Kingfisher Classic Anglo Concertina

30-Button C/G Anglo Concertina – First Five Introductory Release Before We Put Our Name On It, We Want Your Opinion We have just returned from visiting the concertina factory in China, where we were able to see first-hand how these instruments are made, meet the people building them and specify the improvements we wanted. The result is this new 30-button C/G Anglo concertina, fitted with premium Czech-made Tipo a Mano reeds, traditional riveted action and seven-fold bellows. Before it officially becomes part of our Kingfisher range, we are releasing just five unbranded instruments at a special introductory price and asking their new owners to help us shape the final production version. Each concertina includes a hard case, and worldwide shipping is available. We Went to the Factory This concertina has a slightly different story. We didn't simply choose an existing instrument from a catalogue and ask for our name to be put on it. We travelled to China and visited the factory ourselves. That gave us the opportunity to see how the instruments are constructed, examine the different components, meet the people responsible for making them and discuss directly with the factory what we wanted from our own concertina. We looked closely at the reeds, action, buttons, airflow, bellows construction and overall playing feel. From those discussions came this improved specification. Premium Czech Tipo a Mano Reeds At the heart of the instrument are premium Tipo a Mano reeds manufactured in the Czech Republic. The reeds are one of the most important parts of any concertina, so this was an area where we particularly wanted quality. Our aim was to create an instrument with a responsive feel, clear tone and the musical character needed by a player who wants an instrument they can continue to develop with rather than quickly outgrow. Seven-Fold Bellows One feature we specifically asked the factory to incorporate was a seven-fold bellows. Greater bellows capacity gives the player more air to work with, providing greater freedom when phrasing and helping longer passages flow without constantly having to change bellows direction simply because you have run out of air. It also gives the player more scope to control dynamics and expression. On a specification sheet, an additional bellows fold may sound like a small detail. When you are actually playing, details like this matter. Traditional Riveted Action The instrument uses a traditional riveted action, designed to provide a direct and responsive connection between the buttons and the reeds. Combined with the smooth button action and responsive Czech reeds, the aim is to make the concertina comfortable and enjoyable to play whether you're learning tunes at home or playing at a session. 30-Button C/G Anglo Layout This is a traditional 30-button Anglo concertina in C/G, making it particularly well suited to traditional, folk and Irish music. The additional third-row accidentals and reversals of the 30-button system give considerably more flexibility than a basic 20-button instrument and provide the scope needed as your playing develops. Why Are the First Five Unbranded? Because before we put Kingfisher on the instrument, we want to make sure we have got it right. These first five concertinas have deliberately been produced without our branding. We want the people who buy them to play them properly, live with them and tell us what they like — and, equally importantly, anything they think could still be improved. We can then take that information back to the factory before committing to the full production version. That is how we want to develop the Kingfisher range. Not simply by putting our name on instruments, but by working directly with manufacturers, listening to musicians and making improvements where we believe they will genuinely benefit the player. The First Five – Special Introductory Price Because these are our first evaluation instruments, we are making the first five available at a special introductory price. There really are only five. When those five have been sold, the introductory offer ends. The subsequent production instruments will form part of the Kingfisher range and will incorporate what we learn from these first concertinas and, importantly, from the musicians who play them. Key Features 30-button Anglo concertina Traditional C/G tuning Premium Czech-made Tipo a Mano reeds Seven-fold bellows Traditional riveted action Smooth, responsive button action Designed for traditional, folk and Irish music First five supplied unbranded Hard case included Worldwide shipping available Squeezebox Marketplace support and aftercare What's Included? Your concertina will be supplied complete with a hard case to protect it during storage and transport. We can also arrange worldwide shipping, so these first five instruments are not restricted to players in the UK. More Than Just Another Imported Concertina For us, the most important part of this project is how the instrument has come about. We have stood inside the factory. We have met the people making it. We have examined the instrument with them. We have asked for changes. And now we want musicians to tell us what they think. That direct relationship with the manufacturer means that when we find something we believe can be improved, we can discuss it with the people actually building the instrument. Help Us Develop the Next Kingfisher Buying one of these first five therefore makes you part of something slightly different. You are not simply buying a concertina at an introductory price. You are buying one of the first five instruments produced to our improved specification, and your feedback can help influence the version that eventually carries the Kingfisher name. Five instruments. One introductory batch. Once they're gone, they're gone. Before we put our name on it, we want to hear what you think.