My husband bought me the Phoenix for my 46th bday last fall from McNeela. I love it! The Jack Talty lessons are great. Some friends and I play music once a week (I play the guitar), and I'm able to pull it out for some of the songs. Hooray for lead sheets!
Nice! I've heard positive things about the Wren. Keep us posted on your progress. If and when you want to upgrade (and you will) I encourage you to look at the American makers; let's support the team! There's Bob Tedrow down in Alabama, Wim Wakker in Spokane just off the top o' my head; there are others who I disremember at this late hour. Have fun!
Did you look into the English concertina? I’m down the rabbit hole trying to decide between the Anglo and English. Seems like the push and pull with different notes would be harder to learn, do you think practically speaking it is harder to remember push/pull with the notes? By coincidence I’m in Oregon too and just looking to start a new instrument now that I’m 41. Thanks!
I'm no expert mind, so take this or leave it. But I think the button configurations are set up differently between Anglo and English. The push and pull just takes practice. But with a new instrument the bellows itself is already a little weird to manage. Or maybe that's just me. When I was looking to buy and watching videos the majority of players I admired had Anglo. They also recommended spending a little extra money and learning on a 30 key. Noting that 20 keys are often cheaper, but if you end up enjoying it and upgrading to a 30 It's a harder transition. Irish folk music and the music I am interested in uses Anglo. The McNeela concertinas are priced really well for what you get. Including free lessons which really helped me. Hope this helped you in your musical quest! Let me know what you decide or find.
I like my Angelo 30. I got the Jeffries, but would do the Wheatstone if I had it to do over again. Seems more music is written for Wheatstone, and the accidentals are a bit easier on the pinky.
the biggest problem I have with my Anglo is running out of air in either push or pull depending on the notes played. Also what do you do if you have to push for a note on the left hand and pull for a note on the right hand at the same time? Decades ago I palyed a full size chromatic accordion (Scandali) and I have difficulties to adapt to a diatonic instrument. Diatonic seems to be geared ot Irish music or polka. Now I am looking to buy a chromatic Concertina. Just my personal opinion.
