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[butimba]

Hi all,

I think I want to upgrade to one of the lighter 18-bass boxes (like a Castagnari Mas or similar), but really want to try some out before buying anything. This seems tricky to do in the UK, so I wanted to ask if anyone has an 18-bass box that they'd be willing to give me a go on? (I'm based in Oxford but happy to travel!)

Or is there anyone coming to Melodeons at Witney with an 18-bass that I could try there?

Or does anyone have any good ideas about how I can get my hands on some 18-bass boxes to try without a trip over to Europe...?

[pete /acorn]

Hi
I will be at Witney,I have an ADG Handry 18 and an ADG Big 18 in stock and if they arrive both in  DG accidentals

Pete

Acorn Instruments

[playandteach]

As if I wasn't insecure enough about Witney, I know where the basses are on an 8 bass G/C - but 18 basses on a D/G -- not a chance. One step forward, seven steps back. This melodeon lark feels like snakes and ladders.

[pete /acorn]

Could make it worse,will also have,unless sold a GC Dony,12 bass and a 1/2 row accidentals   

[george garside]

can't quite see the point in 18 push pull basses when 40 or even 48 stradella would probably take up no more space!

george

[benammiswift]

In response to George's comment, I have 2 18 bass handrys and they're the best boxes I've ever played. The 18 basses force me to still be creative to make the chords I want rather than them just being there. It gives me loads of options when playing for morris and I love setting myself challenges to do runs in tunes. I don't see the point of stradella on a melodeon unless you have BCC# and I play D/G so that's why I went with the 18 basses.

I'm in Derbyshire and you're welcome to try both my Handrys

Benammi

[911377brian]

Play and Teach, it's time we got you onto a one row....

[george garside]

indeed, there is a lot to be said for the economical 2 bass!

george

[Winston Smith]

"it's time we got you onto a one row...."

Or several, perhaps?

[911377brian]

Of course....

[butimba]

Pete - thanks, I'll come and have a try at Witney.

Benammi - thanks very much for your kind offer, if for some reason I can't try out a Handry at Witney then I may well take you up on that. Do you know how much your boxes weigh? And just out of interest, how do you get on with the weight of them?

Harriet

[benammiswift]

The weight is no issue for me but it has definitely beefed me up after playing handrys for a year, I use it for Ceilidhs, Concerts, Morris just everything really.

[Clive Williams]

I have a 18 bass Van der Aa in Milton Keynes you're welcome to have a try at; I should warn you that the bass layout isn't conventional - it's one of my odd unisonoric layouts! I also have a stradella bass D/G if you're interested in comparing the 2 systems.

[playandteach]

Just come across this guy on youtube, using a Go Pro camera to really show the use of his 18 basses (a Serafini 3 row). He's really worth a look (if you can get past the hairy legs). He seems to have quite a few recent uploads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd0TZzL1e40

[Chris Ryall]

I have Grenoble layout (12 chords outer rows , and 6 inner basses mostly 'inversions' but 2 unisonorics for the truly 'out' notes eg Ab C#).   They are on a DGaccs vdAa and a GCaccs Gaillard.  I'm in Wirral just now but near Reading this weekend

[Stephen Roberts-Pratt]

We have a Castagnari MAS 18 in Portsmouth.

[butimba]

Clive, Chris and Stephen - thank you! I'll PM you.