Intermediate Concertinas

The 3 levels of our intermediate models

Our intermediate English, Duet, and Anglo concertina models are available in 3 quality levels, all handmade in our Atelier.

#1: Busker, Troubadour, and Minstrel

Solid construction, reliable,and good sounding instruments. The instruments have a light action, and strong tone. 

Specs:
* Non-acoustic construction, the primary wood is birch wood. 
* Synthetic glues and finish. 
* Leather standard 6 fold bellows, with 60-70% TFT (tension free travel).
* bushed brass rod action, with some flexing*. 
* Delrin buttons with solid core guides.
* High airflow/ high volume output. 

#2: Standard Rose, Peacock, and Clover

These are the most popular intermediate models. They feature many of the high end materials and construction used in our Wakker traditional models. 

Specs:
* Acoustic construction: Engelmann spruce soundboard, maple reedpans, black cherry ends and frames. 
* Primary sound reflection/manipulation: Active filtering of the higher harmonics.
* Synthetic glues and finish.
* Calibrated high airflow/high volume output.
* Standard Wakker bellows with >90% TFT. 
* Bushed MS58 sheet brass action without flexing.
* Delrin core/metal capped buttons with pin guide.

#3: Custom Rose, Peacock and Clover

We build the custom versions the same way we build our high end Wakker traditional models, using aged tone woods, hyde glues, and a french polish finish. They are the closest you can get to a Wakker traditional model but with hybrid reeds rather than traditional concertina reeds. 

specs:
* Acoustic construction: Engelmann spruce soundboard, maple reedpans, choice of tonal woods for the ends. 
* Acoustically invisible glues (hide/bone glues) and finish (French polish).
* Primary and secondary sound reflection/manipulation, Combination of tonal woods and acoustically invisible             glues/finish allow for selective filtering/manipulation of harmonics.
* Calibrated high airflow/high volume output.
* Standard Wakker bellows with >90% TFT.
* Bushed MS58 sheet brass action without flexing.
* Delrin core/metal capped buttons with pin guide.

*Action flex

Action flex is the loss of movement in long levers between the button and pad that occurs when you push down a button.  It can affect the reed attack, causing a slight delay in the sound,

*Bellows TFT 

Bellows TFT (Tension Free Travel) is the part of the bellows expansion and contraction that is not affected by added tension caused by the bellows construction, such as the hinges, gussets, and leather friction. 
Bellows TFT affects the ability to perform detailed articulation and dynamics.