Chromatic accordion
- Thread starter KiwiSqueezer
- Start date
stickista
Well-known member
I’m late to the discussion, but I’d say to go with whichever system connects you to the most players who play the kind of music you want to play. In Western Europe/U.S. that’s probably C… in the Baltics and eastern Europe, B. Play what your potential teachers, inspirations play.
KiwiSqueezer
Active member
Here in the south island of New Zealand (population a bit over 1 million), there seems more-or-less zero chance of coming across a CBA for sale, and I don't suppose teachers are any more common. I think there's one specialist (piano) accordion supplier in Auckland, a one-hour 'plane ride away... So, whether I prefer B- or C- system seems academic, and equally problematical. From previous threads, it appears that learning B-system fingering (and C-system too, for all I know) is a DIY task anyway. Perhaps I should give up and take up knitting...
However, before I rush out and get wool, etc., any suggestions about how someone in the third world might obtain a quality CBA (or bayan, not sure about the terminology) without having to sell the farm?
I realise I'm too old to get anything like proficient, and you might think quality is wasted on a beginner, but I would wish for a quality instrument so that its value is retained for the time when it has to be sold (by my survivors...).
However, before I rush out and get wool, etc., any suggestions about how someone in the third world might obtain a quality CBA (or bayan, not sure about the terminology) without having to sell the farm?
I realise I'm too old to get anything like proficient, and you might think quality is wasted on a beginner, but I would wish for a quality instrument so that its value is retained for the time when it has to be sold (by my survivors...).
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Siegmund
Well-known member
I had the same feeling in a rural part of the USA: it felt like no matter what I chose to play, I was going to be importing it from far away and self-teaching, and on that basis I wound up with the B system. But it hasn't been an impossible task, and I've been keeping copious notes, with a view to someday writing something for others who try to do the same.
It also turned out that this summer I met not one but two local folks who play CBA, living with 25km of me, a radius that encompasses perhaps 5,000 people. (Both C system - ha. And neither teaches, but they are both friendly, and as excited as I am to discover someone else nearby.)
I suspect obtaining a quality instrument is going to come down to picking a shop you trust and relying on them to ship it well. Even if I was prepared to drive ~800km to either of the two nearest big showrooms, I'd still be able to count the CBAs in stock on my fingers.
It also turned out that this summer I met not one but two local folks who play CBA, living with 25km of me, a radius that encompasses perhaps 5,000 people. (Both C system - ha. And neither teaches, but they are both friendly, and as excited as I am to discover someone else nearby.)
I suspect obtaining a quality instrument is going to come down to picking a shop you trust and relying on them to ship it well. Even if I was prepared to drive ~800km to either of the two nearest big showrooms, I'd still be able to count the CBAs in stock on my fingers.
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Don't know if helpful or not but I'm in UK and have a high quality C system CBA for sale ....I know long distance but I also know Emilio Allodi sold another of my CBAs from here to Australia as it was the only way buyer could get a decent one.....
Feel free to message me if you want to consider this route....hope that's helpful...Terry
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
I too live in a rural area (in Australia).
Over the years, I've met several old timers who've moonlighted playing piano accordion on river boats, weddings, and old-time, 50/50, 60/40 dances in community halls (people travel hundreds of kilometres to attend)).
These guys and gals would never be considered PA virtuosos perhaps, but they can belt out toe tapping and romantic dance music ( often jointly with other instrumentalist and singers), crack jokes, tell tales and hold an audience as all round entertainers.
Almost all of them began learning their instrument as a pre-teen and almost all were taught by local piano teachers, an option not readily available to CBA afficiandos.
People will say a PA isn't a piano, but they're closer than a piano and a CBA, which can be handy at times, judging by some of the posts in this thread!
Even now, piano teachers willing to double as PA teachers are still accessible in my locality.
CBA, not so much
For example:
www.gumtree.com.au
Over the years, I've met several old timers who've moonlighted playing piano accordion on river boats, weddings, and old-time, 50/50, 60/40 dances in community halls (people travel hundreds of kilometres to attend)).
These guys and gals would never be considered PA virtuosos perhaps, but they can belt out toe tapping and romantic dance music ( often jointly with other instrumentalist and singers), crack jokes, tell tales and hold an audience as all round entertainers.
Almost all of them began learning their instrument as a pre-teen and almost all were taught by local piano teachers, an option not readily available to CBA afficiandos.
People will say a PA isn't a piano, but they're closer than a piano and a CBA, which can be handy at times, judging by some of the posts in this thread!
Even now, piano teachers willing to double as PA teachers are still accessible in my locality.
CBA, not so much
For example:
PIANO ACCORDION | Keyboards & Pianos | Gumtree Australia Charles Sturt Area - Seaton | 1279488730
HELLO MY NAME IS DINA SCHIRRIPA I AM A LONG TERM MUSIC TEACHER OF THE PIANO PIANO ACORDIONTHEORY OF MUSICKEYBOARDS I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIS JUST HOW GOOD THE ..., 1279488730
www.gumtree.com.au
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Walker
🪗
Never give up hope @KiwiSqueezer, one day your button accordion dreams will come true. So, finish up with that row of knit one, purl one, and put down those knitting needles. Send Grayson Masefield a PM. He could teach button accordion or will know someone who does if he is too busy being a world class piano accordionist 
.
@losthobos has even offered you a CBA too. Wow, things are looking better already
...you are going to finish my jumper after - right?
.@losthobos has even offered you a CBA too. Wow, things are looking better already
...you are going to finish my jumper after - right?
Have a look At "leboncoin" the french e bay as it were. There are loads of beautiful secondhand accordeons on there.
If u are serious i could help u select a few within your budget and requirements.ie voices etc.
Pm me if u are interested.
Godgi
If u are serious i could help u select a few within your budget and requirements.ie voices etc.
Pm me if u are interested.
Godgi
KiwiSqueezer
Active member
Thank you for your thoughts and encouragement, and special thanks to Terry (losthobos) and Gogi for your generous offers of practical help. Sorry for the belated thanks - not ingratitude, but it's got busy here. Spring has switched on with a bang, and it's the annual battle against Nature starting, once again. I think I'd better finish the restoration of my little Paramount, before making any moves in the CBA direction. Too many balls in the air already!
stickista
Well-known member
My own entrée into CBA was an Accordina. (I recommend the Marcel Dreux Pedro)If you find some, please let us know.
Portable, so you will end up far more likely to pick it up. Really fun as well, and not a toy.
Most Accordina players play C system.
Just a thought
Observe the master…
Not a toy, indeed.
I bought one from Mercel Dreux in the graphite form and B griff.
It really is a pleasant way to pick out a tune prior to lifting a 13+ Kg box onto my knee to do the same.
Richard Galliano also plays one rather well
stickista
Well-known member
Not a toy, indeed.
I bought one from Mercel Dreux in the graphite form and B griff.
It really is a pleasant way to pick out a tune prior to lifting a 13+ Kg box onto my knee to do the same.
Richard Galliano also plays one rather well
This is my carbon fiber…
I also play a couple of Marcel Dreux accordinas. I have the Miroir (like the first one below being played by Julien Labro) and Grilles versions.
Between Richard Galliano, Julien Labro, Ludavic Beier, Olivier Manoury (second video below), and others there is a very wide range of musical styles performed at the highest level available to hear on youtube. All of these guys are also fantastic accordion and bandoneon players. For example, Julien Labro won the Coupe Mondiale. So, as others have said, the accordina is not a toy.
Between Richard Galliano, Julien Labro, Ludavic Beier, Olivier Manoury (second video below), and others there is a very wide range of musical styles performed at the highest level available to hear on youtube. All of these guys are also fantastic accordion and bandoneon players. For example, Julien Labro won the Coupe Mondiale. So, as others have said, the accordina is not a toy.
Vegard Doszko
Newbie
If you google his name there are two pictures showing him (?) posing with a three row B system instrument. Ive read somewhere that his left hand system was a type of free bass system of his own design.
AccordionUprising
Well-known member
Good catch! In early photos he does seem to be playing a B system. His later accordions had finto-piano (false piano) keyboards so it's hard to tell without the distinctive CBA markings.
This vid shows an early photo:
And yes, he designed his own bass system. It may have looked like this.
[Edit to include source: It's from Finnish Wikipedia: https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pietro_Frosini ]
Vegard Doszko
Newbie
I finaly settled on B system after a stint on both C and PA and i`m very happy with that. If you get the chance you should definitely try it.
Zevy
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Thanks. Anyone have a spare B system?
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