concertina

Subject: concertina
From: GUEST,stevethesqueeze
Date: 06 May 03 - 03:43 PM

Dear friends

I was very impressed by the anglo concertinas that Marcus of south wales in the uk is making. is anyone aware of what the feeling is regarding their quality etc?

Subject: RE: concertina
From: sian, west wales
Date: 06 May 03 - 03:45 PM

I bought mine from Marcos but not one of their own. I'll be interested to hear if anyone else has one ...

sian

Subject: RE: concertina
From: treewind
Date: 06 May 03 - 04:20 PM

I've tried one and wasn't hugely impressed. I have been hugely impressed by Colin Dipper's boxes and I play a Jeffries so I'm judging by high standards.

Thye are much cheaper than Wheatstones and Dippers though, and still a lot better than Hohner/Stagi/Gremlin toys so probbaly good value.

Specifically, I found the action rather loose and rattly and the tone a bit weak. I didn't have much of a chance to try it out properly, so don't take too much notice of my opinion!

Anahata

Subject: RE: concertina
From: curmudgeon
Date: 06 May 03 - 07:12 PM

Go to: www.concertina.net.

There you will find more information than you thought you needed, including reviews, opinions, and comments on virtually every make and model of concertina known to humankind.

-- Tom

Subject: RE: concertina
From: open mike
Date: 06 May 03 - 08:08 PM

one of the previous threads

Subject: RE: concertina
From: curmudgeon
Date: 06 May 03 - 08:20 PM

Here are the comments on the Marcus Concertina from concertina.net:

Marcus Music Concertinas
I don't know anything about these concertinas, but Chris Timson (the maintainer of the Concertina FAQ) in the UK had this to say (May 1998):


"Yesterday at Chippenham Folk Festival I came across a stall manned by Marcus Music, who were showing off their new anglos. These are rather nice looking metal-ended 30-button C/Gs with leather bellows and a very nice action. Cost is UKP750 - UKP850 depending on the model (say $1250 - $1400) including case.

This is a very good price, and like most instruments in this bracket use accordion reeds rather than concertina reeds (in this case, made by Antonelli). The tone, while not quite that of the better traditionally- made instruments, is very acceptable and does sound like a concertina rather than an accordion. I think they will make excellent first instruments (I personally define a good first instrument as one which will last a player for quite a few years before they feel the need to upgrade, if ever). Their address is Marcus Music, Tredegar House, Newport, Gwent, Wales, phone [phone].

With people like Marcus and Harold Herrington about I feel much happier about the situation with regard to anglo players. I now have somewhere to recommend new players go to. Now if we could only get them to make some Englishes and Haydens..."

From David Graham:

"I was in Birmingham recently and went to see Mr Tedrow. While there I played a Marcus, and found it to be a lot of things my Bastari isn't: well put together, tight, sounds good -- I mean it doesn't sound like a Jeffries, but not bad -- responsive. I think it's a great choice for a first instrument, maybe an only instrument (especially considering that when one upgraded, one could actually sell the Marcus). Not for me, though, as I've already ordered a Suttner. Besides, I'm enamoured of the in-your-face honk of Noel's instrument. I trust a Suttner will approach that. Anyway, I think you ought to get your hands on a Marcus, or have someone you trust do that. I think they're worth a look.

My Bastari is one that Tedrow rebuilt/retuned, with his new improved buttons -- something else that you should experience. I mean, it still sounds like a Stagi (albeit in tune), but it's a little quicker, and at Bob's prices, a bargain."