Pigini 55/P Senior Converter (quint system) PA

[tcabot]

I'm culling my squeezebox fleet, as I hardly even get the time to play my diatonic these days, never mind keeping myself in good shape for a chromatic instrument.

Bought this little beauty off Walker on this forum, to try PA and try quint converter. Fantastic accordion with Pigini's market leading converter mechs.

Incredibly lightweight model by converter standards: 12.5kg.

Treble side:
41 keys, 4 voices (LMMH) with the MM tuned dry.
2 chin switches: MM and Tutti.

Please note: This is a non-cassotto model.

There are some very light cosmetic marks from use on the black celluloid and a very small ding on the outer edge of the keyboard (please see photos), but overall the condition is excellent.
One of the treble keys at the high end of the keyboard is not perfectly in line with the rest - it is raised by about 0.5mm, which does not cause any issues when playing - please see photos.

Tuned & serviced at the start of 2025, so reedwork is in pretty good shape. I'll double check that everything works before shipping.

£3,000 posted within the UK (insured UPS) in a hard case - even better if you want to collect/meet me for a handover as I hate shipping squeezeboxes.

 

[PeterF]

Any chance you'd be willing to ship to the US? Obviously shipping costs and the risks would be much higher, but it might be worth it to me. Thanks!

 

[tcabot]

Oh no, I was afraid somebody will ask that!

Am I right to think that PAs are exempt from import tax in US? (we're paying 25% on anything imported into the UK).
Biggest issue apart from tax is insurance for private shipment of musical instruments. I'll ping you a PM.

Also, I hope you have a good repairman near you if anything minor needs to be fixed? I've shipped boxes as far as Australia and NZ before, so I'm happy packing it well enough to survive a nuclear war, but there's minor issues that can happen in transit - could be some dust getting dislodged and wedging itself between a reed tongue and the plate, or a reedplate cracking the wax and going wildly out of tune. I can guarantee all notes play well when I pack it, but when you receive it, you might have half a dozen reeds not speaking. A quick and easy fix for any fettler, but not so easy for you if you need to drive 200 miles to the nearest repair shop.

 

[PeterF]

Oh no, I was afraid somebody will ask that!

Am I right to think that PAs are exempt from import tax in US? (we're paying 25% on anything imported into the UK).
Biggest issue apart from tax is insurance for private shipment of musical instruments. I'll ping you a PM.

Also, I hope you have a good repairman near you if anything minor needs to be fixed? I've shipped boxes as far as Australia and NZ before, so I'm happy packing it well enough to survive a nuclear war, but there's minor issues that can happen in transit - could be some dust getting dislodged and wedging itself between a reed tongue and the plate, or a reedplate cracking the wax and going wildly out of tune. I can guarantee all notes play well when I pack it, but when you receive it, you might have half a dozen reeds not speaking. A quick and easy fix for any fettler, but not so easy for you if you need to drive 200 miles to the nearest repair shop.

Thanks! I've actually take the Victoria Accordion Craft Academy course tier 1 and 2 so I'm reasonably competent at minor to midlevel repairs. If it's suffers something more serious beyond my skills, there are a couple repair options within 100 miles, so I've got some good options there if needed.

I have no idea about the import tax issues for the U.S., though I'll do some research. If anyone knows anything, pipe up.

I'll look for your PM.
Thanks!

Peter

 

[PeterF]

Thanks! I've actually take the Victoria Accordion Craft Academy course tier 1 and 2 so I'm reasonably competent at minor to midlevel repairs. If it's suffers something more serious beyond my skills, there are a couple repair options within 100 miles, so I've got some good options there if needed.

I have no idea about the import tax issues for the U.S., though I'll do some research. If anyone knows anything, pipe up.

I'll look for your PM.
Thanks!

Peter

EDIT *-"have already TAKEN the ACA courses this past March."

 

[JerryPH]

It's all about the packaging and using the right shippers, else how would any accordions from Italy ever make the successful trip from Europe to North America. Done right there should be some level of confidence.

 

[tcabot]

There's a big difference in business insurance and private sale insurance - the latter can be quite hard to obtain, as a lot of carriers exempt musical instruments from coverage in small print. A lot of folks don't realise that and ship anyway.

Also, a large factory can take the risk of getting an accordion or two smashed - they have plenty to spare .

 

[Tom]

Thanks! I've actually take the Victoria Accordion Craft Academy course tier 1 and 2 so I'm reasonably competent at minor to midlevel repairs. If it's suffers something more serious beyond my skills, there are a couple repair options within 100 miles, so I've got some good options there if needed.

I have no idea about the import tax issues for the U.S., though I'll do some research. If anyone knows anything, pipe up.

It’s not too bad. No import duty on value less than $800 or if the item is over 100 years old. That’s a pretty old accordion isn’t it? Or on repairs. Seems like it was about $55 for me on a new accordion from Italy. They will be charged to the recipient on arrival to the US. I don’t know how to calculate it. Good luck!

 

[tcabot]

For the time being I've managed to talk Peter out of buying it , so the Pigini is up for grabs.
If you're not looking specifically for a converter accordion, you can think of it as a nice 4-voice Stradella box with the added option of switching to freebass at no real extra weight or cost penalty.
Win-win all around, if you ask me.