Hi I'm new on here, I have a blue/grey Hohner Verdi iii and wondered how much it is worth?

[Mach]

 

[Tom]

Welcome Mach! Verdis are desirable accordions because they are sturdy and dependable. Yours is pretty old, looks like maybe from the 40s or so. Problem is that accordions this old generally need restoration so the value to an accordion player is limited. I would start it at $100 and hope for the best! Good luck!

 

[JerryPH]

First off, Hohner Verdi's are the workhorses of the Hohner line along with the Tango and a couple other similar models. When new, they were affordable, reliable and sounded pretty good. Production of the Verdi line started in 1935, but a Verdi III ran from 1953 to 1961 with brief releases of the Verdi line in 1973 and 1987. Yours looks to be from the 1953-1961 years range.

That said... I have an acquaintance that recently bought a porsche cayenne turbo with the top specs over an internet auction. It looked beautiful and for a bargain price of $12,000 he snapped it up this supposed $35,000 car.

As soon as he started it, the engine made knocking noises, which turned out to be wear in the cylinder walls due to improper maintenance and cost to repair it was over $15,000 in parts and likely another $20,000 in labor!

Value of his car? Well a big negative $5000+ on a GOOD day... so basically... zero, though he *could* pay someone to take it from him if he paid enough... lol

Like cars, accordions can look good outside, but as I repeat (for likely the 100th time... lol), the value of any accordion is on the inside, not the outside. They all look nice given a 5 minute wipe down with a paper towel, but what is the condition INSIDE?

Accordions hate humidity, hate large temperature changes, hate not being used regularly and hate not having regular maintenance.

A nice looking accordion with issues inside can quickly exceed it's market value (and let's be honest, there are very limited levels of accordions who's value has more than 3 zeros on the end of it out there today, the vast majority are low end or student models, though to be fair, there are accordions out there that have a 5-digit price and value where the first digit is not 1-2-3-4 or even 5! Unfortunately, this is not one of THOSE accordions).

This accordion if in PERFECT LIKE NEW condition would be worth between $500-$700, but a valve replacement for both sides, tuning and rewaxing will easily cost you double that, and thats with a lower end budget oriented repair person. A knowledgeable professional will ask triple that without batting an eye.

 

[dak]

This accordion if in PERFECT LIKE NEW condition would be worth between $500-$700, but a valve replacement for both sides, tuning and rewaxing will easily cost you double that, and thats with a lower end budget oriented repair person. A knowledgeable professional will ask triple that without batting an eye.

As a corollary, any instrument for which someone has invested that kind of labor/effort/money will not ever be considered for reselling and will not have been put into that condition except for foolish or sentimental reasons and at a time of comparative liquidity, meaning that they will most likely appear on the market only after their owner's death which is not likely to occur anytime soon after such an instrument has been restored (nostalgia is more a thing of the heirs than its last extensive player).

So "perfect like new" condition for those low-level instruments is a unicorn. It's unlikely to be worth it to its main player, and if some non- or not-yet player indulges in the nostalgia of having it restored, they won't sell it. And once it arrives in the next generation after that, it will be unplayed long enough to no longer to be in unexpectedly good shape.

 

[Mach]

Thank you everyone for all the advice, it’s much appreciated perhaps I’ll just keep it for sentimental reasons.

 

[Tom]

Thank you everyone for all the advice, it’s much appreciated perhaps I’ll just keep it for sentimental reasons.

Why not play it? It’s really easy. I could show you how. Unless you’re already an accordionist and could show me a thing or two. Good luck!

 

[JerryPH]

Thank you everyone for all the advice, it’s much appreciated perhaps I’ll just keep it for sentimental reasons.

Sentimental reasons is nice, but like Tom said, why not dive in and have a ton of fun in the process?

 

[dak]

Sentimental reasons is nice, but like Tom said, why not dive in and have a ton of fun in the process?

Taking up smoking can be cheaper. I started with an underpriced €80 random beater. Then got a €300 instrument in tune that I didn't like and sold at quite a loss. I had the beater restored and retuned at a cost point above €1200 (it was actually a solid GDR instrument and is still in family possession since my niece took up accordion in school). Then I got a nice-sounding lady-size instrument at maybe €800 (a Contello with super-sweet sound). Then I decided to change to CBA. Start over. The most expensive instrument I acquired was a CBA for about €600 that was unsellable for decades and just sold for a pittance by the storekeeper. The problem was that it wasn't in tune anymore and the bass was seized up due to grease residue. And for about a day I mulled over whether to send it back. I decided to keep it. Expensive decision that I never regretted.

In particular since it ended my search for instruments. And a Morino Club diatonic for trying out. I only bought a small French one for stand-up performances. And a MIDIfied CBA for note entry and use with a Leslie. And a CBA arranger keyboard also for entering MIDI and more versatile electronic play. And a Roland for convenience.

But that were just trailing-off purchases. By now it's been probably a decade or so I went without buying another accordion. And I even sold one or two.

Anyway: you've been warned.

 

[JerryPH]

Taking up smoking may be cheaper short term, but without good health, one is unable to enjoy life, much less even play accordion.

I'm at 16 accordions (each with their own story and the majority having huge sentimental value), on my two shelves yet I have sincerely felt complete for near a year now and this is my limit. I am immensely content with my choices. Besides, after a Hohner Gola, for me there is nothing else left... lol

 

[dak]

Taking up smoking may be cheaper short term, but without good health, one is unable to enjoy life, much less even play accordion.

I'm at 16 accordions (each with their own story and the majority having huge sentimental value), on my two shelves yet I have sincerely felt complete for near a year now and this is my limit. I am immensely content with my choices. Besides, after a Hohner Gola, for me there is nothing else left... lol

And one wouldn't want to smoke next to a rack of good accordions anyway.

 

[Tom]

I have been given at least 10 accordions since I bought my Roland. All beautiful machines, but too much. I think I have 8 left, total. Maybe 9. I would like to buy a beater, restorable cassotto that sounds like a ringin’ the bell.