Tuning

[jerry]

how do you go about tuning a concertina? I have a tuning meter and some of the notes are out of tune.

[Dirge]

You have to file the reeds themselves. Where and how you file them affects the final note. It's an alarming business and needs care. There's a book you should get by Dave Elliot (called something obvious; 'the concertina manual' or the like; you won't miss it). That gives you the detail.

 

Mind you, does it sound bad? If it doesn't why worry what an inanimate object (your tuner) thinks? Other things that don't need filing can cause duff notes too; filth, misalignment, rust, etc. Buy D E's book and follow its advice.

 

If it's a decent instrument I'd give it to an expert to fettle.

[Johann]

how do you go about tuning a concertina? I have a tuning meter and some of the notes are out of tune.

 

I would have some advice on tuning on an extra page, first you need to have some practice on old reeds before you start to do some on the instrument itself. And if the valves and the sealing of the reeds are not in correct condition don't start with tuning in the first place.

 

Then the read out of the tuner may be misleading, the instrument has to be in tune with itself. if single reeds are out of tune as seen on the tuner in comparing to the equal scale that may not be a fault.

 

Better would be to contact an experienced person for this job.