This is a Lachenal Excelsior 48-Key Treble (7997) with steel reeds that has been fitted with new pads and valves, and tuned to concert pitch (A=440hz).

This is one of the latest Lachenal Excelsiors we have ever seen, coming from the very end stages of Lachenal production. The more budget instruments from this time were generally very poor, but the top end were some of the best they made. As this is a mid-range Lachenal English concertina, it also kind of falls into the mid-ground of quality in comparison to previous Excelsior production- it isn’t the best they ever made, but it’s still definitely a good concertina for the price. It is pretty responsive with a well-balanced tone. The 5-fold bellows are a slight let-down, but would still work very well for a tune player.

A definite upgrade from your first tutor-model English of any standard.

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