Ghiro,

I agree with Stevethesqueeze that a new Stagi will do very well. My first box was a 30 button Bastari (antecedent of Stagi) which still can wheeze out a decent melody after 30 years (though without the duct tape it would be of questionable playability).

You should plan on getting a 30 button instrument in C/G, tho, since that's the most common type used for Irish music; the extra ten buttons give you the accidentals needed to play in D and A, as well as the double notes in opposite directions (G, A, etc.) that are essential for playing tunes fast and fluidly.

I do know that Anglos in other keys are used in traditional Irish music. Jacqueline McCarthy plays boxes in E and A on one of her recordings. I was in The Button Box the other day and manager Doug was telling me the reason you can find Bb/F Anglos (like Bob Bolton's): they allow players to sit in with pipers whose pipes are in "old tuning" -- Bb.

Another reason for odd keys could be the one I heard explaining the existence of Eb tinwhistles: you can be pretty sure of not having anyone play along with you if you're doing a tune in that key.

Pleasing wind to you -- comprimere in aeternum!

Jerry