Information

[Larryo]

Hi, Hoping someone can give me some help,advice.I play a Suttner Anglo and over the weekend I was shown and given the chance to play a concertina which I was told was a Crabbe.It seemed old enough in that the metal ends had some worn areas but was in good condition nevertheless.However the real surprise came for me in how easy it was to play.The buttons were not as high as other concertinas or seemed to be placed lower to the metal.It was lighter as well.In general I found it far more easy to play than the Suttner and I think the lower buttons certainly seemed to help.Are there concertina makes that favoured the lower buttons? Is there such a thing, shall I say, as two different buttons heights? Am very curious now because when one considers the supposed ease of playing modern instruments, this concertina for me was far easier to play???? Any and all info would be appreciated.Thanks

[Pete Dunk]

I'm not an anglo player but the Wheatstone Æola pictured next to my post is as you describe with short button stroke and a very light action. The Crabb you played probably had raised ends and the short key stroke is a feature of many, but by no means all instruments of this type.

 

Wim Wakker at Concertina Connection makes concertinas with raised ends and a button spring pressure of 60gm and these probably equate to the best of the Wheatstone and Crabb models although I haven't had the opportunity to play one.

 

Pete.

[ben]

I believe that Wim Wakker offers anglo concertinas with three different button heights including a) the Irish; b ) the standard and c) traditional Victorian button height.

See the following link: http://www.concertinaconnection.com/anglo%20options.htm

 

I once bought a 40 button Wheatstone anglo that had a plastic/perspex template glued on to the button area of the concertina so that the player could feel the touch of the buttons receding into the concertina sides. It was a method of playing cross rows faster where the fingers seem to slide across the rows. Needless to say...the chromed sides of the concertina displayed much wear and tear.

Edited July 19, 2009 by Ben Otto

[David Levine]

Button height and spring pressure are both adjustable. Shay Fogarty, or Michael O'Rhaghallaich, in Dublin, can fit the Suttner concertina to you perfectly. Henrik Mueller adjusted the buttons on his "slide machine" so that they are low to begin with, and go down flush with the ends.

 

The Suttner isn't as light as some other concertinas but for some people that's a plus.

Edited July 19, 2009 by David Levine