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georgegarside
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1#
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Registered:19/06/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:02/04/2007 17:43:41)
Reply to : boscaceoil
Hi,Just wondering if it is possible to convert a diatonic two-row in C/F to chromatic B/C or C#D?I'm also wondering how successful it can be to convert a one-row (4-stop) in C to D. I have two one-rows in C and would like one in D.Regards,Tom.
any things possible and no doubt Theo will be able to do the job and give you specific advice. Going from CF to BC would presumably require quite a few new reeds for the B row
george
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mistermacky
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2#
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Rank:none
Posts:50
Registered:30/12/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:15/04/2007 15:39:31)
Hi Tom,
I've wondered the same myself, but after looking, I wouldn't reccomend it, unless it's a very precious box or one that has sentimental value. Your best bet is to sell it, and buy a b/c or c#d. It may be practical if it's a hohner, and you can get a 'donor' hohner, to swap entire reed blocks that fit, or can be easily made to fit, but changing all or most reeds would be a nightmare. ( And with the risk of spoiling a good box ).
You could sell your box, or do a private trade, or trade in to a dealership. Any of these would be a better ( and probably cheaper ) option.
Generally, a c/f wouldn't sell for as much as a b/c, but it would still be cheaper than conversion.
That's what I've found, but I'd be interested in what others think.
Best of luck with it, Kev.
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MarienLina
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3#
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Rank:none
Posts:3
Registered:15/05/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:22/05/2007 15:18:48)
I agree that exchanging the instrument may be more economical.
But you can make a C#/D out of a C/F. Tuning up halve a note can be done and on the F row the reeds would have to shift one place. But I am not sure about the bass side.
Also I agree that an F/C box is not very suitable to change it to B/C, better take a G/C box for that. I think it has more of the reeds you need, and less tuning work.
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Theo Gibb
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4#
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Rank:none
Posts:758
From: Great_britain 
Registered:30/06/2004
Time spent: 4850 hours
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(Date Posted:22/05/2007 16:43:45)
Reply to : boscaceoil
Hi,Just wondering if it is possible to convert a diatonic two-row in C/F to chromatic B/C or C#D?I'm also wondering how successful it can be to convert a one-row (4-stop) in C to D. I have two one-rows in C and would like one in D.Regards,Tom.
Hi Tom
If the C/F you want to convert is in good condition then I'd agree with the previous comments that its probably not worth converting, especially if it is a currently available model. But if it is an old instrument and the reeds need work anyway then it may become more financially worthwhile. It is also worth doing (something I do a lot of) if its a nice old instrument in a less useful tuning. I convert a lot of 1930s Hohner clubs boxes to D/G from their original tuning in C/F or Bb/Eb. I can do this with new reeds (usuallay Italian) or by re-arranging and retuning the existing reeds.
Another change that is often worthwhile is to convert from C/C# by tuning everything up a semitone to C#/D or down to B/C. But this is really only made worthwhile because C/C# boxes are plentiful, but unpopular, and can often be picked up cheaply.
So to get back to your original question about the C/F - if its in good condition sell it and buy another in the tuning you want. If you do want to go the conversion route then you should budget ?00 to ?50 for converting a 21 button 2 voice box.
Same applies to the one row C to D conversion though the price would be slightly lower as their are fewer reeds. In England one-row boxes in C are quite popular.
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boscaceoil
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5#
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Rank:none
Posts:17
Registered:22/02/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:12/08/2007 11:45:03)
On a similar topic how viable is it to convert a (50's hohner - on ebay) from A/D to B/C. Is this a matter of transposing the A reeds up to B and the D reeds down o C, I assume the outer row A is lower than the D inner row? I am looking for a particular hohner box but any I see on ebay are diatonic.
Regards,
Tom.
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an-bosca-ceoil
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6#
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Rank:none
Posts:30
Registered:21/05/2007
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:12/08/2007 17:52:17)
Reply to : boscaceoil
On a similar topic how viable is it to convert a (50's hohner - on ebay) from A/D to B/C. Is this a matter of transposing the A reeds up to B and the D reeds down o C, I assume the outer row A is lower than the D inner row? I am looking for a particular hohner box but any I see on ebay are diatonic.Regards,Tom.
You are going from bad to worse! If you are determined to buy and convert to BC, in my estimation, you are better starting off with a CF. You can move the C reeds onto the F block and buy a set of B reeds to replace them. Then you only have the left hand to sort out, if you cannot do it yourself you can buy a complete Soprani style reed set.
If this "particular" Hohner you seek happens to be one of the honey colored ones you will be lucky to find one already in C/Cs let alone BC.
If you are determined to go this route I can sell you one and fit it with the BC blocks from a mint fifties Double Ray but be warned, it will still need work, because they have never been touched. (Without looking I would expect to be doing a clean/tune/valve & wax job, if ever I find the time!)
Trouble is you do not say if you are doing the job or paying to have the work done.
I should not really mention it in the presence of purists but there was a spate of altering CF by moving the C over and just fitting the sharps on the outer row, just to get kids started)
Adh mor ort!
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boscaceoil
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7#
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Rank:none
Posts:17
Registered:22/02/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:12/08/2007 18:56:34)
Hi an-bosca-ceoil,
Many thanks. I am not a tuner or restorer so I would not be doing any work myself. The type of box I am interested in are on the web at  (www.boscaceoil.com/boscaceoil.html). The first box (black) is my own but has been tuned a few times and I would like to have a more responsive box. The second box (pearl/blue design) is on ebay at present. I can see how the C/F would be more practical than the A/D. I cannot find a B/C version of this box anywhere.
Regards,
Tom.
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georgegarside
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8#
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Registered:19/06/2006
Time spent: 0 hours
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(Date Posted:12/08/2007 20:47:40)
Reply to : boscaceoil
Hi an-bosca-ceoil,Many thanks. I am not a tuner or restorer so I would not be doing any work myself. The type of box I am interested in are on the web at(www.boscaceoil.com/boscaceoil.html). The first box (black) is my own but has been tuned a few times and I would like to have a more responsive box. The second box (pearl/blue design) is on ebay at present. I can see how the C/F would be more practical than the A/D. I cannot find a B/C version of this box anywhere.Regards,Tom.
the only relatively easy & certain way for an ametuer to change the keys of a box is to buy new or 2ndhand reedblocks/reeds in the required key. This is because tuning is a learned art and before you get the hang of it properley you will likely as not ruin several reeds. (Buy a scrap 120 bass accordion to get lots of reeds to practice on!)
It is therefore down to either buying one in the key you want or having a professional conversion. - the former may be cheaper than the latter but with a good conversion youstart of with a well tuned set of reeds.
Suggest you talk to Theo who may well be able to fix you up either way. He may even have a hohner trichord BCC# or two if you want to become chromatic in a fully practical sense without much increase in weight.
and I'm definately not on commision !! just happy to point you in that direction
george
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