RiverHamble Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 (edited) Hi All Just a few of the usual questions asked by almost every new member, I have found in the search engine of this site. I have decided to take up this instrument after sitting in the musical shadows of my brothers for the past 20 years. I am thinking of buying this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=014 Would anyone have any thoughts on it. I know that it is cheap and that it would prolly put me off more than encourage me but I am fairly skint. I have decided to go with the english system though I am not sure why I am drawn to this more than the anglo. What tutor book/'tina combo would people recommend if I had a bit more money? I am currently in Denmark working, though I live in Southampton UK, I will be passing through Aberdeen on my way home. Are there any good shops in these areas that I could go and have a play to see which style I would get on with? Any thoughts on my ramblings would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance Steve Edited November 6, 2007 by RiverHamble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Marino Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Hi All Just a few of the usual questions asked by almost every new member, I have found in the search engine of this site. I have decided to take up this instrument after sitting in the musical shadows of my brothers for the past 20 years. I am thinking of buying this <a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=014" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=014</a> Would anyone have any thoughts on it. I know that it is cheap and that it would prolly put me off more than encourage me but I am fairly skint. I have decided to go with the english system though I am not sure why I am drawn to this more than the anglo. What tutor book/'tina combo would people recommend if I had a bit more money? I am currently in Denmark working, though I live in Southampton UK, I will be passing through Aberdeen on my way home. Are there any good shops in these areas that I could go and have a play to see which style I would get on with? Any thoughts on my ramblings would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance Steve Steve, We live in Edinburgh if that is on your way back coming down from Aberdeen. Though there is a good group of folks up there from what I have heard (was not able to make the squeeze earlier this fall). If you can get them it would be a good way to get some footing. We have a 30b Anglo (Rochelle), 30b English (Jackie style knock off from China [not the same quality at all Wim], and a 20b Anglo Lachenal. So if you wanted to stop and play a bit it could be arranged and I could burn a copy of the different free tutors I have on hard drive for you to disk with a the music. Let us know if you are interested. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wntrmute Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 Well the link was busted, so I don't know what you were looking at. The ones that EBay UK is showing for sale now don't look all that interesting (besides the expensive Lachenal Duet). What you want to start with would be a Rochelle (which is an Anglo, those are pretty popular) or a Jack/Jackie (English style) from Concertina Connection. I had a cheap ebay concertina and hated it, I got the Rochelle, and life was suddenly worth living, and there was worldwide peace, and geeks were dating supermodels. Well, I may exaggerate a bit. Anyways, those would set you back about 200 bob. Or is it quid? I forget which is pounds sterling or the regular kind of pound. Or are they kilos now? But for the price you will get an instrument that will actually play. For 50-100 pounds you get something that won't last more than a couple of weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikefule Posted November 6, 2007 Share Posted November 6, 2007 I too felt drawn to the English system... until I borrowed one for a month and tried it every day for 20 minutes. They're lovely to listen to, but they just don't work for me. Then I listened to an Anglo played by a good player, and an English played by an equally good player, and realised that whatever I preferred "on paper", in reality, I wanted the Anglo. I bought a Rochelle and, within a few weeks, I ordered a much better one. I now play for an hour or more most days. The message here is not "Anglos are best", because that is personal preference, but "Try before you buy". I thought the fully chromatic completely "logical", incredibly versatile English was what I wanted. In fact, I preferred the limited, completely irrational Anglo. You will only practise an instrument you enjoy playing. It should be a joy, not a penance. Try before you buy, and buy the best you can afford. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieppe Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 I too felt drawn to the English system... until I borrowed one for a month and tried it every day for 20 minutes. They're lovely to listen to, but they just don't work for me. ... The message here is not "Anglos are best", because that is personal preference, but "Try before you buy". I thought the fully chromatic completely "logical", incredibly versatile English was what I wanted. In fact, I preferred the limited, completely irrational Anglo. That's so funny because I had the opposite experience! I started with an Anglo, and it just wasn't coming as naturally to me as I'd have liked. (I started with Piano Accordion in my free-reed life.) Switching to the English I found, being fully chromatic, I could more easily play the songs in my head that I wanted to hear and I didn't have to worry as much about things like bellows direction. So it's definitely a "your Mileage WILL vary" sort of thing. I get the feeling though that there are more Anglo players here than EC. Ah well, I'm used to being a minority anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Never mind your EC, try playing a Maccan duet if you want to be in the minority, matey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wntrmute Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Never mind your EC, try playing a Maccan duet if you want to be in the minority, matey. Or bagpipes if you want your neighbors to hate you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dieppe Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 Never mind your EC, try playing a Maccan duet if you want to be in the minority, matey. Oh, touché! A definite minority there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon H Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 You could call at celtic chords in Stonehaven on your way, about 16 miles south of Aberdeen. The owner is very knowledgable and will let you try things out, has a range of 'tinas of both types in a good range of prices. Lots of CD's too to inspire. http://www.celtic-chords.co.uk/cms/index.php I too am a beginner and for many of the usual reasons chose english, was luck enough to get a nice restored 48b Lachenal. 3 weeks in and the tunes are just starting to come, haltingly, its been a struggle but every minute of practice is worth it. My background was piano/harmonium and for me the thought of non-chromatic didn't register. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjcjones Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 those would set you back about 200 bob. Or is it quid? I forget which is pounds sterling or the regular kind of pound. Or are they kilos now? A pound sterling is a quid. A pound weight is a pound. A "bob" was the pre-decimal shilling, worth 12 old pence, 20 to the pound. Now sadly disappeared, along with the farthing (1/4d), ha'penny (1/2d), thrupenny bit (3d), tanner (6d), florin (2 bob), half-a-crown (2 shillings and sixpence), and the ten-bob note (bill). And the pound note itself, now replaced by a dull coin. The powers-that-be keep trying to get us to use kilos, but hardly anybody does. Prepackaged stuff is in metric, but for loose goods most people will still ask for 2 pounds of potatoes, although they'll be priced in kilos. Until the Government relented recently, traders were being prosecuted for using the old measures. We buy fuel in litres, but judge our car's performance on miles per gallon. None of which has anything to do with concertinas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterT Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 None of which has anything to do with concertinas! Sadly, the same comment can be applied to much in this world! It's the school kids that I feel sorry for, since many now lack proficiency in both the Imperial and Metric units. At least when we were at school, knowledge of one useful (albeit unusual) set of units was drilled into us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdormire Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 those would set you back about 200 bob. Or is it quid? I forget which is pounds sterling or the regular kind of pound. Or are they kilos now? A pound sterling is a quid. A pound weight is a pound. A "bob" was the pre-decimal shilling, worth 12 old pence, 20 to the pound. Now sadly disappeared, along with the farthing (1/4d), ha'penny (1/2d), thrupenny bit (3d), tanner (6d), florin (2 bob), half-a-crown (2 shillings and sixpence), and the ten-bob note (bill). And the pound note itself, now replaced by a dull coin. The powers-that-be keep trying to get us to use kilos, but hardly anybody does. Prepackaged stuff is in metric, but for loose goods most people will still ask for 2 pounds of potatoes, although they'll be priced in kilos. Until the Government relented recently, traders were being prosecuted for using the old measures. We buy fuel in litres, but judge our car's performance on miles per gallon. None of which has anything to do with concertinas! Interesting, I remember being told it was only us "idiot" Americans who had trouble with the metric system, usually by the socialists that want to shove it down our throats. Not that I really care, I am comfortable with either system. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted November 7, 2007 Share Posted November 7, 2007 (edited) None of which has anything to do with concertinas! Sadly, the same comment can be applied to much in this world! It's the school kids that I feel sorry for, since many now lack proficiency in both the Imperial and Metric units. At least when we were at school, knowledge of one useful (albeit unusual) set of units was drilled into us. Well I was 7 when decimalisation happened & it's always left me a bit confused. For temperatures, when the weather's hot I work in Fahrenheit - so a nice summers day is in the 70s - but when it's cold I use Celsius - a cold day is when it drops below 10C and water freezes at 0 - yet very hot temperatures are in C - so water boils at 100. I measure furniture in Centimetres, but distance in Miles. I cook measuring using Pints & tablespoons, but also Kilos & Grammes. My waist is measured in inches (or feet ) but my hat size in centimetres. Bacon I buy in Grammes, but Sausages in Pounds, Potatoes by number ("10 Spuds please!") and Eggs by the half-dozen. I price Petrol in Litres but still do my mileage as Miles per Gallon Pounds and pence make more sense, and I'm glad we don't have pound notes anymore, but I'd sorely miss my Pint - the perfect volume for a purchase of ale. Concertinas I buy in single units. Edited November 7, 2007 by Woody Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiverHamble Posted November 7, 2007 Author Share Posted November 7, 2007 Hi All Thanks for the input. I am off to Celtic Chords tomorrow so we will see what that brings. I shall keep you all updated. Any tutors in or around the Southampt9on area? Thanks again Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon H Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Hi All Thanks for the input. I am off to Celtic Chords tomorrow so we will see what that brings. I shall keep you all updated. Any tutors in or around the Southampt9on area? Thanks again Steve How did you get on? Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Day Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 None of which has anything to do with concertinas! Sadly, the same comment can be applied to much in this world! It's the school kids that I feel sorry for, since many now lack proficiency in both the Imperial and Metric units. At least when we were at school, knowledge of one useful (albeit unusual) set of units was drilled into us. You are right Peter, when I was at school there was only Breakfast, Dinner and Tea now we have Brunch, Lunch,Supper and others, it is no wonder we are all putting on weight. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterT Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 None of which has anything to do with concertinas! Sadly, the same comment can be applied to much in this world! It's the school kids that I feel sorry for, since many now lack proficiency in both the Imperial and Metric units. At least when we were at school, knowledge of one useful (albeit unusual) set of units was drilled into us. You are right Peter, when I was at school there was only Breakfast, Dinner and Tea now we have Brunch, Lunch,Supper and others, it is no wonder we are all putting on weight. Al Measure that "pinch" in inches, Alan, it doesn't sound as bad! Regards, Peter. PS - my hearing has now returned to normal, although I still feel pretty lousy. [sorry - health report, not thread drift!] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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