Bugari Artistcass versus championcass

[colinm]

Can anyone tell me why Bugari have a championcass and artistcass, what are differences, the website gives me no clues.

 

[Jibberin]

Hi
The Artist has hand made reeds and the Champion hand finished ones. Not sure if there are differences in the quality of construction but both first rate instruments in my view.

 

[colinm]

Thanks Jibberin, that is a definite difference and with about 500 reeds @ maybe £2 per reed makes approx £1000 difference in price.
Have you played Champion and Artist ?

 

[debra]

They are both excellent, but when you place them side by side you can hear the difference. If you hear just one it would be hard to know what it is. To complicate things further, not all artist cassotto accordions have a mano reeds.... not even all the ones with convertor... and then there is still a difference between the regular artist cassotto and the "gold" or "silver" series. There I have not been able to hear a difference.
Another complicating factor is that Bugari has changed reed supplier a few times over the past decades... and even with a mano reeds the sound is different between different brands.
But... what I have experienced by listening to and playing (and tuning) many accordions is that most sound differences between accordions are due to the reed blocks, more so than due to the reeds on these blocks.

 

[Jibberin]

I can only vouch for the Championcass which is first rate. The one I have is double octave with hand made reeds. It was good when I got it but after a bit of fettling by Gordon Patullo is really started to sing. In fact after his intervention it was almost like a different box.

 

[colinm]

I can only vouch for the Championcass which is first rate. The one I have is double octave with hand made reeds. It was good when I got it but after a bit of fettling by Gordon Patullo is really started to sing. In fact after his intervention it was almost like a different box.

That is a bit worrying, did he tell you what he did, is he still tuning, suppose he is near you

 

[colinm]

They are both excellent, but when you place them side by side you can hear the difference. If you hear just one it would be hard to know what it is. To complicate things further, not all artist cassotto accordions have a mano reeds.... not even all the ones with convertor... and then there is still a difference between the regular artist cassotto and the "gold" or "silver" series. There I have not been able to hear a difference.
Another complicating factor is that Bugari has changed reed supplier a few times over the past decades... and even with a mano reeds the sound is different between different brands.
But... what I have experienced by listening to and playing (and tuning) many accordions is that most sound differences between accordions are due to the reed blocks, more so than due to the reeds on these blocks.

I understand, it’s this business of try before you buy again, not much chance of that with one in london, one in netherlands and me near york

 

[Jibberin]

Hi
He did a bit of tuning and balancing as the box was bought second hand.
He’s located near Coupar Angus and examples of his tuning work can be found on Facebook.

 

[NickC]

But... what I have experienced by listening to and playing (and tuning) many accordions is that most sound differences between accordions are due to the reed blocks, more so than due to the reeds on these blocks.

Interesting. Can you elaborate on what makes a good reed block?

 

[Ventura]

Another complicating factor is that Bugari has changed reed supplier a few times over the past decades...

oh my !

didn't Bugari used to make all their own reeds

i had thought that was once their claim to fame or a big part of it
regarding consistency of manufacture and their own distinctive
tonal personality

???