Judy in Poway Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 I have one reed on my Lachenal that is flat in one direction. I have tried blowing on it, to no avail. I hate the thought of mailing it away and would love to hand deliver it to someone. Is there anyone out there in the L.A. - San Diego or thereabouts area that can help me? Thanks! Judy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Barnert Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 If it has recently (suddenly) gone flat, it may be fractured, in which case it would need to be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Judy-- So far as I know, the only reliable concertina technicians in the US who currently take in repair work from the public are at the Button Box in Massachusetts. Someone may be able to recommend someone else, but this question comes up periodically and I haven't seen any other names except those of accordion specialists who may not know concertinas well (as discussed in this thread). Daniel I have one reed on my Lachenal that is flat in one direction. I have tried blowing on it, to no avail. I hate the thought of mailing it away and would love to hand deliver it to someone. Is there anyone out there in the L.A. - San Diego or thereabouts area that can help me? Thanks! Judy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Coles Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Last I heard, Bob Tedrow in Alabama was still doing tuning, and I would certainly trust him to work on my instrument. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 I just confirmed this with Bob, and I would trust him too. Daniel Last I heard, Bob Tedrow in Alabama was still doing tuning, and I would certainly trust him to work on my instrument. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_boveri Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Judy-- So far as I know, the only reliable concertina technicians in the US who currently take in repair work from the public are at the Button Box in Massachusetts. Someone may be able to recommend someone else, but this question comes up periodically and I haven't seen any other names except those of accordion specialists who may not know concertinas well (as discussed in this thread). Daniel ya know, i used to have a business card of someone that did it in the midwest; he told me and his card also said that he repaired and tuned concertinas and accordians. my wallet was stolen two years ago, with the card as well. any idea who it is? i suppose it doesnt help here anyways, because they're looking for california. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Morse Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 ya know, i used to have a business card of someone that did it in the midwest; he told me and his card also said that he repaired and tuned concertinas and accordians.There are anumber of concertina repair places in the midwest - chemnitzer concertinas, not the type you have. Chemnizters are very much like accordions right down to the reeds. I've only been to the midwest once - to buy a collection of accordions and concertinas. And in the process I met with a lot of concertina and accordion players and collectors. Amongst all those folk there was only ONE person who had ever seen a vintage concertina. Most hadn't even heard of them and were quite amused by my little "toy". I suggest that you be very wary of letting a chemnitzer repairman do a job on your Lachenal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Tedrow Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 Hello All, Yes, I do undertake tuning jobs. I charge $75/hour. I have to warn you that I am not a fast tuner and do not even try to zip through an instrument. If I take as little as 5 minutes/reed to tune and voice an english: 5X96=480 minutes or a solid 8 hours ($600) of butt crunching benchwork. Not particularly romantic or exciting....just detail work. That does not include any associated repairs. I sincerely hope that is a frightening prospect. respectfully, Bob Tedrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted November 1, 2006 Share Posted November 1, 2006 It scared the hell out of me and i don't need one tuning chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jggunn Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 (edited) This may be too simple a solution but I have found that when a reed goes flat it is usually loose and needs to be seated properly. If it is an English, try changing the reed from the opposite side of the pan or just reseating it. If still flat, put a thin piece of paper beside the reed to make it fit tighter. If this is something that has developed slowly over time, it may need retuning but this is really quite rare that one reed needs retuning. Edited November 2, 2006 by jggunn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted November 2, 2006 Share Posted November 2, 2006 probable best not to put paper along the whole of the reed shoe as it could distort the section containing the actual reed and create a different problem. put a bit either end of the shoe, away from the reed itself chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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