5 voice bass

[Ganza]

Hi all,

just wondering, do accordion manufactures still make all bass registers with the high reed playing?

I know they did that in old ones? Do they still do it as default?

As many seem to think it doesn't sound good, I would imagine they don't include it by default these days..

 

[nagant27]

I must agree that I don't like the sound of high reeds on the bass. I even block them out. Just my opinion.

 

[debra]

Nowadays accordions with 5 voice bass typically have an array of register switches (5, 6, even 7) that give you a number of options without the high reed playing and some with the high reed. It's only on some old boxes with 5 reed bass and just 2 switches that you cannot disable the high reed. I have one such old box and taped shut the 5th reed because if there is no choice I prefer not to have the high voice playing.

 

[JerryPH]

See, I must be the different one here. Without that high reed on my accordion, the bass side sounds weak to me. I often turn it off, only to turn it back on a minute later and a bit happier.

 

[debra]

See, I must be the different one here. Without that high reed on my accordion, the bass side sounds weak to me. I often turn it off, only to turn it back on a minute later and a bit happier.

It may be because you lowest reeds go down to E. I have a smallish (scrap) 80-bass accordion where the lowest reed only goes down to C (above that E of yours). The 4-reed bass then already goes up plenty high for my taste. I dont need the higher 5th reed. But even then it is still a matter of taste. On my Morino I always keep the high reed disabled except when it is needed in the MIII melody bass. My AKKO only has 4 reeds in the bass and that is definitely not weak. (But of course you cannot compare the Morino bass side to that of a bayan.)

 

[JIM D.]

I must agree with debra that on a box that doesn't have a switch to silence the high (5th) set of reeds, to tape them off. I've found most (US) accordionist's today prefer the sound of a four reed bass without the 5th set sounding.

 

[JerryPH]

That's because most US accordionists never heard a 5 reed bass... bunch of heretics... LOL

 

[debra]

Thats because most US accordionists never heard a 5 reed bass... bunch of heretics... LOL

Could be ;-)
I do like the sound of 5 voice bass, just not all the time and in all music genres. So I prefer accordions with more bass registers. But when there is no choice I just prefer not to have the high reed over having it all the time.

 

[wout]

I also play always with the high register switched off

 

[JerryPH]

Well, what can I say... if everyone liked what I do, the world would be a very boring place.