• If you haven't done so already, please add a location to your profile. This helps when people are trying to assist you, suggest resources, etc. Thanks

New member from the Netherlands

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Petra76

Guest
Hello everyone,

My name is Petra and I live in the Netherlands. Recently I bought a supposedly playable accordion, Scandalli 32 bass, but this doesn't seem to be the case. Now I have set myself the challenge of getting it playable again. I believe in it until proven otherwise. I'm going to read a lot here first, because there is a lot of information here!

Greetings Petra.
 
The problem with such a really small accordion is that its commercial value in truly playable condition is too close to zero to make it worth investing in repairs it may need. So indeed the challenge is to see what you can do yourself to make it playable because as soon as you get a professional to do it the repair cost will be higher than what you can get for the accordion when you try to sell it again...
You need to learn to interpret advertisement qualifications. "Playable" most likely means that you can get at least a few notes to play. "Like new" likely means "not a total wreck", but especially with a chinese instrument it might be close.
Another thing to be very wary about is dealing with a seller who cannot play the accordion, so you cannot get a decent sound demo...
 
Hi Petra,

Nice to see someone else here from the Netherlands!
Hopefully you will be able to restore the accordion. What is the problem?
For sure you can get help, it is a nice and friendly community here.
 
Welcome Petra,
Judging from my Dutch acquaintances, accordion was a big deal in the Netherlands, at one time: much sheet music at a variety of levels of difficulty (and for 12, 24, 48 bass instruments and up) specifically scored for the accordion, was readily available in music shops everywhere.
Even I was able to get some from my friends .
"Those were the days, my friend,
We thought they'd never end...!"
??
 
Welcome Petra,
Judging from my Dutch acquaintances, accordion was a big deal in the Netherlands, at one time: much sheet music at a variety of levels of difficulty (and for 12, 24, 48 bass instruments and up) specifically scored for the accordion, was readily available in music shops everywhere.
Even I was able to get some from my friends .
"Those were the days, my friend,
We thought they'd never end...!"
??
Accordion is still a big deal. It is taught in music school and conservatory, there are many small and large bands and orchestras, and we have a national organization for accordion and harmonica, called Novam. There is a lot of sheet music, especially to play popular songs solo on the accordion. The publisher Reba, also selling sheet music from almost all other publishers (and previously known as "Music Unlimited") is a great resource for all accordion players.
But sadly a small 32 bass accordion is rather limited in its possibilities, so Petra may soon need to look for a somewhat larger instrument in order to really get going. Accordions with 72 bass buttons are decent starter instruments and people not wanting to go "full size" move on to 96 bass later. And wherever you live in the Netherlands, a decent repairer is almost always closer by than when you live in Australia... (and rubbish repairers are also closer by).
 
The problem with such a really small accordion is that its commercial value in truly playable condition is too close to zero to make it worth investing in repairs it may need. So indeed the challenge is to see what you can do yourself to make it playable because as soon as you get a professional to do it the repair cost will be higher than what you can get for the accordion when you try to sell it again...
You need to learn to interpret advertisement qualifications. "Playable" most likely means that you can get at least a few notes to play. "Like new" likely means "not a total wreck", but especially with a chinese instrument it might be close.
Another thing to be very wary about is dealing with a seller who cannot play the accordion, so you cannot get a decent sound demo...
Yes I am aware of that. It's just that it's such a cute and beautiful accordion that I'd love to be able to get those annoying noises out. And always educational of course!
 
Hi Petra,

Nice to see someone else here from the Netherlands!
Hopefully you will be able to restore the accordion. What is the problem?
For sure you can get help, it is a nice and friendly community here.
Hallo Robin! Thank you! The problem, I think, is the leather (don't know the name), I'll post some pictures in 'How to do..'

And i am very glad that someone told me about this forum! :D
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Welcome Petra,
Judging from my Dutch acquaintances, accordion was a big deal in the Netherlands, at one time: much sheet music at a variety of levels of difficulty (and for 12, 24, 48 bass instruments and up) specifically scored for the accordion, was readily available in music shops everywhere.
Even I was able to get some from my friends .
"Those were the days, my friend,
We thought they'd never end...!"
??
Thank you Dingo40! I grew up with the accordion, playing it myself is another thing ;), but the music will always be in my heart. :love: Those were the days, o yes those were the days!
 
greetings

I got my two-beer cases bought 32 bass playable and future-ready

full custom tuning, felt pads, valves and wax job (outsourced) with internal pickups (DIY)

.. for just shy of 550 euros total

everything is possible

good luck (y)
 
greetings

I got my two-beer cases bought 32 bass playable and future-ready

full custom tuning, felt pads, valves and wax job (outsourced) with internal pickups (DIY)

.. for just shy of 550 euros total

everything is possible

good luck (y)
Everything is possible. And the sale value of your end-result is... maybe 150 euro if you're lucky? (Just an educated guess.)
 
Hi Robin! Thank you! The problem, i think, are the leathers things (don't know the name), i will post some pictures in 'How to do..'
The "leather things" are "valves". They should sit flush against the reed plates. If they are curled up a bit you can straighten them by means of a set of pincers. If you are lucky then the valves will still be ok on the inside of the reed blocks so you can just straighten the outer ones.
 
greetings

I got my two-beer cases bought 32 bass playable and future-ready

full custom tuning, felt pads, valves and wax job (outsourced) with internal pickups (DIY)

.. for just shy of 550 euros total

everything is possible

good luck (y)
Thank you!!!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top