm a teacher approaching a summer without checks rolling in. The Rochelle will need to suffice for now, at least until I'm more familiar with the mechanics and I am putting less brainpower into thinking about specific notes and whether I need to push/draw the bellows for them.