New bellows for my Boyd

[conzertino]

Hi, out there... After 30 years of heavy playing the bellows of my Boyd Wheatstone are falling to bits:-(

 

I have never seen bellows as subtle and thin as those original ones. Hence I'm very reluctant to change them.

 

Please let me know your good and bad experiences with new ( EC ) bellows and the makers thereof.

 

What are butterfly bellows and what are the pros of all leather bellows???

 

6, 7, 8 or more folds? Your opinoin!

 

Do you know anybody, who does a good job repairing bellows ( an option?!?).

[Ken_Coles]

We'll probably want to recommend bellows makers in your own part of the world, so do tell us where you are!

 

Ken

[conzertino]

Good point! I'm based in Germany - but I'd cross the oceans for a some perfect bellows...

 

I'd be prepared to have them send from anywhere - provided I'm getting best value ( for money?? )

Edited December 22, 2008 by conzertino

[Robin Harrison]

PM me.........I've had new English bellows made with mixed results....I believe Rosalie Dipper's are probably the best available now. Robin

[PeterT]

I believe Rosalie Dipper's are probably the best available now.

Hi Robin,

 

I agree with this statement, and they will probably withstand many years of "robust" playing. However, I don't think that we should raise Robert's hopes too high.

 

Colin and Rosalie do very little repair work, nowadays, apart from serving long-term customers. We all know it impacts on their order book. As a favour, they are putting new bellows (and doing a few minor repairs) on a Jeffries which belongs to a friend of mine. Who knows; the mention of my name might have delayed the process , but I am still to hear about the joyful return (and get a chance to play it!) a year later. I only live two miles from my friends, and did ask the question the last time that I spoke to Colin (Rosalie was out, so he could not answer the question!).

 

So; by all means ask the question of the Dippers, but Robert should be prepared to be without a favourite concertina for a long time!

 

Regards,

Peter.

[Robin Harrison]

..............good point.

[david_boveri]

what about suttner? how's his turnover on repairs lately?

[Christian Husmann]

Hello,

 

recently Juergen Suttner did some minor repairs on my concertina and (especially living in Germany) I´d go and get his bellows.

 

Greetings

Christian