P.con Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 I'm currently in the process of buying a concertina and I gave my mind set in either a hohner or boorinwood box. Both going for around 200euro because they're second hand. I know both there not supposed to be great instruments but please bear in mind that I'm only looking to play in my own time as I already play three other instruments and I won't be playing the concertina full time. So I ask the question- boorinwood or hohner? I just want an instrument that I can trust will keep me entertained bur won't turn me away from playing the concertina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Ducky Raley Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 Please consider something like the Rochelle which is sold through a number of the small makers in the Concertina community who are reputable and can give you support, and allow trade ups if you should get hooked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 So I ask the question- boorinwood or hohner? I just want an instrument that I can trust will keep me entertained bur won't turn me away from playing the concertina If the Hohner is a fairly recent D-40, I'd recommend that you avoid it. Some of the older Hohners (at least some of which are marked "Hohner International") are rebadged Stagis and could be more or less ok. I don't know who makes the Boorinwood, though I've tried to find out. I suspect that they're "cheap Chinese", which I also wouldn't recommend. Your best bet in that price range would be a used Rochelle if you can find one for the price. A used Bastari/Stagi might also be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ransom Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 If the Hohner is a fairly recent D-40, I'd recommend that you avoid it. Some of the older Hohners (at least some of which are marked "Hohner International") are rebadged Stagis and could be more or less ok. I don't know who makes the Boorinwood, though I've tried to find out. I suspect that they're "cheap Chinese", which I also wouldn't recommend. Your best bet in that price range would be a used Rochelle if you can find one for the price. A used Bastari/Stagi might also be ok. Some old threads here on concertina.net suggest that Boorinwoods are made by Stagi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Just a one off experience - so maybe not indicative of the whole brand - but when I first started I bought a Boorinwood 20 button Anglo and it was truly awful. It's a long time ago & I was new to the Concertina but the instrument wasn't playing the expected notes - the notes on the right hand side were just a mirror image of those on the left hand side. The ebay seller I bought it from was brilliant & accepted that t was faulty but I was accidentally included (by Boorinwood) in some emails between him & somebody at Boorinwood. The Boorinwood guy seemed to be saying that I was an idiot & there was no problem (despite my providing evidence derived from a digital tuner). In the end the eBay guy gave me my money back and I went & bought a cheap Brunner Anglo from Eagle Music & was very happy with it (& strangely it played the notes I was expecting!). Now obviously this may not be the general experience of Boorinwood. I accept that their guy may have just been having a bad day & sounding off in what he thought was a private discussion with the eBay seller, or maybe he was just trying to save face with his customer, but I'm sure that you'll be unsurprised to learn that I personally wouldn't touch them with a bargepole. YMMV. If you can afford it the Rochelle is definitely the way to go. W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.con Posted August 21, 2010 Author Share Posted August 21, 2010 okay thanks everyone i think i'll look into a rochelle so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Some old threads here on concertina.net suggest that Boorinwoods are made by Stagi. Really? I'd suggest that you read that entire thread... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.con Posted August 21, 2010 Author Share Posted August 21, 2010 The man who owns the boorinwood sent me a sound file of him playing it , personally I think it sounds lovely, but do you's think I may have problems with it in the future? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Hersh Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 The man who owns the boorinwood sent me a sound file of him playing it , personally I think it sounds lovely, but do you's think I may have problems with it in the future? It really depends on who made it. If, as I suspect, it's a generic Chinese concertina, the quality of materials and construction is not good and they often develop problems that are difficult or impossible to fix. I said often, not always - some of them hold up better than others. If it's a Stagi/Bastari, you're prospects would be better, though the Rochelle is better built than those are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.con Posted August 21, 2010 Author Share Posted August 21, 2010 Ah okay thanks for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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