Accordion Advice Sought

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HCMarkus
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Re: Accordion Advice Sought

Post by HCMarkus »

Guys, I don't see it becoming my passion, but the accordion is an ACOUSTIC instrument that this keyboardist who never learned to play guitar might be able to have some fun with. Pianos are such a pain to cart around.

That said, DeepSix, I'll pass on the bagpies. :vomit:
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cuttime
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Re: Accordion Advice Sought

Post by cuttime »

Don't sell bagpipes short! I always liked the idea of a musical weapon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPcYKZ7HS1s

To be fair, these are Uilleann pipes, not Highland Pipes. Much less dangerous.
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mikehalloran
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Re: Accordion Advice Sought

Post by mikehalloran »

I believe that Craigslist + $300 + a bit of time will allow you to find exactly what you want - as long as it isn't a recent Hohner.

Your basic piano accordion has three stops: They have various names but one is an octave lower than the other - the third is both together. The lower octave reed plate often stops sounding on the bottom octave of the keyboard - this is normal.

Fancier ones have more including "tremolo" reeds that are slightly de-tuned. Don't mistake a tremolo reed set for tarnished, out of tune reeds. The effect will be even up and down.

Tarnished reeds are easy to detect when both reed plates are engaged. Some notes are in tune while others are ghastly.

There's a solitary button on the bass side that, when pressed, allows the bellows to expand and contract without sounding a note. A good, tight bellows will allow almost no movement unless that button is pressed or a note is being sounded.

I had no idea that I knew so much about these.

Btw, every professional piano-accordionist I know makes very nice money for gigs. It doesn't hurt to speak a bit of Italian.
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Dan Worley
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Re: Accordion Advice Sought

Post by Dan Worley »

I love accordion. Mary Black's Babes In the Wood album comes to mind. Acoustic guitar, double bass, piano, accordion, dobro, mandolin, Mary's voice. Couldn't sound better. Great stuff! Accordion works in so many ways.

Have fun with it, Mark. I always enjoy it when I play my friend's.
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HCMarkus
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Re: Accordion Advice Sought

Post by HCMarkus »

cuttime wrote:Don't sell bagpipes short! I always liked the idea of a musical weapon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPcYKZ7HS1s

To be fair, these are Uilleann pipes, not Highland Pipes. Much less dangerous.
After watching that, I'd say "make love, not war", on several levels.

And thanks Dan. You got the spirit!

I'll be in the Bay Area come Easter, Mike. Wanna' sell me yours?
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Re: Accordion Advice Sought

Post by mikehalloran »

I'm open to that. I should be able to check it out long before then. I'm planning to head over there today, in fact so, if I can lift it up the stairs, I'll bring it home (I'm handicapped). The basement is at my Victorian, not the house where I live.

The danger is that, when I pull it out, that my wife will say that she still means to learn how to play.

We'll talk.
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Re: Accordion Advice Sought

Post by HCMarkus »

mikehalloran wrote: We'll talk.
Thanks Mike!
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Gravity Jim
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Re: Accordion Advice Sought

Post by Gravity Jim »

In terms of ease of playing, the pipes make an accordion feel like a kazoo. Buy a bagpipe chanter and take your best shot if you don't believe me. if you can play three notes in a row in tune after five years you're a genius. :) (Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but lord, it ain't good.)

Mike's got the accordion thing nailed. Fort Wayne once had one of those massive music stores that specialized in the wheezing beast, and our pawn shops and second hand shops are loaded with good ones.

DO THIS: Take a tuner with you shopping. Plenty of old accordions got wanged on by bored grandkids and had their reeds pushed out of tune. A quarter tone off isn't uncommon.
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Re: Accordion Advice Sought

Post by mhschmieder »

HC, I've had an 80-bass accordion for sale for years now, that no one has seen because it turns out the store (which has moved three times) has kept it in the back room the entire time I've had it on consignment so no one has even had a chance to try it. It's a very versatile model. Shoot me a PM if you want to try it out; I've been too busy for almost two months to go pick it up during their EXTREMELY limited hours (just a few hours a week, and I usually take BART vs. drive which further minimizes my chances to take care of this important errand).
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