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Author Topic: Gathering dust?  (Read 6895 times)

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Chris Ryall

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Gathering dust?
« on: July 29, 2014, 07:11:14 PM »

None of us likes to be put on the shelf, and we all know that melodeons have feelings too. So how many boxes do you own that are truly unemployed? I'm thinking "not played in 6-12 months"

I confess to one decent box not played in nearly 2 years :|bl Another had been given to daughter Dolly but came back again! Another, arguably mere misdemeanour, might be my third box, played but rarely over 18 month, but now out on free loan to a (very) good home. Would that be a mitigating circumstance?

Come on, 'fess up!  ::)
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Helena Handcart

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2014, 07:24:51 PM »

I'm obviously not in the same league as many melnutters - both in terms of herd size and length of time playing - but I did feel a little bit guilty just the other day when I realised it was two years since I got my beloved pokerwork, went to play it and found that a) it was in the cupboard and b) it was dusty   :o
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deltasalmon

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2014, 08:57:46 PM »

I only have two boxes. I play them both at the very least weekly but more likely daily. I have a few parts and skeletons in my basement but not enough to put together to make a complete box that I could consider as being "on the shelf" and not being played (they're certainly collecting dust down there though).
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Sean McGinnis
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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2014, 09:18:37 PM »

got the old D/G Erica out to play a session, It might be the first time this year - defiantly, first time in six months.
how times change, few years back it was the only box I played
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pikey

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2014, 11:52:33 PM »

All of mine get played at least once every 6 months, but the Lilliput, Binci, and Pokerwork get played the most.
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Bob Ellis

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #5 on: July 30, 2014, 12:33:20 AM »

Every box I own has a purpose, so they all get played (except for the restoration box, which doesn't count because it is unplayable at the moment!)

I have two one-row boxes in D and C and they are used on a regular basis for....playing one-row tunes!  :o

My Pokerwork is used for teaching purposes so that students who have similar boxes can follow what I am doing when I am demonstrating something.

My Pariselle 2.6 row is used for everything else, although it will share those duties with my Clément Guais, when that new box arrives.
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Ollie

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #6 on: July 30, 2014, 12:57:52 AM »

All of my boxes get used regularly. Like Bob, I own them all because each box serves a different purpose.

My 12-bass D/G Erika is my standard session box, and a box I use when playing solo. It's a good all-round box, but struggles with being played too hard.

My Bb/Eb Erika is used when playing solo, and for singing with (and for the odd flat session!). It's mostly a rubbish morris box, as it doesn't have the brightness to cut through crowd noise, but it does work on some tunes. It's probably my favourite box, and my go-to box for playing at home.

My 9-bass D/G Erica is my dance box, used for morris and ceilidh work. I occasionally take it to a session, if the session is going to be especially lumpy and English. Whilst it can do subtle, the Erika is much better for that.

My 1-row 4 stop in D is used occassionally, and may soon be used for some ceilidh work when the need arises. I use this box the least, but it certainly gets a play when I feel it's being neglected.
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Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #7 on: July 30, 2014, 08:50:09 AM »

I have 2 boxes both D/G.
My 'go to' box is my Hascy, love the all round sound and basses and is what gets picked up at home. It gets let out on good behaviour for our monthly session.
My Tommy is smaller and more portable so is used if off to a festival or out on a monday for post dancing session.
It's also very useful to have something smaller and lighter if I've been doing something non melodeon related and am physically tired so the lightness is appreciated. Also the change in feel ( lighter, smaller ) sometimes gives an extra zip if feeling a touch jaded.
They both get used!
Q
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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #8 on: July 30, 2014, 10:22:39 AM »

I only have two boxes at the moment so they both get used.

D/G Pokerwork is what I take if I'm going camping, to festivals, something to stick in the car etc. Also some tunes just sound better on a Hohner.
D/G Lilium has been my main box since I bought it a few months ago and I've improved a lot since I got it (also improved my pokerwork playing, which is nice). It's pretty hefty (weighs in at 5-6kg including its hard case) so it's not the ideal morris box, but it sounds really great and it's lovely to play. It can also be played rather quietly, making it ideal for my small flat!

I kinda fancy a C/F in the near future (Theo has a nice looking old Club I which I like the look of, but I suspect my box buying priveleges have been revoked for a while ;)), and I do still want a 2.5/3 row in the future, but that'll have to wait a few years methinks until I have the cash/skill for it.

I'm only planning on buying boxes I have a use for though, so in theory I shouldn't end up with any that get too dusty ;D
« Last Edit: July 30, 2014, 10:34:56 AM by robotmay »
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ladydetemps

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #9 on: July 30, 2014, 10:53:27 AM »

I have two boxes. My main d/g which I try to at lest have a play of every couple of months even if its only 10mins. Then I have one row in C I lent to another melnetter.
Box es are much more forgiving than fiddles for the whole not playing them thing.

Helena Handcart

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #10 on: July 30, 2014, 11:10:44 AM »

My main d/g which I try to at lest have a play of every couple of months even if its only 10mins.

That lovely Tommy not getting played more often than that...?  Oh the shock  :o

Mind you, you do seem to have about 346 craft projects on the go at any one time so not surprising if you're running out of time  (:)
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arty

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #11 on: July 30, 2014, 11:43:45 AM »

In March of this year, I turned 65 and as a present to myself I bought a Tommy. Since then, I have to admit I haven't touched my D/G Hohner Pressed Wood. It now lives in it's bag under the bed  :(
A shame really, as the Pressed Wood is a lovely instrument but it will have to be sold sometime. I am totally in love with the Tommy and my Pre Pokerwork C/F, which has a sound to die for.
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tekyinblack

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2014, 12:16:27 PM »

I've just bitten the bullet and put one of mine up for sale, it just wasn't being played. My Eb/Bb box also wasn't in use, but after taking a couple of pictures couldn't put it down for an hour, just needed to be closer at hand.
Putting boxes on a shelf is fatal I find, if it's not to hand, ie round my feet, then it gets neglected
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Helena Handcart

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #13 on: July 30, 2014, 12:23:53 PM »

I  bought my Liliput for festival/session portability but it sort of took over... and then the Binci, maybe it's time to 'fess up to the Binci?  :|||:

Poor Peggy-the-Pokerwork is getting quite left out, luckily I know a man who wants to do the Ed Rennie beginners' workshops at Sidmouth next week so Peggy will get an outing then  :||:
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John MacKenzie (Cugiok)

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #14 on: July 30, 2014, 01:27:34 PM »

My D/G Beltuna is on the floor beside me as I type. It is the box I pick up when an idea for a tune strikes me. It's usually, 'I wonder if that would work on the box?' I play for singing rather than tunes you see.
My Corona II G/C/F is in it's box, not too far away, and that gets taken out every Wednesday to our weekly session. I can manage to carry that, and a guitar, whereas the Beltuna is too heavy for that.
The Casali is with Theo, and I will get that back at Whitby. My new Double Ray is also being picked up en route to Whitby.
I shall arrive at Whitby with the new Double Ray, and my ripe for restoration Voce D'Oro, a C/F Delicia, (which is gathering dust) to sell, and my Beltuna to play. If I'm lucky, I will go back with the same number of boxes as I arrived with ;)
All this, and I'm still only a learner. I must be mad.

John
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Helena Handcart

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #15 on: July 30, 2014, 01:37:51 PM »


All this, and I'm still only a learner. I must be mad.
 

Actually that makes me feel better about my own mini-herd. I'm still a learner too -  just about two years into this whole thing myself.

I *think* I'm pretty safe from box purchases for the foreseeable future.

Unless anyone's selling a Streb that is....  :D
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Andy Next Tune

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #16 on: July 30, 2014, 02:01:08 PM »

There was a logic to the melodeons which mainly roam freely around the floor of my (home) office :

regular employment:
- 3v 'Rowbotham' Pressed Wood Special D/G  - sessions and ceilidh band
- Dino Binci D/G - morris
- Wesson Windjammer D - whenever I feel the one-row urge!

occasional:
- Lilyput - holiday box/travelling-light/festivals/take-along-just-in-case
- Hohner 4 Stop G - sentimental value as was first new box I bought. Occasional showing at morris
- Hohner 4 Stop C - some one row tunes really sparkle in C

gathering dust:
- G/D concertina - occasional morris outings
- C/G concertina - on Theo's stall looking for a loving home.

Aside from the box with Theo, everything else has been squeezed in the past three months or so.
I often find it useful when learning  new tunes to switch between boxes to get the tune into my head and fingers.

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Rob2Hook

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #17 on: July 30, 2014, 02:48:51 PM »

Well, this thread has ruined my principle of living in permanent denial.  You know, the first stage before you admit to your shortcomings.  On the other instruments page, I've started looking into my Alfred Arnold  german concertina (carlsfeld or chemnitzer?).  Looking about my feet as I strip it down there are two anglo concertinas, on which I am less than fluent, a student model Lachenal and an early Stagi, both CG.  Right by my feet is a Hohner Club II which I often play, but the Club IB almost identical but a differrnt tone is gathering dust.  There's a Saltarelle Boube which I'd like to sell, nice enough box but not the sound I like and a Club Modell 1 in Eb/Bb which needs the action pivot cleaning - it sometimes drags an adjacent pallet open.  I have a four-stop Hohner HA114G upstairs but every year it gets to be harder work to pump enough air through that one!  I regularly use my Trilly both for morris and ceilidhs as well as a Max in C.  I've a feeling I've missed one or two, but if/when i get the house tidy they'll surface...

If others are similarly affected by raising the issue, the Buy & Sell page will soon be flooded with bargains!

Rob.
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ladydetemps

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #18 on: July 30, 2014, 03:59:01 PM »

My main d/g which I try to at lest have a play of every couple of months even if its only 10mins.

That lovely Tommy not getting played more often than that...?  Oh the shock  :o

Mind you, you do seem to have about 346 craft projects on the go at any one time so not surprising if you're running out of time  (:)
I do have too many hobbies...lol! Well sewing is current obsession...I've discovered comicons.  :|bl
Once I get bored of that I'll probably go back to the box.
Although the sewing hobby has been brewing since I was a kid its only in past few years I've had money to buy fabric, machine etc. and actually improve my skills.
If I didn't have to work to live..I'd have time for everything.

Owen Woods

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Re: Gathering dust?
« Reply #19 on: July 30, 2014, 04:00:24 PM »

I have to admit that I haven't played my little Preciosa in a while...
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