Tuning

[Rhomylly]

Not that I'm in any hurry, but just so I know how much $$ to start saving, has anyone paid for or been quoted a ballpark price for a 48-button English tuning lately?

[d.elliott]

Brass reeds? steel reeds? Is it minor adjustments- or is the instrument in an old pitch and in need of re-pitching? Are there and broken reeds?

 

Its as well to have the valves done at the same time.......

 

Dave

[Rhomylly]

Brass, and I don't think any of them are broken.

[d.elliott]

is the instrument generally in modern concert pitch?

 

Dave

[Rhomylly]

I would say so. It's a Wheatstone English student model ( # approx 10,000).

 

ETA: so: tuning (you can tell it will need it in the not-too-distant future), valves, and some wooden grillwork repair.

Edited April 14, 2006 by Rhomylly

[d.elliott]

The point I am chasing is that when made the instrument would have been set up to an old pitch, and possibly to an un-equal temprement. Many concertinas in this state are up to half a semi-tone sharp.

 

If the instument is in that condition then tuneing costs are much higher. However if the instrument is generally in tune say with a modern electirc key board and other fixed pitch instruments, or even the guitars at the local session, then all that is required are relatively minor adjustments, much cheaper to do

 

Dave

[Rhomylly]

Can you define (estimate) the difference between "Cheaper" and "More Expensive"?

[d.elliott]

Remembering that a 48 key instrument has just under 100 valves, and the same number of reed!

 

A typical price breakdown in the UK would be along the lines of:

 

if all the valves are shot, then to remove, clean out and re-valve around £45

 

A complete re-pitch, assuming reeds are not overly corroded, and not too dirty will be about £150, but this is subject to condition. Replaceing broken, or failing reed tongues, etc is in addition

 

If the valves are good, and the instrument is generally in modern pitch, then you may get away with around only £50.

 

Postage & insured transport is another addition. If you go through a big instrument shop, they will put their mark up on top of these prices

 

Hence my question, is the instrument in an old pitch, or is it generally playable with other instruments? Do you have a local repairer?

 

Dave

Edited April 17, 2006 by d.elliott

[JimLucas]

Do you have a local repairer?

Does the Button Box count as "local"?

 

Rhomylly, have you contacted them with your question?

[Rhomylly]

Not yet, Jim, although they are my first choice to do the work, if they're not too backed up.

 

Chris Algar is my second choice, since, if I can, I'd rather not have to ship the thing all the way to England and back.

[JimLucas]

Do you have a local repairer?

Does the Button Box count as "local"?

Rhomylly, have you contacted them with your question?

Not yet, Jim, although they are my first choice to do the work, if they're not too backed up.

I recommend you contact them now. I understand that the way they work is to put your job into a queue, not your instrument. Then just before they're ready to work on your concertina, they'll ask you to ship it to them. That way you're without it for the shortest time possible and they don't have to manage storage for dozens of instruments waiting to be worked on.

 

If you wait until you're ready to get into the queue, then you'll be causing problems for yourself. But if in the meantime you find another solution, you can just tell them. Then everybody else in the queue benefits, and no one has had to pay shipping on your instrument.

[Rhomylly]

well, that makes sense.

[d.elliott]

Rhomylly,

 

Button Box is a very good start. In the UK Chris A will almost definitely pass the work to one of his out-workers, and make his mark up that way, not that there is anything wrong with that. its just more expensive for you and moe long winded too.

 

I suggest you look at Chris Timson's Concertina FAQ for repairers, UK or States Side, that will give more options

 

Dave