Buying tips for Foema and Victoria.

[borzo83]

Hi everyone,
I would like to see these accordions in a few days, can you give me some hints what's the background of this models and approx. price?
Specially I'm interested in weight/size and maker and how the build quality is. I tend to a lightweight accordion mainly for playing klezmer music.

First an Foema Artiste III 96 bass


Victoria 120 Bass



Thanks!

 

[Ventura]

from pictures on the internet, it appears FOEMA never ordered
their accordions from the same factory twice, so build quality
is as you find it to be when you take it apart

and the accordions look like one is an LMH and the Vic is LMM
so apples to oranges for sound.. which is more appropriate for Klezmer ?

 

[borzo83]

from pictures on the internet, it appears FOEMA never ordered
their accordions from the same factory twice, so build quality
is as you find it to be when you take it apart

and the accordions look like one is an LMH and the Vic is LMM
so apples to oranges for sound.. which is more appropriate for Klezmer ?

The Foema register switches look like typical Guerrini switches to me.
And yes, that's a good qestion, whats better for Klezmer...I'm not sure.

The Victoria looks sophisticated and well built, but I think it's bigger and heavier than the Foema.

 

[Ventura]

do you actually think Guerrini made their own unique switches ?
or did they just buy them from from someplace like most
everyone else with a mid-sized accordion factory ? very few factories
had plastic forming equipment of their own or the space and volume
to justify it

for private branding, i have never heard Guerrini directly agreeing to
allowing any of their accordions to be labeled privately.. here in the USA
they promoted their own brand to dealers and schools

 

[Alan Sharkis]

from pictures on the internet, it appears FOEMA never ordered
their accordions from the same factory twice, so build quality
is as you find it to be when you take it apart

and the accordions look like one is an LMH and the Vic is LMM
so apples to oranges for sound.. which is more appropriate for Klezmer ?

I used to prefer a wetter sound when playing an accompaniment role, but sometimes switched to a single M register when taking the lead. But that was just me. Others may have different ideas. LMH is about as dry as it gets, LMM gives you options for Klezmer as well as other genres.

 

[Ventura]

, LMM gives you options for Klezmer as well as other genres.

thanks..

i figured you would know

 

[SteveBox]

for private branding, i have never heard Guerrini directly agreeing to
allowing any of their accordions to be labeled privately

I bought a Castiglione branded PA in the late 80s, and I was told it was made by Guerrini. It looked like a Guerrini, except for the name.

 

[Ventura]

if John told you that directly, ok

if not, well more guys selling used accordions have
dropped Guerrini's name than you can shake a stick at

Most of his mid/better quality models were sourced from Zero
for many decades while his top-shelf lines were always factory brands..
he never competed with himself, unlike most other accordion stores
who habitually tried to sell "off" their pro brand-name brand with
"just as good as" "comes from the same factory but you don't have to
pay for the name" and similar veiled truths/outright lies

the way i remember it, the Guerrini family operation always focused
on their own brand and reputation, and could barely keep up with
the demand for their own accordions, much less get involved in the
very competitive and cutthroat priced high volume private label
accordion school / jobber market.. When they closed for public business,
they walked away from a lot of orders as their dealer network
here was still quite strong (comparatively) and had been loyal
for half a century.

they did incredibly well for a back-yard factory you walked through
their living room to enter

 

[Ryan C Cihlar]

I have ( I believe) the same model of that Victoria. My thoughts: It's a a great, lightweight and well made stroller. 3 reeds on Treble, LMM with light (5ish cents) vibrato (musette), and 4 reeds on the bass with 2 switches. Weighs in at around 20 lbs so it's easy on the shoulders. No tone chamber or master palm switch. I paid $500 on Facebook Marketplace and thought it was appropriate. It needed a lot of exterior cleaning but the guts and tuning were decent. I like it.