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Author Topic: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?  (Read 2353 times)

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BJG

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Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« on: August 22, 2017, 04:01:11 PM »

I recently hired a set of Northumbrian Smallpipes and was advised that it should be played regularly, or the reeds would become stiff and basically deteriorate. Is that also true of melodeons...?
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JimmyM

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2017, 05:43:14 PM »

I don't honestly know but I do tell my better half that they have to be played everyday - ALL of them >:E

I have heard that they shouldn't be stored on their sides for any length of time...
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george garside

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2017, 06:29:45 PM »

Yes

george
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2rightfeet

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2017, 08:56:12 PM »

Surely 'it depends'. I bought a Hohner Club box, probably about 50 years old, in Germany. The fettler pointed out that the reason it was in such good condition was that it had hardly ever been played!
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playandteach

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2017, 10:41:50 PM »

I think George's 'Yes' was for not storing it on its side.
I think reeds can be played out if played too hard. As far as I know melodeons left to rest suffer for other reasons - rust, wax deterioration, leather valves getting mouldy etc. rather than reeds.
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JimmyM

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2017, 11:24:15 PM »

.... As far as I know melodeons left to rest suffer for other reasons - rust, wax deterioration, leather valves getting mouldy etc. rather than reeds.

Wouldn't most of those ailments just happen anyway  with time?
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Theo

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2017, 11:45:17 PM »

Regular playing is definitely best for the player.  As long as the box is stored well - away from dampness and extremes of temperature then I don't think it really matters.
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BJG

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2017, 09:00:21 AM »

OK! Thanks...
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playandteach

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2017, 10:45:25 PM »

.... As far as I know melodeons left to rest suffer for other reasons - rust, wax deterioration, leather valves getting mouldy etc. rather than reeds.

Wouldn't most of those ailments just happen anyway  with time?
I'm assuming that instruments close to hand are in a better environment than those put away. But you're right of course.
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squeezy

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2017, 12:37:36 AM »

Yes!  For optimal movement of the fingers and keeping the brain pathways open ... it is always beneficial to play your melodeons regularly!  However ... should this fail to happen I'm sure they'll stay fine to play in the short term.  Ultimately a melodeon without a player is a very sad thing and cannot fulfil it's full potential so give them some TLC on a regular basis!
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robotmay

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2017, 12:53:14 AM »

I'm not sure how much effect it has on a melodeon (assuming it's already well played-in and well-kept), but my concertina has improved quite markedly since I got it. It took a few months from receiving it before it started sounding much happier; I have a feeling it took a while for various grains of dust/dirt to get pumped out ;D
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Rog

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #11 on: August 25, 2017, 09:05:17 AM »

An adjunct to this would be....if a box hasn't been played for some time and assuming there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, and it sounds a bit rough...it often improves a bit with some playing, to loosen up the valves etc that have been sitting idle. PAs and boxes need to be played....is what I think..(:)

baz parkes

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #12 on: August 25, 2017, 01:28:55 PM »

Yes! give them some TLC on a regular basis!

This may also apply to the players.... :|glug
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boxcall

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #13 on: September 04, 2017, 02:20:34 PM »

An adjunct to this would be....if a box hasn't been played for some time and assuming there is nothing fundamentally wrong with it, and it sounds a bit rough...it often improves a bit with some playing, to loosen up the valves etc that have been sitting idle. PAs and boxes need to be played....is what I think..(:)
Yes I agree, I recently bought a one row "pepperpot" 1940-50"s that maybe never got played and a couple notes sounded wonky, B pull being the worst and now having played it a bit ( a lot  (:) ) it sounds pretty good. And I'm assuming it will get even better.
Now I just need to lower the air button as it sticks out to far for my liking.
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Nick Collis Bird

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Re: Maintenance - should melodeons be played regularly...?
« Reply #14 on: September 04, 2017, 03:00:07 PM »

I certainly know about Northumbrian small pipes. If they're not played regularly they really do dry up and become rubbish. Maybe that applies to our boxes as well.
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