96 bass, 72 bass body size

[wirralaccordion]

If you cram a 96 bass "inners" into a 72 size accordion body I assume that the keys will be smaller and closer together. Does this make the accordion harder to play for an adult/easier to play for say a young adult with smaller hands? Would the sound volume be reduced compared to the "normal" 96 bass model? Is there any advantage with these non-standard accordion models apart from the obvious weight saving or are there more downsides?

 

[donn]

these non-standard accordion models

Maybe everyone who would have real answers, also knows what accordions youre talking about, but if its easy, you might provide some examples. Im betting that in no case, will the Stradella bass buttons be spaced any different than they ever are, but Im no expert.

the obvious weight saving

Maybe more obvious than real. You know that from 72 to 120 basses, they all need the same reeds, so on the bass side, its just about how much the buttons and rods weigh, and maybe some extra case material. The more likely savings is on the other side, as you do add reeds when you add keyboard keys, and the 72 bass model will likely have slightly fewer keys than the 96.

 

[maugein96]

Phil,

Most 72 bass PA accordions I've seen look as though they could easily accommodate an extra 4 rows of bass buttons without any trouble at all. In fact their often lop sided appearance suggests that the bass side of the body is underused.

As far as 96 bass goes, in my experience the spacings between rows and buttons are usually exactly the same as on a 120 bass.

I don't know if you are referring to any specific make or model, but it is possible to buy accordions all with the same number of piano keys (and therefore identical in body length), but which have anything between 12 and 96 basses in them.

French CBA boxes of identical shape and size often have options for 80 or 100 bass (5 rows of basses), or 96/108/120 basses (6 row). I can assure you that the spacings between the rows and individual buttons are identical. On the odd occasion they'll fit a slightly differently configured bass side on to take a standard 96 bass up to a special order 120 bass model, but that is the exception rather than the rule.

From a personal point of view anything bigger than 96 bass just isn't necessary for the styles of music I play, and in fact after playing 96 bass for nearly 20 years I have trouble reaching all the "corners" of 120 bass instruments. People who play for vocalists or classical music may require 120 bass, but I suppose it's all down to personal requirements.

As a general rule the fewer the bits the lighter the weight, and as Donn has highlighted, a 72 bass requires the same number of reeds as a 120, it's just that the 120 needs more rods, levers and buttons. One other advantage with 96 bass and less is that smaller instruments can be easier to play for people of short stature. The trade off is the reduction in range on the treble side.

FWIW I have a 96 bass accordion which is actually slightly heavier than a 120 bass I have of a different make. Another consideration, which I don't think applies to you, is that if you are of a corpulent disposition a small heavy box can bounce around and misbehave when you're playing hard, whereas a full sized model tends to stay close to the body on account of the greater length. I sometimes end up doing the Lambada with the 96 bass, even when seated, but the 120 basses prefer dancing in close. The chairs I sit on prefer the lighter boxes, as they don't creak so much!

 

[debra]

The difference isn't on the bass side (as others already said, there is enough room for the extra basses and both use the same sets of reeds. It's the keyboard that is different. A 72 bass may have 34 keys and a 96 bass mostly has 37 keys. To cram 37 keys in the space of 34 means using narrower keys, just like in "ladies size" 120 bass accordions that have 41 keys in the space for 37 normal ones. Besides extra keys you also need to put in the extra reeds, but that can be done by using the spaces normally left between the pairs and triples of black keys' reeds.

 

[wirralaccordion]

Maybe everyone who would have real answers, also knows what accordions youre talking about, but if its easy, you might provide some examples.

This is the example I am looking at

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pigini-C...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

 

[debra]

Maybe everyone who would have real answers, also knows what accordions youre talking about, but if its easy, you might provide some examples.

This is the example I am looking at

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pigini-C...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

That one has only 34 keys so it is not a typical 96 bass accordion in a smaller size by downsizing the keyboard. People do expect a 96 bass accordion to have 37 keys (or at least I do).

 

[wirralaccordion]

That one has only 34 keys so it is not a typical 96 bass accordion in a smaller size by downsizing the keyboard. People do expect a 96 bass accordion to have 37 keys (or at least I do).

My Brandoni Super Musette L68 has only 34 keys and I have always thought it to be a typical 96 bass accordion. It also has 11 treble registers ( all different ) and 7 bass registers ( all different ) which is more than many 120 bass accordions. This latter point probably explains why it is heavier than my Hohner 120 bass accordion which has 41 keys but only 5 treble registers and 2 bass registers. Additionally the Brandoni has 4 reeds but the Hohner has only 3 which may be a factor.

 

[jozz]

if the real question is: should I buy it or not? then yes you should :mrgreen: (if the alternative is a conventional 72-bass)

the C# and G# are worth it

 

[Neoscan]

I bought a similarly sized Pigini last year - a great size accordion for me. I don't need the extra keys that a 37 would give so 34 is plenty. As mentioned above, it is good to have the C# on the bass side for sure.

 

[Sebastian Bravo]

narrower keys are always a problem for adults with bigger hands. i am a young adult as you say, and i feel a little unconfortable with the reduced keyboard instruments. I’ve never seen any 37/96 into a 34 key body with reduced keyboard in my life, but i think the keys wouldn’t be as narrow as the 41 key reduced keyboard from italian models, so it won’t be a problem to play. The sound volume depends mostly on the reed quality rather than the box size (I have a 30 key LM accordion and a 41 key LM accordion and the smaller one sounds stronger and louder than the big hohner). My main accordion is a 34/96 bass hohner (but it was a 72, i added the extra 24 basses)

 

[StargazerTony]

narrower keys are always a problem for adults with bigger hands. i am a young adult as you say, and i feel a little unconfortable with the reduced keyboard instruments. I’ve never seen any 37/96 into a 34 key body with reduced keyboard in my life, but i think the keys wouldn’t be as narrow as the 41 key reduced keyboard from italian models, so it won’t be a problem to play. The sound volume depends mostly on the reed quality rather than the box size (I have a 30 key LM accordion and a 41 key LM accordion and the smaller one sounds stronger and louder than the big hohner). My main accordion is a 34/96 bass hohner (but it was a 72, i added the extra 24 basses)

well, my big accordion a 41/120, has 18 mm keys and really like that. I am a man with somewhat large hands but short fingers and find that 20 mm keys give me a range problem. I have a hard time playing an octave, but with 18 mm keys my reach is extended and have no problem with octave + reaches