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Discussions => Tune of the Month => Topic started by: Clive Williams on September 01, 2014, 12:15:42 AM

Title: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 01, 2014, 12:15:42 AM
Ok, this maybe quite hard work for many of us :-)

Pick a tune, any tune, and play it on each of your melodeons - it should provide an interesting view as to how a choice of melodeon affects the tune! If you're doing videos (which would be nice, since we can see the instrument then), you could upload a new video for each instrument to youtube, do one big video combining them all (good luck with editing that), or cheat somewhat and get youtube to combine the videos into one for you - see here: https://www.youtube.com/editor which looks a lot easier to me than trying to edit all those videos yourself!

If you've just got one melodeon, that's not a problem - just play us a tune so we can hear how that sounds - people will always be interested in the sound and playing characteristics of your box....

Cheers,

Clive

Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Lester on September 01, 2014, 07:45:38 AM
Not all my melodeons but all the ones that can play in G.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XcKyrWRC9o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XcKyrWRC9o)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Rog on September 02, 2014, 12:03:32 AM
Hey Lester, that's excellent!  You managed to keep the tempo constant throughout...
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Lester on September 02, 2014, 07:06:31 AM
Hey Lester, that's excellent!  You managed to keep the tempo constant throughout...

I would like to say it is down to amazing inner metronome but if you look closely I am wearing an earpiece. I recorded the tune through three times and put it on my iPod, played it back and played along on each instrument and used the middle of the three times through from each recording to make the video. The video was edited on a Mac using iMovie.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: pikey on September 02, 2014, 07:51:27 AM
what a good idea  ;)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Nick Collis Bird on September 02, 2014, 08:13:12 AM
Hey Lester, that's excellent!  You managed to keep the tempo constant throughout...

I would like to say it is down to amazing inner metronome but if you look closely I am wearing an earpiece. I recorded the tune through three times and put it on my iPod, played it back and played along on each instrument and used the middle of the three times through from each recording to make the video. The video was edited on a Mac using iMovie.

No no no, the Metro Gnome is to the left of Lester and also his avatar,  so there!  >:E
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 03, 2014, 01:34:42 AM
Here we go, this is the lot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhTDmDqQ6SQ - a rather longer version of Blaydon Races than usual, featuring...

Hohner 12 Bass G/C - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ
A 1920's Hohner, unusually with 12 basses.

Castagnari Lilly A/D - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=36s
Got this 2nd hand about 16-17 years ago; had one or two illustrious owners before me apparently.
 
Robert Boutet one row in D - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=1m9s
A quebecois maker and player (you can find videos of him playing on youtube)

Hohner Preciosa 12 Bass in Bb/Eb - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=1m43s
Mike and Theo's conversion of a Preciosa into a 12 bass superbox with similar semi-unisonoric basses to the Mory

Hohner Club Modell 1 in C/F - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=2m18s
One of my very early boxes, with a tone I just love.

Hohner Pokerwork in D/G - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=2m51s
My first box, getting on for 25 years old now. Gosh.

Castagnari Mory in D/G - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=3m24s
Bought in 1999, with the semi-unisonoric bass layout.

Hohner Lucia in D/G/Accs - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=3m57s
A recent MikeR conversion from a Lucia CBA, rather like the one Squeezy drives occasionally. I confess to being nothing like as confident on the basses of this thing than on normal melodeons, but I am getting much better at it, which is helping the CBA playing too.

Castagnari Giasco I in D/G - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=4m30s
Made for the Basque market, this is effectively a 12 bass Lilly with flat mounted single reeds in the treble. Fully unisonoric basses, trikitixa style, though in a slightly different arrangement.

Hohner 1 Row in G - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=5m2s
Got second hand about 20 years ago; who knows how old this thing is? Plays beautifully - whisper it, better than the Boutet I would say.

Streb Electronic Melodeon in this case in Eb/Ab/Accs - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=5m34s
One of the first models with melodeon samples built in that Steve built; in fact many of the samples in it come from my C/F Club and D/G Mory. Recently upgraded to programmable keyboard layouts and 3 rows. Sorry, recorded this one a little quietly; button noise isn't normally that loud!

"The Big Finish!" - Castagnari Magica CBA - http://youtu.be/xhTDmDqQ6SQ?t=6m6s
... and last, but certainly not least, a full sized CBA by Castagnari - getting my head round playing this again recently; the Lucia has meant I can play the basses pretty much without thinking too much about it now, so the whole thing is now somewhat easier...

Enjoy - lets see some more collections please!

Clive
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: pikey on September 03, 2014, 09:00:27 AM
wow!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 03, 2014, 09:14:17 AM
wow!

:-) I expect yours will be longer!  :o
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Lester on September 03, 2014, 09:38:48 AM
It's a MAD, MAD, MAD World Part 2 the Circle of Fifths (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEtES4Fj8GY)

Hohner Corona II in A
Hohner 1 Row 4 Stop in D
Hohner Banderica in G
Toy Melodeon in C
Hohner Erica in F
Hohner Erica in Bb
Hohner Erica in Eb

Sorry that I look more miserable than usual but I'm using a backing track on my iPod to keep the speed even and it's in G and most the boxes aren't. Also apologies to the Morris the Gnome spotters as I had moved him and forgotten to put him back in shot  ???
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Helena Handcart on September 03, 2014, 09:54:17 AM
It's a MAD, MAD, MAD World Part 2 the Circle of Fifths (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEtES4Fj8GY)

Hohner Corona II in A
Hohner 1 Row 4 Stop in D
Hohner Banderica in G
Toy Melodeon in C
Hohner Erica in F
Hohner Erica in Bb
Hohner Erica in Eb

Sorry that I look more miserable than usual but I'm using a backing track on my iPod to keep the speed even and it's in G and most the boxes aren't. Also apologies to the Morris the Gnome spotters as I had moved him and forgotten to put him back in shot  ???

Video is set to private Lester.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Lester on September 03, 2014, 10:21:50 AM
Video is set to private Lester.

Fixed   :-[
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: pikey on September 03, 2014, 03:21:17 PM
da£n, I was hoping it wouldn't let me watch it....... ;)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Helena Handcart on September 03, 2014, 03:34:08 PM
da£n, I was hoping it wouldn't let me watch it....... ;)

I don't think we should watch it unless Morris the gnome is re-instated.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Broadland Boy on September 03, 2014, 11:34:57 PM
Inspiring as always Lester - do you have enough unfettled (or really dreadful sounding) boxes to illustrate how the good'uns start out - warts and all - before the addition of TTLC ??
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: nathen on September 04, 2014, 04:34:19 PM
Thanks for this thread guys I found it really inspiring, as do most posts here, and found me reaching for my Corona.

Nathen
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: arty on September 04, 2014, 07:34:32 PM
I find this Theme of the Month to be a little irresponsible on the part of the organisers, in that it is likely to encourage and indeed, set off an epidemic of MADness beyond anything that has been known before.

I mean - how can one compete with Lester and Clive? They seem to be suffering with this awful disease so badly that there surely is no possible cure for them. I don't bloody believe it....26 boxes between them!!! And that's just the ones they want us to see......

I, for one, won't be making a post because, with my collection of just 3 boxes I now feel totally inadequate, insufficiently armed and strangely impotent.
 :( :o ;D :||: :|glug
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: pikey on September 04, 2014, 08:31:55 PM
you haven't seen mine yet....... >:E
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: pikey on September 04, 2014, 08:33:41 PM
Ps . Two is good, so is three. It doesn't matter how many boxes you have, the whole idea is to play the same tune on different boxes so we can hear the differences !

So go on, have a go. It's fun !  :D
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Pete Dunk on September 04, 2014, 08:56:53 PM
you haven't seen mine yet....... >:E

Aren't we lucky! ;)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 04, 2014, 11:37:32 PM
I find this Theme of the Month to be a little irresponsible on the part of the organisers, in that it is likely to encourage and indeed, set off an epidemic of MADness beyond anything that has been known before.

I blame this forum; at least half of the boxes on my list are down to 'ooo, I want that' moments caused by seeing things I never even knew existed before melodeon.net.

I, for one, won't be making a post because, with my collection of just 3 boxes I now feel totally inadequate, insufficiently armed and strangely impotent.
 :( :o ;D :||: :|glug

Shame, I'd like to have seen the Hascy in action... and the other ones too. Would you reconsider please?  :D
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: ladydetemps on September 05, 2014, 10:53:21 AM
Well I only have one box at home...my one row is being leant out to another melnetter...so I can only show one off.
Unless Penny can get Sam to make a video of him playing. ;)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: arty on September 05, 2014, 11:02:09 AM


Shame, I'd like to have seen the Hascy in action... and the other ones too. Would you reconsider please?  :D
[/quote]

Oh you will Clive, but at the moment I don't have time. That bug bear of all melodeon players - too much work on at the moment!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: arty on September 07, 2014, 07:41:51 PM

Shame, I'd like to have seen the Hascy in action... and the other ones too. Would you reconsider please?  :D

This is just for you Clive!

The first video is my brand new Castagnari Hascy, which I have only had for 10 days. It still feels very stiff and the bellows crackle when I open them. I am going to really love this instrument! I would be very grateful for any tips and comments - I have been playing for 2 years 4 months now and I know I have to do a lot of work to make the basses more interesting, especially noticeable with a slow air such as this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRzf4DtFizI

The second is the same tune played on my gorgeous old Pre-Pokerwork C/F. I love this instrument so much, simply because of the lovely sweet sound it makes, that I know I shall keep it forever. I bought it as my very first instrument, on May 1st 2012 from Mike Rowbotham, while I was working in Cornwall. I will always remember it - I visited him, listened to him play and thought 'I want to learn to do that', so I bought this melodeon and I have been very happy ever since! I had never knowingly heard a melodeon before. Meeting Mike was a great day!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o04Z-IW_tjU

I also have a Pressedwood but it has a few problems, so I can't play it until Mike has sorted it out.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Lester on September 07, 2014, 07:46:50 PM
It still feels very stiff and the bellows crackle when I open them. I am going to really love this instrument!

This may help on the stiffness front  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iigObdMdK6I (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iigObdMdK6I)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: arty on September 07, 2014, 08:14:19 PM
Thank you very much Lester......I'll do that straight away.

That really works....so much better now! Thanks again Lester
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Daddy Long Les on September 09, 2014, 01:00:37 PM
The Grand Old Duke Of York - 16 performances, 5 keys, 8 melodeons and a CBA.

http://youtu.be/RYqg7qXkBTo

cast in order of appearance:-

Hohner 1040C
Hohner Corona Xtreme IIIN GCF
Hohner Erika GC
Sybilla Brand GCF
Dino Baffetti Binci DG
Hohner Erika DG
Hohner Compadre ADG
Roland FR-18
Black Diamond CBA
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Stig Bubblecard on September 09, 2014, 01:49:43 PM
Pedant alert!!!

You're playing a Hohner EriCa not an Erika.

Great video! Well done.

Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 09, 2014, 01:58:46 PM
I would like that Sybilla please. Yummy. Not heard a FR-18 in the flesh before; not quite what I expected!  :D
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Daddy Long Les on September 09, 2014, 02:04:51 PM
Pedant alert!!!

You're playing a Hohner EriCa not an Erika.

Great video! Well done.

Thanks. Yes you're right of course about the spelling although I think I've seen it spelt that way on some boxes.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Peter Savage on September 09, 2014, 02:05:07 PM
The Grand Old Duke Of York - 16 performances, 5 keys, 8 melodeons and a CBA.


Well done Les!  I'll take the Sybilla as well please.  I love how everyone playing on a CBA has to look at the keyboard the whole time (see Clive's video as well)!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Daddy Long Les on September 09, 2014, 02:08:43 PM
I would like that Sybilla please. Yummy. Not heard a FR-18 in the flesh before; not quite what I expected!  :D

Hmm, not a great advert for the FR-18 I'm afraid.  It does make some better noises than that.  Yes the Sybilla is funny old thing but sounds great since Martyn White Dedic-tuned it for me.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Daddy Long Les on September 09, 2014, 02:12:06 PM
The Grand Old Duke Of York - 16 performances, 5 keys, 8 melodeons and a CBA.


Well done Les!  I'll take the Sybilla as well please.  I love how everyone playing on a CBA has to look at the keyboard the whole time (see Clive's video as well)!

Thanks.  Yes I was mindful of Clive's video as I recorded the CBA.  In my case it's due to incompetence!!  It will be a while until my "balancing wheels" come off!!!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 09, 2014, 02:24:51 PM
The Grand Old Duke Of York - 16 performances, 5 keys, 8 melodeons and a CBA.


Well done Les!  I'll take the Sybilla as well please.  I love how everyone playing on a CBA has to look at the keyboard the whole time (see Clive's video as well)!

Thanks.  Yes I was mindful of Clive's video as I recorded the CBA.  In my case it's due to incompetence!!  It will be a while until my "balancing wheels" come off!!!

Yep, guilty as charged too m'lud!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Anahata on September 09, 2014, 02:48:20 PM
you're right of course about the spelling although I think I've seen it spelt that way on some boxes.
You have.

Hohner Erika is one of their Club models.
Hohner Erica is the one that's basically a Pokerwork in a plastic-shelled round cornered case (interchangeable reed blocks, similar sound and action)

All part of Hohners dastardly plot to confuse the unwary (for more, look at all their different names for club boxes, and how the numbers don't correlate with anything at all)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Daddy Long Les on September 09, 2014, 04:33:35 PM
you're right of course about the spelling although I think I've seen it spelt that way on some boxes.
You have.

Hohner Erika is one of their Club models.
Hohner Erica is the one that's basically a Pokerwork in a plastic-shelled round cornered case (interchangeable reed blocks, similar sound and action)

All part of Hohners dastardly plot to confuse the unwary (for more, look at all their different names for club boxes, and how the numbers don't correlate with anything at all)

Thanks for the clarification.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: otisluxton on September 11, 2014, 11:52:28 AM
'Show us all your melodeons'? This challenge all seems a bit crass, vulgar and embarrassing if you ask me. Quite indicative of a lot of melodeon players - more money to spend on squeezeboxes than developing skill and feeling. It's not really true to the context of the instrument and music is it? What's next? 'What car do you drive?'
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 11, 2014, 12:09:27 PM
No one's forcing you to take part Otis. I've seen quite a few interesting boxes in this thread that I wouldn't have otherwise...
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: otisluxton on September 11, 2014, 12:52:15 PM
Well it's a good job no one is forcing me to take part as I only own the one melodeon...

And lets not kid ourselves - as melodeon players we're all quite familiar with what other boxes characteristics are and what they sound like - there aren't many out there that are unusual or unfamiliar.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 11, 2014, 01:05:32 PM
Don't think I've seen it yet though!  :D Why not try the tune of the month if you don't want to play on this theme?
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Daddy Long Les on September 11, 2014, 05:16:10 PM
'Show us all your melodeons'? This challenge all seems a bit crass, vulgar and embarrassing if you ask me. Quite indicative of a lot of melodeon players - more money to spend on squeezeboxes than developing skill and feeling. It's not really true to the context of the instrument and music is it? What's next? 'What car do you drive?'

I feel that you do Clive a great disservice in describing his suggestion for Theme Of The Month thus.  I personally can't wait to see/hear other people's contributions on here and if you are contemplating the purchase of a box and can't quite decide which one to go for, this could be a really good way to help you make your choice.  Personally, I find it fascinating to hear the same tune on multiple instruments.  Yes, sometimes the differences are subtle, sometimes startling.  This theme would have definitely helped me when I was starting out three years ago.  Please remember that there are new players/musicians joining melnet all the time who are not aware of all the different and marvellous sounds this instrument can make. 

I fully realise that some of us on here have more melodeons than others for various reasons best known to ourselves.  Basically, that's our business and if, like me, you've worked hard all your life to afford these things then I say, why not?!  I hope that during my short time on this instrument that I have developed "skill and feeling" at the same time as purchasing several boxes - all of which I can justify  ;)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: AirTime on September 11, 2014, 07:23:04 PM
Quote
And lets not kid ourselves - as melodeon players we're all quite familiar with what other boxes characteristics are and what they sound like - there aren't many out there that are unusual or unfamiliar.

Actually, I don't think anything could be further from the truth. First, there are an enormous variety of different boxes, different tuning & different styles out there, vintage & new. Second, I understand that there are clusters of melodeon players in the UK who often get together for Morris, or céilidhs, or the like, & are able to compare their boxes, but there are lots of us who play in isolation & have little or no opportunity to hear, let  alone play other boxes. Hearing the same tune, by the same player, on a variety of boxes is actually quite revealing & interesting.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: boxcall on September 11, 2014, 07:53:39 PM
'Show us all your melodeons'? This challenge all seems a bit crass, vulgar and embarrassing if you ask me. Quite indicative of a lot of melodeon players - more money to spend on squeezeboxes than developing skill and feeling. It's not really true to the context of the instrument and music is it? What's next? 'What car do you drive?'
Hi Otis,
Sorry You feel that way! I think you maybe taking the title and word "all" out of context and the word all can mean just one if that's all you got, play it. This is not a contest to see who has the most melodeons. we all know Lester does ;)

Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 11, 2014, 08:36:11 PM
[[[ Thanks folks; back on topic, eh? Keep 'em coming... there's lots more boxes out there I want to see... ]]]
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Pete Dunk on September 11, 2014, 10:15:45 PM
[[[ Thanks folks; back on topic, eh? Keep 'em coming... there's lots more boxes out there I want to see... ]]]

Oh alright then but it goes against the grain. We don't get much fresh meat around here. Bah humbug!  >:E :o 8)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Daddy Long Les on September 12, 2014, 08:27:32 AM
[[[ Thanks folks; back on topic, eh? Keep 'em coming... there's lots more boxes out there I want to see... ]]]

No problem Clive - not like me to rant but I felt strongly about this.  For what it's worth, I think you and Theo do a great job. 

Les
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 12, 2014, 08:46:28 AM
[[[ Thanks folks; back on topic, eh? Keep 'em coming... there's lots more boxes out there I want to see... ]]]

No problem Clive - not like me to rant but I felt strongly about this.  For what it's worth, I think you and Theo do a great job. 

Les

Cheers Les, appreciated  (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: arty on September 12, 2014, 10:24:36 AM
This, to me, has certainly been a very interesting exercise. It has shown me that certain types of music suit certain boxes and, as in my case, just because one has a costalotti melodeon, it doesn't mean that all tunes will sound good on it. In my particular case, it seems that the piece I chose to play for this Theme of the Month sounds far nicer on my old Pre-Pokerwork than it does on my new Hascy.
Bearing this in mind, I have spent a very enjoyable couple of evenings looking for music to learn which sounds good on my new Hascy and seems to be within my capabilities. So, the next few weeks will be spent learning Innisheer, Mrs. Saggs and re-visiting a couple of the easier Andy Cutting tunes.
Thanks Clive...this has been very positive for me  :D  :|glug
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Sebastian on September 12, 2014, 10:30:23 AM
a lot of melodeon players - more money to spend on squeezeboxes than developing skill and feeling.
Yes, that is true. I myself certainly belong to this group. It is therefore, I suppose, that I like to see and listen to many different instruments, even if the differences between many boxes may only be subtle.

It never occurred to me that one could see this as a competition: who has the greatest number of boxes. I just enjoyed the show.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: robotmay on September 12, 2014, 11:05:25 AM
There are definitely some tunes which just suit the hohner sound better, including one I wrote which just sounds naff on the Castagnari in comparison ???
I'm trying to figure out a tune I can play roughly as well on both of my boxes. There are some tunes I actually really struggle with on the pokerwork because of the increased distance between buttons, especially if it involves the accidentals.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: robotmay on September 12, 2014, 12:32:28 PM
Not particularly happy with either of these recordings, so I'll probably do something else later in the month, but here's a quick bash through Battle of the Somme on both my boxes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TNDzagiPlw

I was getting pretty annoyed with the Pokerwork as it's quite hard work in a warm flat, and my hands kept slipping on it, hence the death grip >:(
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: arty on September 12, 2014, 01:31:09 PM
Not particularly happy with either of these recordings,

Well I enjoyed them both!

Like you, I live in a flat and, thinking of my neighbours, I try to practice as quietly as possible. But then, sometimes I think 'bugger it' and I give it some welly and it sounds a lot better. No one has complained but I have been told that my neighbours refer to me as 'Pugwash', so obviously they have heard me!!! I quite like it hahaha!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: robotmay on September 12, 2014, 01:48:59 PM
Thanks! My flat is incredibly soundproof, though I don't often subject my neighbours to the pokerwork these days (its volume knob starts at 10 and goes to 11 ::))! I've only had a complaint once, and that was when I practiced a Welsh jig incessantly at a loud volume next to the window for about 3 hours. I was reeeeally determined to get the hang of it :||:
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 12, 2014, 03:18:49 PM
My, that Lilium's a handsome beast ... Like! Like! Like!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: robotmay on September 12, 2014, 03:43:20 PM
My, that Lilium's a handsome beast ... Like! Like! Like!

It's far fancier than anything else in my flat (including myself) ;D
I feel really bad that I haven't gotten around to sorting out the broken bottom bellows strap yet; it's surprisingly hard to find a single popper fitting of the right size.
On rewatching the video I think my phone had been beaten into submission by the pokerwork, as it seems to have picked up a lot of action/pallette noise on the Lilium which isn't particularly obvious in person ???
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: AirTime on September 12, 2014, 05:22:05 PM
Here's my Mrs. Saggs compilation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBdscUIIrBY&feature=youtu.be

I would have like to have thrown in a couple more boxes & done something more creative with the editing (& playing!), but the whole thing was already quite time consuming. DG Dinn III (2 voice), GC Lilly, DG Studio, Dinn III (3 voice), Hohner BbEb.

I actually slowed down the clips of the Studio & the 3 voice Dinn a touch - a feature I just discovered on the software - so the pitch is a bit lower. Slowing clips down further, completely changes the pitch - this was fascinating to me. Has anybody else experimented with this?
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: robotmay on September 12, 2014, 05:30:33 PM
Aww I was hoping that 4-row in the background would get a showing too >:E
Those sounded great, and that Hohner at the end has a lovely tone to it.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Mike Carney on September 12, 2014, 08:34:27 PM

If you've just got one melodeon, that's not a problem - just play us a tune so we can hear how that sounds - people will always be interested in the sound and playing characteristics of your box....

Cheers,

Clive

OK.  As suggested.
http://soundcloud.com/oysterboy6/vals-efter-manneberg/s-QxOSH
Mike
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Steve C. on September 13, 2014, 07:20:41 PM
I wanted to thank you for another, crazy great TOTM with "unintended consequences".

I just played a few for the little lady wife and patiently again explained, see, really, having 2-3 melodeons is really no big deal…

even 3 or 4…

4 or 5…..
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Chris Ryall on September 13, 2014, 08:41:28 PM
OK.  As suggested.
http://soundcloud.com/oysterboy6/vals-efter-manneberg/s-QxOSH Mike
Lovely
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: malcolmbebb on September 13, 2014, 08:51:49 PM
Here is a short clip from the latest addition.  (http://youtu.be/FgdOBfZFehc)
This is formerly Nick CB's Chanson with the stretched bellows and Martyn White conversion to Hohner reeds. Not looked inside yet, or really got to grips with it (as you'll see - had it less than a week) but it is massively more playable than the Chinese version.  :||:

Not being a one-row player, Capt Lanoe is the first tune I could think of that didn't require an E.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Mike Carney on September 14, 2014, 09:21:48 AM
OK.

What were you playing Mike?
It is a Castagnari Laura DG, which I have had for a couple of years now. Tuned and made more playable by Theo.  I am very happy with it, especially now the bellows are played in more or less!
I am resisting MAD at the moment but can feel early signs..
Mike 
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Lester on September 14, 2014, 11:05:57 AM
I've been playing with iMovie

http://youtu.be/vSNLx6qoD98 (http://youtu.be/vSNLx6qoD98)

Hohner/Bailey Pokerlily
Hohner Erica D/G
Hohner Pre-pokerwork G/C
Hohner 1 Row 4 Stop G
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: AirTime on September 14, 2014, 03:49:02 PM
Nice idea Lester!  (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Mike Carney on September 14, 2014, 04:10:41 PM
Nice idea Lester!  (:)
Yep. Very together! Makes me think a little of the New Rope String Band...will the four Lesters  now interact?
Mike
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: pikey on September 14, 2014, 05:58:46 PM
As long as they don't interbreed  ;)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Pete Dunk on September 14, 2014, 11:04:46 PM
I've been playing with iMovie

Impressive, what a clever idea!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Anahata on September 15, 2014, 07:52:35 AM
Very nicely done indeed, but showing the boxes one after the other is still a better way to demonstrate what each one actually sounds like.

I'm up to my ears in editing Mardles in all my spare time at the moment, but I want to have a go at this.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Mcgrooger on September 16, 2014, 08:12:00 PM
I couldn't think what tune to play for this theme and then I suddenly thought I'll use the TOTM and kill two birds with one stone or two tunes with one vid, so here's William and Nancy played on my 5 boxes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3YwxqGGX6M
The 5 boxes are:
Hohner 1 row 4 stop in C made in Germany a few years back but still with new stiff bellows acquired from Martyn White a few months ago.
Saltarelle Pastourelle III D/G - acquired from the Music Room in about 2002 one treble reed and bass notes out on LH at 30secs, 2 treble reeds and full basses at 59 secs and all 3 treble reeds at 1min29secs.
C/F vintage Hohner acquired from Theo a year or two back at 1min57secs.
Hohner Pressed Wood D/G - custom restored for me by Mike Rowbotham at 2mins26secs, the first box I usually reach for these days.
Saltarelle L'Elfique D/G - from Eagle Music - 2 treble reeds in at 2mins54secs and all treble reeds in at 3mins23secs. I'd use this on the rare occasion I've to play box for our dance band.
Unfortunately I traded my original 1970s Hohner pokerwork in for the PIII - wish I hadn't!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: pikey on September 16, 2014, 10:11:47 PM
14 or 15.....my contribution is coming soon, possibly minus the Geipel as that is being Theoed. Unless I pick a tune that has already been Geipled......Wooden Heart  (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Daddy Long Les on September 17, 2014, 08:06:50 AM
I couldn't think what tune to play for this theme and then I suddenly thought I'll use the TOTM and kill two birds with one stone or two tunes with one vid, so here's William and Nancy played on my 5 boxes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3YwxqGGX6M
Excellent as always.  I envy the positive, confident way you play.  Yes, that Pressed Wood is lovely!  Thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Mcgrooger on September 17, 2014, 01:16:14 PM
Thank you Les - you're most kind. I've just watched your video - I usually try to avoid watching other people's before I post if I'm contributing. Which is the favourite of your boxes? I don't want to encourage more 'mad-ness' on your part but I was slightly surprised not to see a 'standard' type 3 voice two row - I might have got that wrong though. My playing's not as confident as you suggest - I tend to concentrate for short periods on a single tune or pair, especially for TOTM or ThOTM. I'm not so keen on sessions so I don't tend to keep my repertoire up to performance standard. I also make life easier for myself than you in that all my boxes are essentially similar 'types' apart maybe from the recently acquired one row which feels like playing a different instrument altogether!  Keep up the good work with your postings and blogs. (:) :||: (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Mike Carney on September 17, 2014, 01:37:54 PM
I couldn't think what tune to play for this theme and then I suddenly thought I'll use the TOTM and kill two birds with one stone or two tunes with one vid, so here's William and Nancy played on my 5 boxes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3YwxqGGX6M
Excellent as always.  I envy the positive, confident way you play.  Yes, that Pressed Wood is lovely!  Thanks for posting.
Likewise.
Mike
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Daddy Long Les on September 17, 2014, 01:39:03 PM
Thank you Les - you're most kind. I've just watched your video - I usually try to avoid watching other people's before I post if I'm contributing. Which is the favourite of your boxes? I don't want to encourage more 'mad-ness' on your part but I was slightly surprised not to see a 'standard' type 3 voice two row - I might have got that wrong though. My playing's not as confident as you suggest - I tend to concentrate for short periods on a single tune or pair, especially for TOTM or ThOTM. I'm not so keen on sessions so I don't tend to keep my repertoire up to performance standard. I also make life easier for myself than you in that all my boxes are essentially similar 'types' apart maybe from the recently acquired one row which feels like playing a different instrument altogether!  Keep up the good work with your postings and blogs. (:) :||: (:)

You're right, I don't own a three voice/two row.  Oh well, there's always Christmas!  I too work on a couple of pieces at a time.   Thank you, as always, for your encouragement and yes I will keep on with the blogs.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Grape Ape on September 17, 2014, 02:55:06 PM
Oysterboy, that Swedish waltz is my new earworm and I am happy to have it! Very nicely played!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Peter Savage on September 28, 2014, 04:46:11 PM
Here are my melodeons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05qzgYZBQKY to the White Joak.

1) [start] Hohner Erika D/G.  Recently acquired from another melnet member and converted to 12-bass by Mike Rowbotham.  On the video I am playing right-hand only as the LHS (bass/chord) reed blocks are at Mike's for some small adjustments.

2) [0:57] Hohner Club I Bb/Eb.  Purchased on German eBay and restored by Martyn White.  My favourite and most played box.

3) [1:50] Castagnari Sander D/G.  Long term loan from my father.  The box that I started on.

4) [2:39] Hohner Liliput D/G.  Purchased on German eBay and restored/converted to D/G by Mike Rowbotham.

5) [3:35] Hohner Preciosa C/F.  Purchased on German eBay and restored by Mike Rowbotham.

Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: pikey on September 28, 2014, 09:27:55 PM
Like  (:)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 29, 2014, 12:57:30 PM
Like  (:)

Indeed! This topic is doing my MAD no good whatsoever! Pikey, can we expect a mega collection from yourself this month?
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: arty on September 29, 2014, 01:42:59 PM
I just wanted to say thank you to Clive for this really interesting Theme of the Month. I have really enjoyed listening to all the different boxes, quite educational for me at least.

If nothing else, it has made me feel really content with the two boxes I have and certainly hasn't caused me to enter the Mad world some have to live in. I have just ordered one more box from Mike Rowbotham and that will be me forever.  ;) Ha Ha!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Anahata on September 30, 2014, 12:15:43 AM
I'm up to my ears in editing Mardles in all my spare time at the moment, but I want to have a go at this.

And just in time. The Sloe, on 13 different melodeons:
http://youtu.be/m9BLKuVELBA
(when it gets through the processing queue; YouTube says it's taking longer than expected)
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 30, 2014, 09:06:17 AM
I just wanted to say thank you to Clive for this really interesting Theme of the Month. I have really enjoyed listening to all the different boxes, quite educational for me at least.

If nothing else, it has made me feel really content with the two boxes I have and certainly hasn't caused me to enter the Mad world some have to live in. I have just ordered one more box from Mike Rowbotham and that will be me forever.  ;) Ha Ha!

You're welcome :-) I'm having a lot of fun lusting over all these wonderful boxes; a very financially dangerous time!
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on September 30, 2014, 09:07:18 AM
I'm up to my ears in editing Mardles in all my spare time at the moment, but I want to have a go at this.

And just in time. The Sloe, on 13 different melodeons:
http://youtu.be/m9BLKuVELBA
(when it gets through the processing queue; YouTube says it's taking longer than expected)

That's pretty great. That Albrecht looks/sounds lovely...
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Nick Collis Bird on September 30, 2014, 09:20:30 AM
Wow Anahata that's fantastic stuff. :-*
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Matt (Kings Norton) on September 30, 2014, 11:07:04 PM
Well that's the last time I play three different diatonic systems one after the other. 

I don't know how to join videos together so I've done it as a playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?action_edit=1&list=PLKChjFN3T_GsnEKyhY40FPvKc1a3QRzwn
I hope that works for anyone who does try to listen.

Boorinwood one row four stop in D: my first diatonic I think this sounds OK, but I find it hard work and personally if anyone was thinking of paying full price for one I would recommend a second hand Hohner one row instead.  For some reason the basses have been put in back to front.

La Vera BCC# (LMM)  There is a loss of sound quality on uploading to YouTube so it doesn't quite show how lovely and old fashioned this sounds, warm and metallic with a built in echo.  The bellows are sound but there is some air loss from the left hand keyboard in particular, that's my excuse for why I suddenly have to grab at it.  I'm not yet at a stage where I can learn a tune fast, hence playing in C# on this video.  And the reason not to play in C# apart from it being a stupid key, is that you can't reach the air button from down their.  Lovely 1930s box though and one day I'll spend some money on it.

Giustozzi 61A (LMM).  My favourite.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: penn on September 30, 2014, 11:45:38 PM
as previously I've left it really late and the production is somewhat.... rushed.

I present this as an antidote to the other videos which have been making you sick with lust for melodeons – this is what happens when MAD goes wrong. Here I present my collection, warts and all, so that when you see that 1930's Hohner on ebay.de with ten seconds left and only €90 bid you know what you are letting yourself in for.
This was more of a struggle than I'd imagined and there are edits where there shouldn’t be edits. I didn't expect to have the fight the Sterling into submission, though he wouldn't give up and held onto my thumb to the death.

The Princess Royal on:-

0:00 - 50's/60's Hohner Erica in D/G - my first, bought from Theo. Sound investment.
0:30 - Falcon Cajun 4 stop (unknown - surely Chinese) in C - ebay mistake
1:00 - 30's White Hohner in G/C – from Lars of this parish
1:30 - Hohner Liliput in Bb/Eb – ebay, tuned by Martyn White
2:00 - Hohner Club II B in C/F – ebay tuned by Martyn White
2:30 - 30's/40's Hohner Erika around about C/F - partially restored (but not yet tuned) by me
3:00 - 20's Koch in nearly D – bass end is out for a good clean up, right side unrestored
3:30 - 1912 Sterling Melodeon in approximately A - unrestored and with permanent bass.

http://youtu.be/BtaX-ky7EZU (http://youtu.be/BtaX-ky7EZU)
I'm posting now but I fear I'm cheating as the upload says 105 mins (105mins???) and so will not beat Clive's closing of the door.
Steve
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: Clive Williams on October 01, 2014, 12:12:31 AM
Just made it eh?  ;D As ever late submissions always welcome ; just stick them onthe end here.
Title: Re: Theme of the Month for September 2014: Show us all your melodeons!
Post by: James R on October 01, 2014, 06:50:45 AM
http://youtu.be/1kr7tX8Y4M0 (http://youtu.be/1kr7tX8Y4M0)

Left it a tad late. Wonderful tune by Andy Cutting, he taught it to us at Burwell this year. Rushed (i.e. full of mistakes) but hopefully gives you an idea of my wonderful Serenellini 233 which was recently swing tuned along with a few other modifications/repairs by Theo Gibb.
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