Setting the Reed and Patching the Gusset Leak

I repaired our Ab/Eb Jeffries concertina last weekend.

1 Settin the Reed

The low F reed on the left-hand side sometimes had stalled on initial button press. So, I increased the gab between the reed tongue tip and the reed frame slightly. Now, it never stalls!

This is the reed pan of the left-hand side. Reeds of low notes are much more difficult for me to set than ones of the high notes.

2 Patching the Gusset Leak

Our Ab/Eb Jeffries has old bellows. I patched a gusset leak using a piece of leather.

First, I patched it from inside the bellows.

Then, I patched it from outside to make sure...

It took a few hours to repair it. Now, it's easier for me to play than before.

Adjusting the Key Travel

Yesterday, I adjusted the key travel of our Bb/F Jeffries concertina.

According to "The Concertina Maintenance Manual," the key vertical travel should be around 3.0 to 3.5 mm. But, its key travel of the right-hand side was more than 5 mm.

I added one more felt washer (button damper) to every key.

It took about half an hour for me to add twenty felt washers. Now, it's easier for me to play than before.

Setting the Reed

When I played a Ab/Eb Jeffries concertina, I noticed that the Low F tone in the Eb row on the left hand side wasn't responsive. So, I tried to reset the F reed.

I dismantled the concertina and removed the F reed from the reed pan.

The gap under the reed tongue was too wide.

I reset the reed like this.

Now, the F reed is more responsive.

It took about forty minuetes for me to reset the reed.

Low notes are more difficult to adjust than high notes because reed tongues of low notes are thick and slow to speak!

(Jigs) Mac's Fancy, The Yellow Wattle - Ab/Eb Concertina

I learned this set from a concertina player when I joined a session in Kyoto in May, 2015.

I played a Ab/Eb Jeffries concertina.

(Hornpipes) The Beeswing, Cooley's - Concertina

I learned the first tune from my friends in January. It was pretty difficult for me to play on the concertina!

I played a Jeffries C/G concertina.

(Barndances) Mick Carr's, Dermot McLaughlin's - Concertina

I learned this set from "Within a Mile of Dublin" by Paul McGrattan and Paul O'Shaughnessy. The second tune is difficult for me to play on the concertina.

I played a Jeffries C/G concertina.

(Waltz) Patrick Kelly's Waltz - Concertina

I learned this tune from "happy to meet" by P.J. Crotty, Carol Cullinan, James Cullinan.

I played a Jeffries C/G concertina.

(Barndances) Joe Ryan's, The Hills of Tara - Bb/F Concertina

I played two barndances. I like playing barndances on the concertina though I know few barndances...

I played a Jeffries Bb/F concertina.

(Waltz) Margaret's - Concertina

I learned this waltz from my wife recently. I like it, though I've never heard them playing it at sessions.

I played a Jeffries C/G concertina.

(Hornpipes) The Fairies' Hornpipe, Willy Walshe's Hornpipe - Ab/Eb Concertina

I learned these tunes many years ago. You can find them in "Traditional Irish Tin Whistle Tutor" by Geraldine Cotter.

I played a Jeffries Ab/Eb concertina.