Used Concertina: Deal?

Subject: RE: Used Concertina: Deal?
From: GUEST,curmudgeon
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 09:24 AM

Hi Uncle Jaque -- What used to be Bastari is now Stagi. You can get a brand new 20 button on eBay for $195.00. You can also get a Laurel "mother-of-toilet seat" for $80.00. These are both beginner's instruments that you will outgrow rapidly.

As previously advised, go to the Button Box web site. Also go to www.concertina.net and read the Buyer's Guide.

Good luck in your quest -- Tom

Subject: RE: Used Concertina: Deal?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 07:16 AM

And this.

Subject: RE: Used Concertina: Deal?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Nov 02 - 06:50 AM

Three rows definitely best - with practice you will be able to play in most keys easily and others with a bit more difficulty! I'm not sure $180 is a good deal for a two row second hand - you can but a two row cheapo German or Italian job for less than that new. If it is a good make (Lachenal, Jones etc) it is a good deal. If it is a Hohner or Gremlin it may not be! Look at this and related info before you decide.

Good luck and cheers

Dave the Gnome (Owner of a Hohner 30 button)

Subject: RE: Used Concertina: Deal?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Nov 02 - 10:40 AM

Not a bad price but I'd hold out for the 30 button, 3 row version, or tradeup to it as soon as possible.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Used Concertina: Deal?
From: Crane Driver
Date: 01 Nov 02 - 11:00 PM

C/G is fairly common for Anglos. It's probably a good "starter" box, but you'll find it fairly restrictive after a while - with just two rows, the "base" keys and their respective minors are just about all you can play in. That'll work for some songs, but for others, it'll be too high or too low for comfort. That's when you'll start wishing you had the extra row, with eg C# for the key of D, or Bb for the key of F.
Basic principle - get the best box you can afford. Or be prepared to trade up soon. But get one, and persevere - the world can't have too many concertina players!!

Andrew

Subject: RE: Used Concertina: Deal?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 01 Nov 02 - 08:29 PM

Hi , Its realy helpful to get a box with a third row of bottons.. For a c&g the top row would have a B d and other flats and sharps.. For sea shantiys its worth saving a little more.dow. If you are in the USA look at Elderley instroments or the end of all box heavens look at the Botton Box in Amherst MAss.. Sorry asking you to spend an exstra $ 250.00.. I think a 30 botton BAstary is more like $350.00 or more.. Myself I would not spend almost $200.00 on this kind of instroment.. If you do think more on this one please make shore the bellows are holding air.. When you go to play a note if you feel the bellows are'nt "holding the note or feel "Airy" the instroment may need a new bellows and on a bastri 20 botton that is not worth persuing even if the instroment was free.. (Only an opinion of cource) Good luck.. Yours, Guy

Subject: RE: Used Concertina: Deal?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Nov 02 - 08:14 PM

C G seems unusal.Thoght the standard Anglo was D and G.But what do I know .I'm a banjo owner.(nearly said player)

Subject: RE: Used Concertina: Deal?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 01 Nov 02 - 06:29 PM

Good luck Uncle Jaque. I bought one from a Mudcatter about three years ago....good deal, EXCEPT that one of the keys wouldn't work. He didn't know that when he sold it to me and we had no trouble working it out. Check EVERY key thouroughly.

Good luck

Rick

Subject: Used Concertina: Deal?
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 01 Nov 02 - 06:14 PM

We have found a "Classified" advertisement for a used concertina:

Anglo Bastari Keys of "C" and "G" (Both of which are fine by me!), 20 buttons, wooden ends, $180.

Does this sound like a reasonable deal to you squeezebox players out there?

I would use such an instrument to 1. Learn to play the concertina, and
2. Accompany myself and on occasion others in Sea Chanteys, and the like.

Not knowing a whole lot about about concertinas, I am open to suggestions!

On the basis of what I have learned so far here on Mudcat and other sites, I think that an Anglo is the way I want to go.

We may be going up to the area where this instrument is located this weekend. If it really is a good "deal", I suspect that it may not be around long. We very seldom see concertinas on the "used" market.