Is It Just An It?

[Ptarmigan]

I have often noticed threads on other Music Forums, which asked about the perceived gender of the musician's instruments.

 

It seems most Violins/Fiddles are thought of as female, so are usually referred to as she! while instruments like the Guitar & Bass have a much more macho image & so are thought of more often as male.

 

I notice lots of folks here refer to their Concertinas as Tina, so does this hint at it's female gender, or is it just that you can't be bothered writing out the whole word?

 

I suspect though, that the Concertina is just far too mechanical a wee beastie for these sorts of feelings to creep in? Or is it?

 

In other words, I reckon for most folks here, a Concertina is just an IT?

 

Now I know they won't come when you call them, but does anyone here actually have a pet name for their Concertina?

 

Like Charlie for their Wheatstone .... or, for similar reasons - Geoffrey, or perhaps that good old Scots name Lachlan!

 

Cheers

Dick

 

OK Put those thumbscrews away ...... I confess, I call my Wheatstone ~ Charlie.

Edited October 26, 2008 by Ptarmigan

[Mark Evans]

There was a thread on this a couple of years ago. A number of us had a good bit of fun with it. Cars got involved as well.

 

My present instruments are both female and named. There's Tarty Tess the Morse Albion (she's had a name change with the addition of her wrist straps) and is my constant companion. The Sunflower, my bluegrass banjo who although neglected in her case until a gig where she is needed and burdened with a now six year old set of strings, never lets me down.

 

Unleashed from confinement her beautiful voice and comely looks redden my face and quicken the pulse. Through the evening I plegde to be a more constant owner as I ask her for subtle counter melodies, forward Scruggs style and old time drop thumb drive all the while knowing I will forget about her on the morrow. In fact, the Obi's performed last night and when I pulled into the yard dog-tired it was raining really hard. Who did I take in the house? Yup, Tarty Tess. Guess, I'd best get The Sunflower in now as the sun's up. What a right bastard I am.

Edited October 26, 2008 by Mark Evans

[Anglo-Irishman]

I would no sooner think of naming my instruments than other parts of me. It's "my heart", "my lungs", "my liver", etc., so it's "my concertina", "my banjo", etc.

 

Ok, I've got several of each instrument, but I've also got several fingers on each hand, and don't give them names either. Analogue to "my index finger" and "my middle finger" I've got "my Anglo concertina" and "my Crane concertina". And my zither-banjo, open-back banjo and resonator banjo.

 

My wife seems to think that they're female, though. When I take them on my knee and squeeze them or stroke their long, slender necks, she gets jealous. And I've even had to stop hugging my autoharp in her presence

 

Cheers,

John

[Ishtar]

I think I only name living things too. Dogs, husbands, sons, lizards.

 

My concertina is just my baby, that's all.

[Ptarmigan]

I think I only name living things too. Dogs, husbands, sons, lizards.

 

Hmmmmmm I'm just wondering, did you list these living things in increasing or decreasing order of importance to you?

[Hooves]

Mines a Drag Queen.

[LDT]

Well I think mine has a 'personality' totally stubborn and lazy...so it must be male.