• If you haven't done so already, please add a location to your profile. This helps when people are trying to assist you, suggest resources, etc. Thanks (Click the "X" to the top right of this message to disable it)

Gabbanelli

Status
Not open for further replies.

wayne

Member
Joined
May 28, 2021
Messages
30
Reaction score
11
Location
USA
Has anyone played a Gabbanelli? Some of their instruments are a little more costly than other "affordable" brands. Are they good, better or equivalent to other mid range costing models? ($4000.00) plus or minus.
 
I think they are made by International Music Company (formerly SEM) along with Piermaria accordions.
Thank you for the reply. Correct me if I am wrong, but Gabbanelli has a shop in Texas where they are supposedly hand made. They do have alesser priced line that is manufactured in China (Norteña brand). I am curious about the made in Texas instruments. Is International Music Company a reputable accordion maker?, I don't know of them.
 
I should clarify, I had questions regarding this company a year ago when purchasing a button accordion, ended up going with another brand. Now I am looking for a piano accordion. Has anyone had first hand experience playing or owning a Gabbanelli? (not the Norteño models).
 
Thank you for the reply. Correct me if I am wrong, but Gabbanelli has a shop in Texas where they are supposedly hand made. They do have alesser priced line that is manufactured in China (Norteña brand). I am curious about the made in Texas instruments. Is International Music Company a reputable accordion maker?, I don't know of them.
Hard to know what is what these days. IMC was at some point rumored to have gone out of business, but then they also appeared to still be operational. It was also rumored that the Hohner Mattia line (more or less a Morino replacement after it became clear that customers didn't really want the Morino line made by Pigini)... It's hard to know things for certain without checking what is really going on in and around Castelfidardo. There are a number of companies that make accordions only under brand names that are not their own name. IMC is one of them. You cannot buy an IMC-labeled accordion. The Italian-made Gabbanelli must be made by one of these companies, perhaps IMC, perhaps someone else. All these companies make pretty good accordions. All these accordions contain at least 90% components from "standard" suppliers. If you're lucky they have made the shell and the reed blocks themselves and everything else is likely pretty generic (which doesn't mean bad at all!).
 
Hard to know what is what these days. IMC was at some point rumored to have gone out of business, but then they also appeared to still be operational. It was also rumored that the Hohner Mattia line (more or less a Morino replacement after it became clear that customers didn't really want the Morino line made by Pigini)... It's hard to know things for certain without checking what is really going on in and around Castelfidardo. There are a number of companies that make accordions only under brand names that are not their own name. IMC is one of them. You cannot buy an IMC-labeled accordion. The Italian-made Gabbanelli must be made by one of these companies, perhaps IMC, perhaps someone else. All these companies make pretty good accordions. All these accordions contain at least 90% components from "standard" suppliers. If you're lucky they have made the shell and the reed blocks themselves and everything else is likely pretty generic (which doesn't mean bad at all!).
Thanks for the reply, so the Gabbanelli accordions supposedly "made in Texas", are not hand made made in the USA?
 
Thanks for the reply, so the Gabbanelli accordions supposedly "made in Texas", are not hand made made in the USA?
Can you tell me where, on the Gabbanelli website, it mentions “made in Texas” or “made in USA.” I was not able to find it. I did see that the Norteño brand, as you mentioned, is made in China. And I noticed, that the description for some of the Gabbinelli boxes sometimes includes vague text like “from highly trained Italian artisans” which suggests Italian involvement at some level.
 
Ah, you may be right, assumption on my part trying to understand the manufacturing process. I did noticed quotes on their page referring to the original owner as well as the current owner; He has commissioned and trained a team of Italian artisans to manufacture the accordions based on a very strict set of specifications...He learned the craft from his father, the late John Gabbanelli...but, no I don't see anywhere that they are actually made in the USA (or Texas for that matter). I might have to call the shop and ask.
 
Thanks for the reply, so the Gabbanelli accordions supposedly "made in Texas", are not hand made made in the USA?
No, I'm not saying that. The Gabbanelli in Texas may be completely unrelated to the Italian Gabbanelli, or it may be the same. I don't know and it's hard to find out.
 
No, I'm not saying that. The Gabbanelli in Texas may be completely unrelated to the Italian Gabbanelli, or it may be the same. I don't know and it's hard to find out.
Hi, according to their web site John Gabbanelli arrived from Italy in 1961 and started their company in Texas. Not for sure how he is related to the family in Italy. That was info on their website.
 
The web said they are made in Houston Tx.
I have not seen anything on the website saying that any manufacturing is done in the US. The store is in the US, but none of the US employees mentioned are responsible for production, they are only involved in the areas having to do with business management and customer service.
 
I have not seen anything on the website saying that any manufacturing is done in the US. The store is in the US, but none of the US employees mentioned are responsible for production, they are only involved in the areas having to do with business management and customer service.
Hi, I may be way off but I looked for gabbanelli accordions texas. Their site come up and told about their beginning. Have pictures of owners and sales staff. Anyway maybe I'm looking at the wrong Gabbanelli accordion.
 
I have not seen anything on the website saying that any manufacturing is done in the US. The store is in the US, but none of the US employees mentioned are responsible for production, they are only involved in the areas having to do with business management and customer service.
You have a point, I see the shop stuff but maybe that is a repair service.
 
OK, so back to my question, does anyone own one, play one, or can speak of the quality or lack thereof for the instrument?
 
Gabbanelli has been a "caveat emptor" label for a long time. Both the name
and the decorations enjoyed legendary status and cachet with U.S. Tex-Mex players of bisonoric button accordions for years, maybe still. But word has long been, they are way overpriced for what is given, and serious QC issues abound.



There used to be a very active forum focused on Tex-Mex accordion, and threads featured lots of Intel on Gabbanelli. Supposedly way back when there was a respectable Gabbanelli accordion concern in Italy whose decorated, folks tuned accordions had lots of sentimental loyalty among US folk players, especially along the Mexican border. Apparently there was a falling out eons ago by Italian Gabbanelli brothers. One, who was older even back then, was supposedly left making quality boxes in Italy under a different marque, either Brillingham or Monterrey, can't recall. The other sibling was in the US marketing boxes made on contract by various Italian workshops as "Gabbanelli" accordions. The US brother's outfit was\is notorious for misleading spec representations, such as "finest handmade reeds," for ridiculously priced accordions made and shipped with ordinary Durall reeds. Issues with shoddy fitting and voicing, lots of stuff.



Word was that the even more expensive Hohner Anacleto line of button and piano accordions was developed in reaction to all that, to offer Tex-Mex players a genuine blue-chip quality instrument with high-end Binci or other a mano reeds, full decorative splendor, finest build quality, etc. There may even have been a rumor the Italy-side Gabbanelli brother was making the Anacletos, I forget all the twists and turns in the saga. That forum disappeared not long after its founder host became a collaborator to Hohner on the Anacleto line. No clue if he's still involved.



But it's "Buyer beware," as to Gabbi's. Don't over-pay. Don't buy without having it gone over by a tech, and don't buy new without a written (not phone) spec as to reed quality grade.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top