Wakker Anglo
concertinas

 

 

 

 

W-A1 with raised ebonized ends

 

Made by hand, by Wim and Karen Wakker, the Wakker Anglo concertina is a marriage of  traditional techniques, materials and designs, combined with the latest CNC technology, guaranteeing the highest standard of precision.  
The entire instrument, including the reed tongues and frames and all fittings, is made at our workshop. Each instrument is a hand-crafted "one off" and only a limited number of these instruments are made each year.
See the making of an anglo for a photo reportage.

The Wakker anglo is offered in 3 different designs, each with its own sound characteristics.  All our instruments feature traditional concertina reeds, but have different reed pan and reed chamber design, reed scaling and airflow resistance, and fretwork. Because of this, each model produces a fundamentally different sound, which provides a foundation for further customization.

Our anglo models are available in different types of wood, with flat or raised wooden or metal ends, customized keys and key travel, hand rails, standard or all leather bellows, customized key board layouts, etc..  

 

 

 

Model W-A1
The W-A1 has a radial reed pan. The sound can be characterized as round, mellow but loud.

Standard configuration:
 - 30 or 31 key Wheatstone or Jeffries
   layout. 
 - Radial reedpan
 - 6 fold bellows
 - Hardwood ends
 - Tuning: C/G. also available: C#/G#,
   Bb-F  (see optional)
 - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in
   individual brass frames
 - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores.

   anglo pricelist   options
   

 

 

                                                                                          
                                                                               W-A1 with raised quilted maple ends

 

 

 

 

Model W-A2
The W-A2 model has parallel reed pans.
The sound can be described as less mellow than the A1, woody and with a ´bite´to it.

Standard configuration:
 - 30 or 31 key Wheatstone or Jeffries
   layout. 
 - Parallel reedpan
 - 6 fold bellows
 - Hardwood ends
 - Tuning: C/G. also available: C#/G#,
    Bb-F (see optionals) 
 - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in
   individual brass frames
 - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores.

 

   anglo pricelist   options

                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                               W-A2 with raised french walnut ends
 

 

 

 

Model W-A3
The W-A3 model is identical in design to the A2, except for the tuning, which is either in G/D, or F/C.

Standard configuration:

 -
30 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout.
 - Parallel reedpan
 - 7 fold bellows
 - Hardwood ends
 - Tuning: G/D or F/C
 - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in individual
   brass frames.
 - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores.

   anglo pricelist   options
 

 

 

                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                       
                                                                   

                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                     W-A3 with flat amboyna ends

 

 

 

 

 

Model W-A4
The W-A4 (Eir) model is developed with Irish music in mind.  It has wooden ends with metal inserts for the primary reflection areas. The sound can be characterized as metal like, but not harsh. It has a 'flute' like quality to it.
The reed pans are parallel, but have adjusted chambers and customized scaled reeds. 

Standard configuration:
- 31 key Wheatstone or Jeffries
  layout. 
- Parallel reedpan
- 6 fold bellows
- flat wooden ends with metal inserts
- Tuning: C/G. also available: C#/G#,
  Bb-F (see optionals) 
- custom scaled reeds: steel tongue in
  individual brass frames
- Domed metal keys/delrin® cores.

  anglo pricelist   options

                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                        W-A4 with padauk ends and nickel inserts

 

 

 

Model W-A5
The W-A5 model is based on the A2.
It is octagonal (8 sided) and has parallel reed pans.

Standard configuration:   
Octagonal (8 sided)
 - 39 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout. 
 - parallel reedpan
 - 7 fold bellows
 - Hardwood ends
 - Tuning: C/G. also available: C#/G#, Bb-F (see optional)
 - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in individual brass frames
 - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores. 

   anglo pricelist   options

 

 

Model W-A6
The W-A6 model is based on the A3.
It is octagonal (8 sided) and has parallel reed pans.

Standard configuration:   
Octagonal (8 sided) 
 - 39 key Wheatstone or Jeffries layout. 
 - Parallel reedpan
 - 7 fold bellows
 - Hardwood ends
 - Tuning: G/D and F/C
 - Long scale reeds: steel tongue in individual brass frames
 - Domed metal keys/delrin® cores.

   anglo pricelist   options

 

 

Construction and Materials
We take great effort in the selection and preparation of the materials we use.  Depending on the model, the woods we use include hard maple, sycamore, mahogany, spruce and ebony. 
In addition to solid hard wood ends, we also offer veneered ends. We follow the old makers in the tradition of veneering concertinas, and have a wide selection of unique and rare veneers available, including rare amboynas. Our metal ended instruments can either be nickel, silver or gold  plated.
Our instruments are based on the proven designs of Wheatstone and Jeffries from a century ago. However, they are not copies. Using modern technology enabled us to improve on both equilibrium and reed response, making the instrument better balanced. 

 

                                  

                                                                                                    W-A2 with raised french walnut ends  

                                                          

Finish
All our instruments are french polished. French polishing is considered to be the most exclusive of finishes. It is a combination of shellac, ethanol and skill.  Unlike other finishes, it is invisible but at the same time enhances even the smallest details of the grain.  It takes about 9 hours to french polish a concertina. 

 


                            W-A1 with metal ends

 

  

Reeds
The reeds are the most important part of the concertina. Our instruments have traditional concertina reeds, not accordion type reeds. 
A reed consist of a  single steel tongue mounted in individual brass or aluminum frames. We use 16 different reed/frame sizes in our anglos to obtain the best possible balance and reed response. Our reeds are "long scale" reeds, requiring less air flow and producing more swing-cycle amplitude.

We make our own reeds, using the latest computerized machines. This enables us to optimize the design and fit of our frames and tongues, allowing extreme close fits with a maximum deviation of 0.01mm/0.003 inch. 

to learn more about concertina reeds click here.  

            
                                             


W-A1 with rosewood flat ends 

 

 

Bellows
We offer two different types of  6 folds (black) bellows on our anglo concertinas: 
1) traditional, Wheatstone style, with leather gussets and bindings and black papers.
2) All leather. 

We use the finest quality goat skin, tested for impurities and air tightness.

 

 

                                                                           

Action
The action is riveted. The levers and post are cut out of brass. The key travel on our anglo actions is  'fine tuned'  to ca.60 grams of pressure.
The buttons  are 'Wheatstone type': delrin® or wooden core, with a metal sleeve. The top of the keys can either be flat or domed, depending on preference.
Because of the delrin®/wooden core, our keys weigh only a fraction of the solid type keys.  Lighter keys result in a faster and quieter action.

 

action board Model W-A2

 

Customizing
Several aspects of the two models are subject to personal preference. Besides the choice of material and/or veneer, the following subjects can be personalized:

 

 

 

 

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