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Author Topic: Instrument suitable for a beginner.  (Read 8189 times)

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Tone Dumb Greg

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #40 on: February 21, 2019, 11:30:51 PM »

Reason's for not buying a pokerwork:
1. Their popularity for morris means that they may have been thrashed to the point of destruction.
What's with Morris musicians then? What's all this thrashing?  Not the first time I've heard this phrase used either, by any means. Do you hit them with big sticks or thrash them with handkerchiefs? What sort of musician thrashes their instrument? My button accordions are all between fifty and seventy years old and they are still as good as new. Better, in at least one case. Where am I going wrong?


It's basically no true. We may have to play loudly but melodeons are designed to do that. If a morris musician is thrashing his/her box to get volume or attack they are doing it wrong. I quite happily play with sufficient volume etc using a 1930/40s Pressedwood with its original bellows and it is at no risk of damage.

It's not actually my experience either. Just something that was said to me.
I have seen pokerworks played in very close conditions (aka rain), though and they are getting more expensive, on the second hand market.
« Last Edit: February 21, 2019, 11:32:56 PM by Tone Dumb Greg »
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Greg Smith
DG/GC Pokerwork, DG 2.4 Saltarelle, pre-war CF Hohner, Hohner 1040 Vienna style, old  BbEb Hohner that needs a lot of work.

ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Jesse Smith

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #41 on: February 21, 2019, 11:55:05 PM »

they are getting more expensive, on the second hand market.

Well, they're not making any more of them, are they? I believe even the current, Chinese-made Hohner line has dropped the D/G. This is kind of a sad problem for those of us who prefer the Hohner sound.
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Hohner Pokerwork D/G (x2!), Hohner one row four stops in D and C, Hohner Presswood C/F.

george garside

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #42 on: February 22, 2019, 09:55:23 AM »

there are probably enough of them around either in decent condition and/or to keep the 'fettlers' in business  for many years to come.

george
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Helena Handcart

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #43 on: February 22, 2019, 10:06:15 AM »

there are probably enough of them around either in decent condition and/or to keep the 'fettlers' in business  for many years to come.

george

Or it could just be a good excuse for a bit of stockpiling  >:E

I't not MAD your honour, I was just future-proofing the herd.
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Thrupenny Bit

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #44 on: February 22, 2019, 11:33:50 AM »

…… obviously looking after the gene pool for future generations.
I call that conservations at it's finest  ;D
Q
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Chris Rayner

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #45 on: February 22, 2019, 12:19:10 PM »

…… obviously looking after the gene pool for future generations.
I call that conservations at it's finest  ;D
Q

Coo!  Is there a captive breeding programme?😉
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Elderly amateur musician hoping to stave off dementia by learning to play the melodeon.  Main instrument a Tommy, also D/G and G/C pokerworks,  a single row 2 stop Hohner, and a new addition to the free reedery, a rather splendid Paolo Soprani four voice 120 bass c-system chromatic button accordion.  Very shiny, very loud, and about the same size and weight as a small car.  Now I’ve traded me Benny with (ahem) a cash adjustment, to a three voice 60 bass Castagnari K3.

Lester

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #46 on: February 22, 2019, 12:28:30 PM »

…… obviously looking after the gene pool for future generations.
I call that conservations at it's finest  ;D
Q

Coo!  Is there a captive breeding programme?😉


My Giordy breeding programme


Picture

Dick Sadler

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #47 on: February 22, 2019, 01:00:09 PM »

As poster of the original post I take no responsibility for the tangential comments now being made . 8) (:) As a naive newbie I feel that I have been hi jacked by those that do know better and just don’t care?  Where will it all end? (:)
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Steve C.

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #48 on: February 22, 2019, 01:13:39 PM »

(adding to my melodeon porn file...)
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Theo

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #49 on: February 22, 2019, 01:49:25 PM »

As a naive newbie I feel that I have been hi jacked by those that do know better and just don’t care?  Where will it all end? (:)

Just ignore it,  you have received a wealth of relevant advice. Thread drift is almost inevitable here.  After all it is a discussion forum, not just an advice service.
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Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

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David Colpitts

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #50 on: February 22, 2019, 03:04:27 PM »

As the clamor grows for affordable boxes for beginners, particularly D/G, from this thread, let me offer an absolutely non-commercial commercial for my good friends at the ButtonBox, in Massachusetts, USA.  They have (as have others in the past) made arrangements “a la Chinois” to produce simple two-rows in various keys, with Italian reeds, and what seemed to me (as a rental customer) a very nice feel and sound, for the money.  I rented a C#/D and a D/G, and both were light, nicely finished, in tune, with a light and responsive touch.  If I go back to one of those tunings (plus a couple of others, if I recall...) I will definitely consider one for a “beginner to intermediate” box.  Especially Stateside, one might look at their site.

Meanwhile, I am advancing my beginnership with the delightful Hohner one-row D, discovered right here!

Regards,

David
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Winston Smith

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #51 on: February 22, 2019, 03:17:50 PM »

"the delightful Hohner one-row D"

Yes indeedy! What's the difference between a Hohner 1 row and an egg?







You can beat an egg!
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Squeaky Pete

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #52 on: February 22, 2019, 03:59:46 PM »

they are getting more expensive, on the second hand market.

Well, they're not making any more of them, are they? I believe even the current, Chinese-made Hohner line has dropped the D/G. This is kind of a sad problem for those of us who prefer the Hohner sound.
In 30 years time the classic Hohner will be the pokerwok.
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Poker work DG.
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Matching Liliputs in CF and DG,
Lots of sickly Hohners needing TLC,
Bassoon, Various Bagpipes........

Stotty

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #53 on: February 22, 2019, 04:06:38 PM »

…… obviously looking after the gene pool for future generations.
I call that conservations at it's finest  ;D
Q

Coo!  Is there a captive breeding programme?😉


My Giordy breeding programme


Picture

I didn't know if I should press "report to moderator" or "quote" options.
Whilst it is interesting to see an image of the finale, I would be even more impressed to see a video of the full mating ritual.

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Graham Spencer

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #54 on: February 22, 2019, 04:16:49 PM »

…… obviously looking after the gene pool for future generations.
I call that conservations at it's finest  ;D
Q

Coo!  Is there a captive breeding programme?😉


My Giordy breeding programme


Picture

I didn't know if I should press "report to moderator" or "quote" options.
Whilst it is interesting to see an image of the finale, I would be even more impressed to see a video of the full mating ritual.


I did wonder for a moment whether it was a "Geordie" breeding programme ..........
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Among others, Saltarelle Pastourelle II D/G; Hohner 4-stop 1-rows in C & G; assorted Hohners; 3-voice German (?) G/C of uncertain parentage; lovely little Hlavacek 1-row Heligonka; B♭/E♭ Koch. Newly acquired G/C Hohner Viktoria. Also Fender Jazz bass, Telecaster, Stratocaster, Epiphone Sheraton, Charvel-Jackson 00-style acoustic guitar, Danelectro 12-string and other stuff..........

Squeezing in the Cyprus sunshine

Squeaky Pete

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #55 on: February 22, 2019, 04:21:52 PM »

those that do know better
I think this thread has proved otherwise.
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Poker work DG.
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Matching Liliputs in CF and DG,
Lots of sickly Hohners needing TLC,
Bassoon, Various Bagpipes........

Helena Handcart

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #56 on: February 22, 2019, 05:04:18 PM »

My Giordy breeding programme

So that's what you do to my melodeons when they're entrusted to your care - and you never gave me any of the pups either.  Tsk tsk.

Disgruntled (former) Giordy owner of Surrey.
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Pete Dunk

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #57 on: February 22, 2019, 07:15:10 PM »

In 30 years time the classic Hohner will be the pokerwok.

Is Pokerwok the official name of the Chinese made Vienna model?  >:E
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Primo (Serenellini) D/G
Isis D/G
Hohner B/E, G/C, C/F, Bb/Eb G/C/F
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Sebastian

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #58 on: February 22, 2019, 08:49:30 PM »

Is Pokerwok the official name of the Chinese made Vienna model?  >:E
Hohner is a chinese company after all.
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Anne Croucher

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Re: Instrument suitable for a beginner.
« Reply #59 on: February 22, 2019, 11:31:08 PM »

My daughter - Gena Crisman - has been known to ask pointed questions as to my acquisition of melodeons, but I think that I am now content with what I have and my ability to make improvements to those needing them.
I can highly recommend the Hohner Erica D/G, for lightness and ease of playing, even though my own is in the process of being given a going over with new keyboard, bellows gasket, bellows tape and the bellows pins reinstated rather than having screws - the sound is just pure morris with knobs on, I just need to find the button to change it from normal to sport mode
« Last Edit: February 22, 2019, 11:33:17 PM by Anne Croucher »
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Barcarole D/G
Hohner Ericas D/G and C/F
Hohner el Rey del Vallenato A/D/G aka 'Elvis'
Hohner Liliput Bb/Eb club layout
Meinel & Herold G C F 3 voice 3 row 16 bass
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