Hello everyone,
I'm a concertina player and a new piper (I just got my O'Grady starter set) and I've been reading the posts over the last few months while I was waiting for my pipes to arrive. I've noticed some interesting simularities between the concertina world and the UP world.
For example:
The bottom end of the concertina market is flooded with unplayable chinese concertinas vs. unplayable Pakistani pipes
The low end has reworked Italian concertinas vs. reworked Pakistani pipes (Tim Britton).
The mid range has custom accordion reeded concertinas, $1200-$1800 with a 3 month to 1 1/2 year waiting list vs. mid range UP starter and 1/2 sets, $1200-$1800 with at 6 month to 2 year waiting list.
Pro-level custom reeded concertinas, $3000+, with a 3 year to 5+ year waiting list vs. pro-level full sets, $3000+, with a 3 year to 5+ year waiting list.
And finally, vintage instruments selling for ridiculous prices on ebay. For example, an unrestored, unplayable Jeffries anglo concertina selling for $4000!
Coincidence? You decide!
Alan