This is a Lachenal 48-Key Treble with steel reeds which has been tuned down a step. It has been fitted with pads and valves in recent years, and has been tuned to concert pitch (A=440hz).

Every now and again, we come across English and Duet concertinas which have been tuned down a step, and this is one of those. If you think about a standard English concertina as being centred around the key of C, then this is centred around the key of Bb- every note is a tone lower than on a standard treble. This has two major pros to it- you can play more easily in different keys, and the concertina takes on a more harmonium-like tone which is very pleasant and soft. The instrument itself is an ebony-ended Paragon, so it’s a solid, dependable lower mid-range instrument. It is pretty responsive.

Not for everybody, but absolutely perfect for somebody!

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