Borel accordina question

[Scottfree]

Hello,
I just bought a Borel accordina. I noticed that the sides are like spring loaded flaps that are in the open position. When they are open, it's louder of course, but there's no comfortable way to hold it without closing them.
Does anyone know anything about this design? Thank you!
Scottfree

 

[debra]

The design was made to allow for some (limited) tone-bending. Newer accordinas do not have this except for the "Mellowtone" which offers a completely different mechanism for tone-bending.

 

[Scottfree]

Hi, Thank you for your reply! I thought it might have something to do with that. If I hold it like I see people doing like Richard Galliano, it's very hard not to close the flaps, which makes it very quiet. Maybe that's why the leather strap is on the end.
I have 7 days to return it and I'm tempted to just but a new Melowtone. Do you know anything about them? I've only seen the videos of Richard playing his. This Borel is 1500.00 usd. The Melowtone with shipping and case is about 1000.00usd more. I would appreciate any thoughts, opinions, advice. Thanks again!
Scottfree

 

[debra]

Hi, Thank you for your reply! I thought it might have something to do with that. If I hold it like I see people doing like Richard Galliano, it's very hard not to close the flaps, which makes it very quiet. Maybe that's why the leather strap is on the end.
I have 7 days to return it and I'm tempted to just but a new Melowtone. Do you know anything about them? I've only seen the videos of Richard playing his. This Borel is 1500.00 usd. The Melowtone with shipping and case is about 1000.00usd more. I would appreciate any thoughts, opinions, advice. Thanks again!
Scottfree

I play a Marcel Dreux accordina. No experience with the Borel (but have heard Richard Galliano play it live, before he moved on to the Mellowtone). No experience with the Mellowtone either. It's quite expensive and for me the Marcel Dreux instrument is good enough and has served me for a very long time already.

 

[Scottfree]

Thank you for that. This Borel is the first generation with the fixed metal triangle mouthpiece and brass reeds. Are the later ones with the removable black plastic mouthpiece and stainless steel reeds more desirable?

 

[losthobos]

I have the Borel Accordina with the plastic mouthpiece and SS reeds ... I sent to Marcel Dreux for repair and he was very kind in assistance and price...upon return be told me it was one of the best accordinas ever made....
I don't know how well this statement stands up against the new models being made now but I am very happy with it and have been asked to sell it many times but it's something I won't be letting go anytime soon

 

[Jim2010]

Marcel Dreux makes accordinas that allow for the bending of notes. None of my accordinas have that feature, so I can't offer any opinion about it. It is described in the link below. I think you can order it as an extra on all of his accordinas.

Signature Ludovic Beier | Accordinas

The model built with Ludovic Beier is a “2000” with a matt black lacquered brass casing. The keyboard is black and white. It is equipped with axes which allow it to produce the “Bend” effect. The keyboard has been slightly hardened thanks to stronger springs. It is tuned at 441 Hz. This...

www.accordinas.com

 

[stickista]

Hello,
I just bought a Borel accordina. I noticed that the sides are like spring loaded flaps that are in the open position. When they are open, it's louder of course, but there's no comfortable way to hold it without closing them.
Does anyone know anything about this design? Thank you!
Scottfree

I play a Marcel Dreux accordina. No experience with the Borel (but have heard Richard Galliano play it live, before he moved on to the Mellowtone). No experience with the Mellowtone either. It's quite expensive and for me the Marcel Dreux instrument is good enough and has served me for a very long time already.

Marcel Dreux has also begun employing reed plates instead of individual reeds, ostensibly providing better tone and volume. Can’t testify to that myself.
Downside of Mellotone is that it’s range is at least a m3rd higher and I like rhe lower range of the instrument much more. Your tastes may differ.
Were it me I would take a Dreux Pedro or Carbon over a Borel any day. (I own all 3.)

 

[Scottfree]

Hi,
Thank you for taking the time to explain all of that! I didn't realize that about the range of the Melowtone. I've decided to return the Borel, it has some issues anyway and order a Dreux.

 

[Scottfree]

Sorry, I accidentally posted the reply before I was finished!
Yes, coincidentally, I'm trying to decide between the Pedro or Carbon. Thanks again for your help. I really appreciate it!
Scottfree

 

[Jim2010]

I have the Pedro, Grille, and Miroir models, each with slightly different sound. All great. In my case, the better I get at playing the accordina, the better each of them sounds and the less it matters to me which one I am playing. Lately, I have been playing mostly the Pedro. In case it matters to you, the Pedro is a little bit bigger than the others (because the wood is thicker than the metal).

 

[Scottfree]

Thank you, that's good to know. I'm thinking I might like the feel of wood in my hands more than metal. Although the Ludovic Beier model is interesting to me too.
I was reading on the website that the A04, models like the Pedro, have a stainless steel base while the 2000 models like the Beier and Galliano, have a brass base. I wonder how that affects the sound?
Scott

 

[Jim2010]

I was reading on the website that the A04, models like the Pedro, have a stainless steel base while the 2000 models like the Beier and Galliano, have a brass base. I wonder how that affects the sound?

Unless I am mistaken, the stainless steel vs brass question refers to the base composition of the metal sides, so is not relevant to the Pedro or Carbon. I have played both the "standard" Mirior sides (staninless steel) and the brass-based Mirior sides. I am not the best person to describe sound in words, but I thought the brass ones sounded slightly "richer" (and felt heavier). I think that differences between the various sides are subtle, and that when people like Richard Galliano, Julien Labro, or Ludovic Beier play, it doesn't matter what "sides" they are playing. They make everything sound great. A few years ago, Julien Labro borrowed an accordina of mine to play in a concert with an orchestra. It didn't sound anything like what it sounded like when I played it. It was like a completely different instrument.

Separate issue. It doesn't hurt to like the looks of your instrument. No harm in adding that to the equation. For example, the melowtone mouthpiece is positioned so the instrument blocks the performer's face. Not everyone likes that. If you look at a variety of Richard Galliano melotone videos, you will notice him leaning in various position to try to overcome the "problem." Some people like the mouthpiece of the Dreux accordinas on the side, some prefer it on the end. Some people might prefer the Borel because it is a classic, the original, has a certain patina. Everybody is different.

 

[Scottfree]

Thank you, this is all very helpful! Have any of you played the Beier model?

 

[Scottfree]

Also, can someone please tell me what the difference in sound is between the Pedro and the Carbon. I really like the feel of holding a wooden instrument compared to metal or carbon fiber, but sound is always my first consideration.

 

[Jim2010]

You can listen to the sounds of each of the various Marcel Dreux accordinas here:

Ecoutez les différents modèles | Accordinas

www.accordinas.com

To my ears the differences are subtle.

 

[Scottfree]

Yes, very subtle. Probably can't go wrong with any of them. I think I've narrowed it down to the Carbon or Beier models. One's the A04 and the other is the 2000.
Just reading things here and there and talking to Julien Labro, it sounds like the Beier takes more air and is a bit harder to play because of the firmer spring tension on the keyboard.Eventually we all get our own sound on whatever we're playing.

It looks like quite a few former accordina players have switched to the Melowtone for some reason.

Thanks for the replies!
Scott

 

[Ffingers]

My 2 cents - I have the 'carbon' version which I use with an end blown mouthpiece, extended to enable me to play on it in a sitting position similar to an accordion.
I find it great for when either my body is reluctant to heave the full weight of the accordion or/and when I want to learn or play simpler tunes.
Its action is much heavier than either of my full boxes but at the same time the tone is crisper and more 'immediate', there being no percieveable delay in the reeds.
It is much more portable which means that it goes out with me much more often than the accordions and so I can play me a tune at whim when I am out and about.
As I gradually master the breathing aspect, I find new subtleties in its responses which adds other dimensions to its qualities.
As a particularly personal musical instrument I find it very satisfying.