If you are interested in the organ section, it may be able to be restored. I have no experience with the Cordovox accordion. However, I found information on the internet, on a comprehensive History of the Cordovox written by Fabio G. Giotta. He describes the First Generation Cordovox - Circa 1960-1962: CG-2/CG-3 as the only generation with the Legendary Vacuum Tube Organ Electronics. I would think if you had this model of Cordovox, the organ section could be fully restored. Unless I am wrong, all discrete components should be replaceable/available -- tubes, resistors, wax/paper capacitors, electrolytic capacitors, etc. I don't know how the organ tone on this original Cordovox sounds, but it should be able to be brought back to original condition specs. If it has wax caps, the polyester/mylar caps, available today, are even better with their fantastic stability.
That's not quite my impression: my impression rather was that those hybrid accordions tend to end up only useful as acoustic accordions because all the electronics and tone generator are externally in something called "power supply" which gets lost as people inherit the thing or find it somewhere and throw the matching electronics away. The weight difference is not all that much, but with the larger organ-thingies, the grill may be an abomination and I've also seen "simplified" register mechanics that are more awkwardly positioned (and more complex to use) than you'd want for a complete acoustic accordion.
Most Elkavox that used the power via the tone generator to power the mic’s came needing power that way. That said I clearly recall being asked if I wanted to use batteries to power the mic’s and that this would disable the internal power source.
This is the accordion and the circuit is the mic circuit. I found the 2 power wires on the connector that supply power to the amplifier board and I looked up the chip model . I have a rough guess on what the voltage is although I'm not too sure . If I had to guess around 9v DC. Also, is the audio connector a stereo jack ? It has 3 prongs and I'm not sure how that works with amplifiers .
It is somewhat common to use a stereo socket on a mono plug and use the non-existent "ring" for switching on battery power when the plug is inserted. Could be that.
I don't mean to sound odd when I say this but it's the sexiest and best sounding accordion I've ever used. I wouldn't ever want anything else
If you know where to get one I'd be very interested. I'm considering buying the tone generator
If that is so, you may be disappointed at what the organ part adds to the equation. A MIDI out would allow you to add arrangers and use the accordion for transcribing music. The pure analog output will probably not knock your socks off. It would be nice-to-have to demo the accordion's original "mind space", but probably not essential for your ongoing enjoyment.
It does, this is very similar to the one that I own. They came in many variations (3 different levels of reeds, with/without cassotto, with/without MIDI). Mine was the top of the line model with hand made reeds and Cassotto. Mine also has the optional MIDI out installed on the tone generator.
Oh man, though I respect everyone's choices, I feel you REALLY should have. If it was working right as that is where the real joy of this accordion come in and is what made the Elkavox the legend that it was. In the 80's this was THE most advanced electronic accordion on the market and the sonic varieties it offered were above anything on the market (times 10 if it had the optional MIDI module installed!).
I will probably map out the pins for the microphone power so that people can use the onboard mics and not have to deal with paying some to revamp the system. Within a week I'll get the tone generator and make a videoIt does, this is very similar to the one that I own. They came in many variations (3 different levels of reeds, with/without cassotto, with/without MIDI). Mine was the top of the line model with hand made reeds and Cassotto. Mine also has the optional MIDI out installed on the tone generator.
To answer the question, yes the jack is a stereo jack with the controls for the left and right hands individually controlled. The original cable is a "Y" cable... one stereo jack that splits in to 2 mono inputs. Though I still have the original one, it developed a broken wire at the "Y" connection and I replaced it with a new one decades ago.
As far as the tone generator not sounding good, there has to be something wrong. The electric sounds of the Elka may be dated but they are high quality... not even the Roland 8X has as high a quality trumpet sound as this accordion has. I've spent many an hour enjoying this accordion.
@jdam01 : Please feel free to document your process, I may wish to duplicate the process. I also have the schematics for my accordion, including the tone generator. Let me know if I can be of any assistance.
