Problem - Please Help!

[Susanne]

I discovered a problem with my concertina I haven't noticed before, this weekend when I started learning a couple of new tunes. My F button doesn't give any sound when I pull. If I push, it sounds normal, but no sound if I pull. I don't know what to do about it. I opened the end and looked, I've never done any repair work whatsoever on this kind on instruments. I noticed there are holes covered with some paper-like round things and if I press a button, this paper-like thing is lifted up. I tried to blow in case there was lots of dust but that didn't help.

Then, on the bellows part, there seem to be little metal pieces with papers on. On some of them, the paper seems to be missing - does that mean anything?

 

Why does this problem occur and what can I do? Remember I live in Sweden with a very old concertina so I have these three problems 1. I don't live near any concertina repair man 2. I don't want to do anything wrong with my very old AND the only concertina I have and 3. It's VERY hard to find other concertinas here.

[chris]

Hi

I would start by buying Dave Elliots concertina maintenance manual (contact him direct or David Leese -concertina spares) before touching anything. This would give descriptions of parts which would make it easier for you to identify your problems when asking for help.

best of luck

chris

[JimLucas]

I discovered a problem with my concertina I haven't noticed before, this weekend when I started learning a couple of new tunes. My F button doesn't give any sound when I pull. If I push, it sounds normal, but no sound if I pull.

Quite likely it's either a bit of dust caught in the reed or a valve which got sucked into the hole it's supposed to cover, where it's gotten stuck.

 

I opened the end and looked, I've never done any repair work whatsoever on this kind on instruments. I noticed there are holes covered with some paper-like round things and if I press a button, this paper-like thing is lifted up. I tried to blow in case there was lots of dust but that didn't help.

Those "paper like" (actually leather covered) round things are the pads, and that's not where dust causes problems.

 

Then, on the bellows part, there seem to be little metal pieces with papers on. On some of them, the paper seems to be missing - does that mean anything?

The metal pieces are the reeds. The "papers" (actually leather) are the valves. The plate of wood they're attached to is the reed pan, which can be lifted out (by sticking a finger through the hole in the middle and pulling up gently). The reeds and valves are paired: on the side of the reed pan opposite to each reed is a valve, and vice versa. If you're problem is a stuck valve, it's on the "under" side of the reed pan, where you can't see it without lifting the reed pan out. (That's where all the valves are for the reeds that sound on the pull.)

 

...what can I do? Remember I live in Sweden with a very old concertina so I have these three problems 1. I don't live near any concertina repair man 2. I don't want to do anything wrong with my very old AND the only concertina I have and 3. It's VERY hard to find other concertinas here.

You live about 3 hours from me by train and ferry, but an actual visit shouldn't be necessary. I'm sure I could talk you through the fix over the phone. Send me a PM or email, and we can arrange a time.

 

Cheers, ............ Jim

[Susanne]

Hi there Jim!

 

You're a rock.

I lifted the reed pan out, actually didn't see before that it was a separate part (yes, I know I'm ignorant but I'm a beginner on these kinds of instruments, I've played strings only before). The trickiest part was to remember how to put it back! Now I've marked the place beside the thumb strap.

 

Anyway, I found the little valves and reeds (the pieces of metal are the reeds?) and tried to clean them, at first it didn't work but maybe I wasn't at the right place, now it sounds good again though and I've learned something new. Thanks a lot!!!! Now maybe I can also fix the notes that sound weird.

 

I will definitely get that book. There's probably lots more that I should know about this instrument.

 

Happy again My husband and I are planning a trad music service at church, and I know the elderly folks would love to hear something on the concertina so I really want to learn something nice - and to have a functioning instrument.

[David Barnert]

The trickiest part was to remember how to put it back! Now I've marked the place beside the thumb strap.

That shouldn't be necessary. Most concertina makers put their name on the inside face of the reed pan oriented so that it is upright when correctly inserted (and lines up with the one on the reed pan at the other end of the bellows).

and please don't laugh

I noticed there are holes covered with some paper-like round things and if I press a button, this paper-like thing is lifted up.

I'm sorry. That made my day.

 

It looks like Jim has you on the right track. I'd agree that you ought to have a copy of Dave Elliot's concertina maintenance manual around for reference. Good luck.

[Susanne]

Well, you can't know things before you've learned, can you? Had you ever opened a concertina or knew the names of the parts in it when you were a beginner?

[d.elliott]

Congratulations for having a go!

 

'you can't know what you don't know', and the book was written just for people like you who want to know.

 

ps team.

 

Elliott is spelt with 2 xT's please!

 

Dave E

Edited September 4, 2006 by d.elliott

[chris]

Sorry Dave written in a hurry

chris

[JimLucas]

Elliott is spelt with 2 xT's please!

 

Dave E

Sorry Dave written in a hurry

chris

Amazing how much time it takes to add that second "t".

[Susanne]

Yesterday I also managed to find a good way to fasten a strap, so now it doesn't only sound good, I can also play comfortably.

[Dave Prebble]

ps team.

 

Elliott is spelt with 2 xT's please!

 

Dave E

 

This post has been edited by d.elliott: Yesterday, 08:19 PM

 

 

???? Edited to add the exta ' T ' Dave ????

 

Dave

[spindizzy]

Elliott is spelt with 2 xT's please!

/quote]

 

As someone who's name was LELLIOTT, I can sympathise - getting all those lll's and tt's right is a life's work!

 

Chris now J.

[David Barnert]

Well, you can't know things before you've learned, can you? Had you ever opened a concertina or knew the names of the parts in it when you were a beginner?

Of course you're right. That's why I said "Sorry" even before I laughed. But I couldn't help laughing anyway.

 

Elliott is spelt with 2 xT's please!

Sorry here, too. I just copied it from the previous post.

[m3838]

Oh, stop complaining, Eliott.

A friend of mine, Ms. Aunniss (Ah-oon-neess) after having all the trouble of people spelling her name, changed it to Larssenn.

And my name (Michael) was spelled as ... Mikbail (Meek-bah-eel).

I'm no freaking Mikbail!!! But my Social Security Card disagrees.

And you guess how it turned into Mikusiva at our local chain store.

Ah, you just lough and hope it doesn't get me into trouble.

[chris]

Jim

Easy comment to make after someone has pointed out that it's missing! The way I spelt the name is perfectly valid (just not for Dave). Resisting the temptation to be factitious with great difficulty

chris

[d.elliott]

At University I was 'ELLIO-PI' (print two capital 'T's and think in the round,)

 

thereafter is I became Ness or Nessie, (not after monster).

 

This gave rise to other names like

 

Happy-Ness

Silly-Ness

Drunken-Ness

Foolish-Ness. etc etc

 

I suppose now its Picky-Ness??

 

and No! Mr Pebbles with a silent 'R', it was edited to remove the caustic comments about all my avid readers who have studied my book cover to cover, and still cannot spell my name right!

 

Or may-be its just a duff book, or I spelt it wrong on the cover, or on the title page, or....or...or...?

 

Ness

[Dave Prebble]

Or may-be its just a duff book, or I spelt it wrong on the cover, or on the title page, or....or...or...?

 

Ness

 

 

Don't fret lad.... get yourself a 'tea' and relax

 

Dave Treble

[d.elliott]

just because I am paranoid, it don't mean that they aint out to get me you know!

 

D