I ordered a C/G anglo concertina (small instrument) from Wally Carroll in October, 2015. I received it in April, 2018. So, the waiting time was about two and a half years.
Layout : Carroll layout
Bellows : 6 fold bellows
Ends : walnut burl ends
Keys : 30 brass keys
It's very responsive. I guess it's quicker than Suttner or Wakker though it's not quicker than Dipper.
I really enjoy playing it!
I had wanted to play a Morse concertina someday. I found this used C/G Morse (Ceili) on its maker's website (The Button Box) and bought it in 2016. It was made in 2008.
Layout : Jeffries layout
Reedpan : Parallel reedpan
Bellows : 6 fold bellows
Ends : Flat wood ends
Keys : 30 plastic (Delrin) keys
It has good accordion reeds. It's very responsive, but I think it's not as responsive as my Edgley that I had before.
It's easy for me to play because it's very light and its buttons are comfortable.
P.S.
I sold this concertina after I had enjoyed playing it.
We bought a C/G Connor concertina (Jeffries copy) from a Japanese accordion player in 2015. He had bought it from John Connor in 2010.
Layout : Jeffries layout
Bellows : 6 fold bellows
Ends : Flat metal ends
Keys : 31 metal keys
Reedpan : Parallel reedpan
It looked nice, but it had some reeds which were slow to speak. Although I could adjust several reeds, I couldn't fix some reeds. So, I sold it to a repairer who lives in U. K.
He said...
"Connor concertinas can be very good or not so good-probably depending on when they were made."
"Connor reeds are way bigger than other concertinas-at least the frames are."
I think we have to be careful when we buy Connor Jeffries copy concertinas, though Connor rebuilds are good.
I bought a C/G anglo concertina from Frank Edgley in September, 2015. It'a a Heritage model which has concertina reeds.
Layout : Modified Wheatsone layout
Reedpan : Radial reedpan
Bellows : 7 fold bellows
Ends : Metal ends
Keys : 30 Delrin keys
It plays loud and brightly. I can play it as if I played a Suttner concertina. I guess the tone of Suttner concertinas is a little brighter than the one of Edgley Heritage models.
Although it isn't as good as Dipper or Jeffries, I guess it's worth the price.
It has riveted concertina reeds (reed tongues are riveted on reed frames) and hook action. And it has wider bellows frames than our other concertinas.
Because its B-flat reed on the left-hand side had metallic tinkling sound when I received it, I realigned the reed using a small blade according to Frank's advice. At last, it stopped making tinkling sound. Thanks, Frank!
And I adjusted its low-G reed on the left-hand side because it wasn't very responsive. Other reeds that I use when I play Irish music were responsive.
Frank offers good custom-fitted cases or waterproof storm cases. I chose the latter because it's cheaper than the former.
P.S.
I sold this concertina to a Japanese concertina player after I had enjoyed playing it.
Layout : Wheatstone layout
Reedpan : Parallel reedpan
Bellows : 6 fold bellows
Ends : Flat metal ends
Keys : 31 metal keys
It's not so old...it was made in 1951. It has lovely tone.
It is less responsive than the Crabb we had before, but it's much less expensive!
P.S.
I sold this concertina to my friend. He is an accordion player.
Last week, a member of SoundCloud asked me...
I like a lot your tunes, solos and duets.
I notice you have played both Wakker A2 and Suttner. I would like your opinion on how they compare in terms of loudness, sound and playability.
I'm in view of buying one of them, as you may know, it's not easy to choose.
I replied...
1. Wakker A2
Both high notes and low notes are very responsive.
Low notes are very loud, but high notes aren't so loud and blight.
It's light and it demands less power.
Not so many Irish musicians play Wakker concertinas.
2. Suttner
High notes are blight and very responsive. Low notes aren't so responsive.
Both high notes and low notes are so loud that my wife used to play it in the pub.
It's a little heavy and it demands more power.
Many Irish musicians play Suttner concertinas.
I prefer a Wakker A2 to a Suttner because I'm not a powerful player.
My wife prefers a Suttner to a Wakker A2 because a Suttner is louder and blighter. You can hear it in the pub.
(My wife plays the concertina much, much better than me. She plays a Dipper now.)
I hope you can find a good concertina that suits you!
He replied...
You answered all my questions.
I think I will go for the Suttner.
I have so much pleasure listening (and learning) your tunes.
I hope he will be satisfied with his new concertina in the future.
I bought a C/G Clover anglo concertina kit from Wim Wakker in August, 2012. I finished building it in December, 2012, except for fine tuning.
It cost 1450 dollars including a gig bag and the shipping cost.
Layout : Wheatstone layout.
Reeds : Italian accordion reeds
Bellows : 6 fold bellows
Ends : Flat Wood ends
Keys : 30 metal keys
It's responsive, but not so responsive as Edgley concertinas. As you know, Edgley concertinas are much more expensive than Clover kits.
( February 1, 2014 )
I had received an email from Wim Wakker. He wrote "When key travel is adjusted to 3mm and the reeds set correctly, you'll find that the Clover is much more responsive."
So, I adjusted key travel from 4-5mm to 3mm as he writes in "Manual for the Clover anglo kit".
Thanks to Wim's advice, my Clover is much more responsive! I think it's nearly as responsive as Edgley now.
Gig bag
From L to R : Rochelle, Wakker Concertina, Clover Kit
I quickly recorded a set of two reels on my Clover concertina.
And I asked my wife to play a tune on it.
P.S.
I sold this concertina in 2016.
My wife and I bought a C/G Jeffries anglo concertina from Barleycorn Concertinas (Chris Algar) in January, 2009.
Layout : Jeffries layout
Reedpan : Parallel reedpan
Bellows : 7 fold bellows
Ends : Flat metal ends
Keys : 38 metal keys
It is very responsive. We love its tone! My wife usually plays it now.
We bought a Bb/F Jeffries anglo concertina from a musical instrument shop in July, 2007.
Layout : Jeffries layout
Reedpan : Parallel reedpan
Bellows : 6 fold bellows
Ends : Flat metal ends
Keys : 38 metal keys
It has good low sound! I enjoy playing it very much!
(This chart is transposed up to C/G for comparison.)
We bought a Ab/Eb Jeffries anglo concertina from Barleycorn Concertinas (Chris Algar) in January, 2012. The strong yen made it a little easier to buy it.
Layout : Jeffries layout
Reedpan : Parallel reedpan
Bellows : 6 fold bellows
Ends : Flat metal ends
Keys : 38 metal keys
It has great low sound. I love its sound. I enjoy playing it very much!
(This chart is transposed up to C/G for comparison.)
I've always played concertinas which have concertina reeds, because I prefer concertina reeds to accordion reeds.
But I've been interested in one maker who uses accordion reeds...Frank Edgley. When I played my friend's Edgley concertina about nine years ago, I was surprised at its quick response. Though its sound was harsh and too loud for me, I've always recommended Edgley concertinas to those looking for better or responsive anglo concertinas.
I recently heard Edgley concertinas had been improved. On the plea of strong yen, I decided to buy a Edgley concertina at last.
I found a good-looking C/G concertina on his blog and bought it in March, 2011.
Layout : Jeffries layout
Reedpan : Parallel reedpan
Bellows : 7 fold bellows
Ends : Flat metal ends
Keys : 30 plastic(Delrin) keys
It's very responsive and its sound is much better and mellower than his old concertinas. Though I still prefer my Wakker's sound to its sound, I enjoy playing it very much!
Because the A and B notes in G row on the right hand side weren't loud enough, I adjusted the reeds by myself. I slightly increased the gap between the reed tongues and the reed frames. Now, they're loud enough!
Though I may sell it in the future, I will enjoy playing it for a while.
PS
I sold this concertina in October, 2011. I hope he enjoys playing it!
***********************************************************************
Another Edgley ( in C/G )
Layout : Wheatstone layout
Reedpan : Parallel reedpan
Bellows : 7 fold bellows
Ends : Flat metal ends
Keys : 30 Delrin keys
I bought this one secondhand in 2017. I guess it was made several years ago. It's very responsive, too.
P.S.
I sold this concertina after I had enjoyed playing it.
