New Rochelle

[stevejay]

EDITED---I've tried to ignore it but I can't. My new Rochelle is a fine concertina, but it needs some tuning. I live in the Boston are, and I was thinking of having it done by a pro. I would and have on a Bastari, but it is so new to operate...

 

Any ideas on a tuner near me? Guess Button Box is the obvious answer, although it's pretty far, would require a ship.

Thanks

 

PS It's just a couple of notes which need to be tweaked a bit. A hair off, and I need to confirm with an accurate tuner just how much. It's not very bad, and my opinion stands, the Rochelle is a fine value and is much more responsive than I had imagined.

Edited September 17, 2006 by stevejay

[Dana Johnson]

Any ideas on a tuner near me? Guess Button Box is the obvious answer, although it's pretty far, would require a ship.

Even when I lived in New Hampshire, I never had the luck of living as near to the Button Box as you do, yet I visited them at the less convenient Amherst shop and store many times. The Sunderland location is pretty easy to get to. I'd think the trip would be well worth it. If you don't have transportation I could see a problem.

Dana

[Paul Read]

Just a thought; these instruments are made like accordions aren't they (reeds mounted on a blovk). I'd have thought there would be an accordion repar shop in Boston.

[Chris Timson]

Even when I lived in New Hampshire, I never had the luck of living as near to the Button Box as you do, yet I visited them at the less convenient Amherst shop and store many times.

I've visited them and I live in England (admittedly I wasn't brining in an instrument for repair ...). The trip is worth it because they are nice people and enthusiasts, and you can get to see some of the concertinas you might move on to when you eventually get to the limits of the Rochelle.

 

Chris

[Richard Morse]

Guess Button Box is the obvious answer, although it's pretty far, would require a ship.

Ground service UPS gets it there next day for about $8. Much less than the cost to drive it out and back... particularly if you make TWO round trips!

 

Depending on how much needs tuning - if it's only a wonky reed or two it might be done on the spot. For a general tuning you'd probably go to the end of the repairs waiting line which is several months long. If you can put up with it for the next few months (and can't find anyone else to do it quicker), get on our waiting list and arrange to have the work done just before our Northeast Concertina Workshop (April 14th). That you you'd be without your box for only a week. Drive out to partake the event and pick it up your freshly retuned box at the same time!

 

-- Rich --

[mthatcher61]

Like Steve Jay I have a new Rochelle that I have been really happy with. I've had it a couple of weeks and just this morning when I was practicing G scale arpeggio's my B (pull) on the left hand, middle row, second in from the end , just went totally flat. I could hear it losing frequency as I pulled on the concertina. I think it is somewhere near a G# now and still seems to be losing frequency. It must be a quick fix. Could it be the reed needs to be tightened or something? Is there anything I can do? I live in eastern Ct about an hour and a half from the button box. The problem is I work in Newport RI so now BB is 2 and a half hours away. I would rather not ship it out if it is an easy fix and something I can fix myself. I am putting the maintenance book on order today but I would like to fix that Rochelle tonight (If at all possible). Thanks for any help or advice.

Edited October 10, 2006 by mthatcher61

[Stephen Chambers]

... my B (pull) on the left hand, middle row, second in from the end , just went totally flat. I could hear it losing frequency as I pulled on the concertina. I think it is somewhere near a G# now and still seems to be losing frequency.

Mark,

 

That sounds like a classic description of what happens when a reed cracks, I'm afraid it is likely to keep getting flatter until the tongue breaks off completely.

 

It must be a quick fix. Could it be the reed needs to be tightened or something? Is there anything I can do?

Only if you've got a replacement reed handy. The only fix is to replace it.

[mthatcher61]

Oh, That is disappointing. Maybe I should contact Wim. I am sure he would fix it but shipping back and forth to the Netherlands is time consuming and I am really enjoying learning this Concertina. I dont want to be without it that long. Would ordering a reed and changing it out by myself be do-able? I am competant with small hand tools and I can patiently follow directions. I can wait a week Or is it a quick enough fix where I could take an afternoon off and make a pilgramage up to the Button Box and check out the next level of Concertina's while hopefully Richard could swap out the reed? Could Richard do that or would I have to wait a couple of months on the repair list?

This is a bummer, I felt like I was really starting to make some progress this morning before the proverbial tires went flat.

[Stephen Chambers]

Oh, That is disappointing. Maybe I should contact Wim.

If you bought it directly off Wim, then that's your best bet. See what he can suggest.

 

Would ordering a reed and changing it out by myself be do-able? I am competant with small hand tools and I can patiently follow directions.

In that case, you may be able to do it yourself.

[Geoffrey Crabb]

I would suggest that all problems or failures of any 'new' concertina should, at least, be notified initially to the maker or supplier. If there is an inherent production problem, then that can be addressed in subsequent instruments to prevent future purchasers suffering similar difficulties.

Of course, a maker cannot guarantee that a reed will not fail, for as careful or skillful they may be, they can only work with the materials usually bought in.

 

Geoff Crabb

[mthatcher61]

I ended up taking my Concertina to the Button Box yesterday where Doug showed me it was indeed a broken reed. He replaced the reed while I waited and it sounds and plays good as new. Thanks for the advice yesterday and thanks to Doug at the Button Box for fixing me up. I enjoyed visiting the shop more than anything else. So many cool things in there! I also sent Wim a heads up on the bad reed.

Edited October 11, 2006 by mthatcher61

[Richard Morse]

Of course, a maker cannot guarantee that a reed will not fail, for as careful or skillful they may be, they can only work with the materials usually bought in.

True, though makers usually guarentee to fix/replace any parts of the box that goes awry for free within a certain time period.

 

-- Rich --