Can’t find it anywhere!!!

[JerryPH]

Good point. I am constantly amazed at the craftsmanship in the vintage Corona II. The talented and wonderful Mexicans around here are paying the big bucks for them, enriching the old polka players. If I wait long enough I can probably parlay it into a Super 6, or maybe even a cart of groceries.

Kind of like that guy that visited a Texas flea market and in 1 days started with a pen and kept trading up for free until he walked out of the meet with a new $2000 rifle, which he then gave away to some kid that was staring dreamily at it through the glass... lol

Your new Super VI is just around the corner... IT CAN BE DONE!

 

[Pezh]

Most accordion size charts use height to correspond to recommended keyboard length. This helps identify an instrument that can comfortably be worn and also suggest a key dimension that should be appropriate for hand size.

This is one I found. This should only be considered a rough guide and also projected growth of a younger student should be considered. https://images.app.goo.gl/R5GScoi4LhfqXr9S6

Thank you so much!

 

[Tom]

Ben’s chart looks good! I would recommend basing your purchase on what is available in your area that you can “try before you buy.” If your son seems like he’s going to stick with it I would recommend at least a 24 bass because the minor (and seventh) chords are pretty important from the get go. Obviously some accordions will be just too big and heavy. Make sure he can handle it physically and, most importantly, that it is in good playable shape. You may want to consider looking at potential instruments with a friend or acquaintance who knows about accordion condition. Good luck!

 

[Ben-jammin]

there are also some shops more distant that have reasonable terms (warranty, decent return policies) that sell serviced used accordions. Petosa in Seattle and Liberty Bellows are options. Liberty bellows also usually has videos of the instruments being played. It’s not as good as trying it in person but it’s much better than buying site unseen or buying an available instrument with out getting it checked out by someone knowledgeable.

 

[Alan Sharkis]

Tom thank you very much for your reply. I really appreciate your kind and generous offer and I appreciate your help. Are you and is your club in California? I’m in OC but don’t mind driving for couple of hours to meet. I’m playing piano but my son is a big fan of accordion and started about 6 weeks ago. He practice seriously and his teacher said he needs to switch to 120 bass now.

Switching to 120 bass after only six weeks equates to a serious student, indeed. But that can change. Get an accordion for him that is easy to play, sounds good and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Don’t ignore used accordions if they’re from a reputable dealer or a repairer. If you’ve already gone through that process and you’ve decided on a new instrument, specifically the one you mentioned, please remember that the Hohner Bravo line is made in China, not Germany. It may be good initially, but difficult to repair later if it needs repairs.

 

[stickista]

Kind of like that guy that visited a Texas flea market and in 1 days started with a pen and kept trading up for free until he walked out of the meet with a new $2000 rifle, which he then gave away to some kid that was staring dreamily at it through the glass... lol

Your new Super VI is just around the corner... IT CAN BE DONE!

That story is horrifying!

 

[dak]

That story is horrifying!

Sounds apt for a Texas flea market. I just wonder why that story would have been popular in Canada.

And of course you know: the best recourse against a bad guy with an accordion is a good guy with an accordion.

 

[JerryPH]

Sounds apt for a Texas flea market. I just wonder why that story would have been popular in Canada.

It was a Texas flea market, the kid was in his 30's not a teen or anything... lol. Yes I lived in Texas for several years.

 

[OuijaBoard]

You could try International House of Music in DTLA. They cater to a strong local Latino musician clientele including accordion players. They are Hohner dealers and stock the Bravo line as well as the high-end Hohner Anacleto models. I don't see a 120 on their site, but I'm skeptical that a 120 is necessary for your wean after six weeks. I don't agree the Chinese Hohner Bravo PAs are so terrible, they are quite playable. But I've only tried the little ones. I admit I probably would feel uneasy about a Chinese 120-bass.

You might also call Dave's Accordion School and see what used Italian accordions Dave Caballero, virtuoso, teacher, repairer/restorer, used dealer, and gentleman, might have on hand. This is one of the kindest, most honest and knowledgeable fisarmonicans you will ever meet:

Dave's Accordion School

I use the CBA equivalents of the Bravos, the Hohner Novas. But I only use the little ones, and they work fine for folk genres, which is what I use them for. I have small Italian PAs, but use the Novas as my small CBAs at least for now, because I am outraged at the price gauging for compact 12/13 pound MM or 15/16 pound LMM Italian CBAs that aren't the elongated 80-bass French dimensions. Only Saltarelle and Castagari seem to offer them in a compact more square shape like small PAs. Liberty just got in 2 compact Saltarelle CBAs--- One being a small 13-pound 60-bass 4-row MM, no bass register, priced at . . . $6,000.00. And a compact LMM 78-bass at . . . $8,000.00.

 

[JerryPH]

I don't agree the Chinese Hohner Bravo PAs are so terrible, they are quite playable.

I am a big Hohner fanboy (lol), if there was the slightest chance I could say that the new Chinese Bravo III was good, I would say it.

My uncle payed full boat for a new Bravo III. Based on my 30 minutes of playing a new Bravo III and all the issues it had (as a new out of the box accordion), I'd love to say it was playable, but it was nothing less than horrible and yes, it was unplayable. Between the horrible tune, sticking keys and faulty registration, there was no way that thing could be called playable... unless one avoided the sticking keys, never changed registration and was tone deaf... lol

Are all Bravo III like this? Cannot tell you, I did not play all of them, but this was a new out of the box straight from Hohner, and I had no issues telling my uncle it was garbage and to send it back for repairs. He sent it back for a refund and bought something else.

He waited a while and bought himself a used Scandalli Brevette similar to mine but with gold trim and functional mics. Even at over 40 years old, it was in better tune, everything worked and it sounds a lot better and saved $2180 in the process (Canadian).

 

[OuijaBoard]

I am a big Hohner fanboy (lol), if there was the slightest chance I could say that the new Chinese Bravo III was good, I would say it.

My uncle payed full boat for a new Bravo III. Based on my 30 minutes of playing a new Bravo III and all the issues it had (as a new out of the box accordion), I'd love to say it was playable, but it was nothing less than horrible and yes, it was unplayable. Between the horrible tune, sticking keys and faulty registration, there was no way that thing could be called playable... unless one avoided the sticking keys, never changed registration and was tone deaf... lol

Are all Bravo III like this? Cannot tell you, I did not play all of them, but this was a new out of the box straight from Hohner, and I had no issues telling my uncle it was garbage and to send it back for repairs. He sent it back for a refund and bought something else.

As noted in my post, I have only played small Bravos. Played a brand new 26 for about an hour in the shop of a tech and seller who is a friend, and while parts and build seemed flimsy, it responded and played fine. But if the III is the 34/72, there are plenty of gigging players who use them. Yes, out of the box a new Asian Hohner often needs a bit of tweaking. Weltmeisters too. So has every brand-new Italian accordion I've acquired or encountered.

I have tried Chinese-made accordions that were impossible to play and could be injury-inducing--I work near a shopping street full of electronics and sundry goods shops where signage and staff are Spanish language centered. These places often stock accordions of that type. The labels seem to rotate, as even naive consumers figure out how bad they are. For a time the label du jour down there was "Fever." I've never encountered that problematic an issue with a Hohner Bravo or Nova. (The cheaper and truly problematic Hohnica instruments are a different story.). I do suspect there have been improvements in the now-going-on-25 year history of the Hohner Bravo and Nova lines. Definitely the bellows material of the current Nova is upgraded versus that of 13 years ago.

Let's remember there are many for whom a Bravo is a pricey aspirational purchase. They cost double the price of the "Fever" type instruments but about half of even the most reasonably priced brand-new Italian accordions of the same size and config., whose prices just keep rising, rising, and rising. Buying vintage Italian makes sense only if you are yourself knowledgeable enough to assess, vet, and repair, or have workable access to someone with these competencies. Otherwise that can be a disastrous route.

 

[JerryPH]

You're doing the same as me... I edit my posts to correct/add when needed.

 

[OuijaBoard]

Autocorrect is a pox on civilisation.