Interesting Accordion on Ebay

[ArtMustel]

Hello everyone, I am new to this forum. This post is about an accordion i just saw listed on Ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPER-SCAN...dalli&_trksid=p2334524.c100667.m2042&LH_BIN=1

I understand that this instrument has a Belgian bass system, but what i don't understand is the reed configuration. it appears to have 6 sets of treble reeds, however I don't understand why there are only 5 stops or registers, and the one that seems to be the 'master' has only 4 points on it, like if it was a 4 reed accordion. I know there must be a reason for this, please enlighten me! Thanks.

 

[Glug]

I'm not a CBA expert but I think the 6 sets of treble reeds is actualy 6 reed banks which implement 4 voices. If you look closely each reed bank has 19 reeds on each side so 57 buttons is 1.5 reed banks and 6/1.5 = 4 voices.

I think this is actually LMMM, so the register switches are L, LM, LMMM, MMM, M going from left to right.

 

[ArtMustel]

that makes sense, i was thinking about PA reed banks and didn't realize cba's like this one have more treble extension hence the extra banks. thanks Glug!

 

[Dingo40]

Glug,
Well explained! It all makes sense!
Thanks!??

 

[debra]

Don't believe everything you read on Ebay...
Such an accordion indeed has 6 reed blocks to implement 4 voices. There are two reed blocks per row of buttons (for the first three rows, the other 2 are repeats). This is very common in CBA instruments with lots of notes (around 60 notes on this one). Inside the accordion looks in reasonable shape. Outside is a different story (missing buttons are a clean sign of some type of abuse that has happened and not been repaired.

 

[ArtMustel]

I think starting price, being an auction, is way too high. I am toying with the idea of transitioning from PA to CBA, just for fun, but the challenge of learning the Belgian bass system too, is way too much for me,
Also, i was intrigued by that name on big letters on the front, "Auguste de Waele", googled it and it is a brand of Belgian accordions. Could it be that Scandalli used to manufacture a line of instruments for that Belgian firm?
In any case, an interesting instrument (that must weight near 40 lbs!!)

 

[debra]

I think starting price, being an auction, is way too high. I am toying with the idea of transitioning from PA to CBA, just for fun, but the challenge of learning the Belgian bass system too, is way too much for me,
Also, i was intrigued by that name on big letters on the front, "Auguste de Waele", googled it and it is a brand of Belgian accordions. Could it be that Scandalli used to manufacture a line of instruments for that Belgian firm?
In any case, an interesting instrument (that must weight near 40 lbs!!)

August de Waele stopped making his own accordions long before this one was built by Scandalli with his name on it. You are quite right about not bothering with the Belgian bass system. It is fading away: only older people still play it and young people attending music school must learn Stradella instead. This accordion need not weigh 40lbs. It has many notes, but no cassotto (which adds weight). But accordions used to be a bit heavier than they are today, although even today they are not exactly lightweight.

 

[ArtMustel]

Thanks, Paul. Its been a pleasure to read your expert comments.