Hi, new here from South Australia

[Dingo40]

Hi one and all!<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>
I’m from out of Adelaide in South Australia.
I’ve always had an interest (but not much talent, or indeed opportunity) for playing the accordion since, as a very small boy of five, I sat by the feet of an accordionist playing for a local dance band in our “United Nations Displaced Petsons Camp” in Germany, where we had lobbed at the end of WW2<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>
Nevertheless, I have taken some lessons from various accordion teachers, acquired several instruments, and always taken any opportunity to build a collection of music specifically scored for the piano accordion, though -admittedly- somewhat ‘vintage’ in character though, personally I love it!<EMOJI seq="1f604">?</EMOJI>

 

[JEBrown]

Hello Dingo, sounds like you have some interesting history there! Welcome to the forum. What style of music do you prefer to play - or is it a little bit of everything?

 

[Dingo40]

Thanks for the welcome, JEBrown!<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>
In spite of my long Association with the accordion, I’m really only at an intermediate learner stage, so I’ll attempt anything within my capabilities , which isn’t saying much<EMOJI seq="1f604">?</EMOJI>, but mostly easy versions of old standards: a bit of everything <EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>. So far,
I’ve proved to be a better collector than a player.<EMOJI seq="1f604">?</EMOJI>

 

[Soulsaver]

" I’ve proved to be a better collector than a player..."
Same here. And yep, I love to (try to) play all the traditional accordion stuff, too.
Welcome to the fold(s).
Is it PA you play? What have you got in your collection?

 

[Dingo40]

Soulsaver,
All mine are 120 bassPAs.
There are 8 in all<EMOJI seq="1f610">?</EMOJI>(They multiply like rabbits!)
Five have 19 inch keyboards, one 17 inch, one 16.75 inch, and one I got for my my daughters (when young) of about 14 inches, which I can scarcely manage on a good day!
Three are 4/5 reeds, the rest 3/4.
Two are LMMH, one LMMM, the rest LMM.
The makers are Sonola, Scandalli, Giulietti, Busillachio...
The Busillachio is an impulse garage sale “bargain” buy forA$20-00<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>, which eventually cost me another $600-00 and more in repairs and a secondhand case, a 3/4 LMM, two treble couplers, instrument which, now, is in good order and fun to play. But I wouldn’t like to repeat the experience of “fixing” another!<EMOJI seq="1f604">?</EMOJI>
The Busillachio is in off-white pearl 1/16th inch solid all the way throug celluloid, something you’ll not see anymore these days!
I’ve, also, managed to acquire a very satisfying quantity of music scored for the PA: hope springs eternal and ambition knows no bounds!<EMOJI seq="1f603">?</EMOJI>

 

[Sebastian Bravo]

Hi Dingo40, Welcome to the forum!

I'm interested in your Busillachio Accordion, can you post a photo?
i think a photo of your whole collection would be amazing!

Cheers, Sebastian!

 

[Dingo40]

Hi Sebastian,
I’d love to oblige, but I’m operating from an iPhone and have no third party access and very limited internet savvy, so not able to perform the necessary operation, sorry<EMOJI seq="1f615">?</EMOJI>.
Despite the extensive sequence of repairs I had to undertake in fixing this accordion, I am impressed with the brand and have been quite tempted to purchase examples of other models that have come through a local repairer/dealer in used (and new) stock. However, I always retained because I was already adequately supplied!
Now, unfortunately I have missed my chance, as the dealer has suddenly retired for health issues.
I will still have one more chance as his extensive stock is coming up for a clearance sale next month. Ahhh, temptations, temptations...<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>

 

[Howie]

Hello Dingo,

Welcome to the forum!

I was passing through your part of SA a few days ago. I was born in SA but moved inter-state early in life. I envy your collection - I have only two, a Scandalli PA and a B.Loffet diatonic. But, I can only play one at a time, so I have no complaints

Murray Bridge is a nice part of the world, hope you escaped the worst of the recent weather.

cheers Howie

 

[Dingo40]

Hi Howie!
Thanks for the welcome<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>
I also have a Scandalli LMMM, “Gold Series” 41/120, from the fifties, in “quint” tuning (I was told by Rawnee Pierce, one of our major accordion Gurus), and one of my favourite instruments.
Actually, we did have a few days around 40deg F<EMOJI seq="1f605">?</EMOJI>, but with an air conditioner turned up, playing the accordion greatly helps to pass the time!<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI><EMOJI seq="1f44d">?</EMOJI>
So, where are you at now?
Murray Bridge is on the way to very many places “out East”<EMOJI seq="1f642">?</EMOJI>.
A sad development in Adelaide is the sudden retirement of Ron and Rawnee Pierce and the closing of “Ron Pierce Music”, due to health reasons, a Mecca and Aladdin’s cave for accordionists Australia wide.
Not only were lessons, sheet music, and instruments (new and second hand) available, but instruments needing some TLC could be expertly, quickly and reasonably repaired/restored to full health! The passing of an era!<EMOJI seq="1f610">?</EMOJI>

 

[Howie]

Hi Dingo,

Scandallis sound lovely to me. That's just as well since over here at least, it's one of the only brands available to buy a range of, aside from numbers of (often over-priced) second hand accordions.

I live in Central Victoria, I moved over here in the early 80's to get work and never moved back. I pass through Murray Bridge many times of course to travel and visit relatives, and a friend of mine was born there too.

I didn't know that Ron Pierce Music had closed, that's sad. It was one of the stores I regularly browsed when I was looking for an accordion. I suppose you know about music junction over here in Camberwell? Palmi there is a very helpful fellow, and although the accordion room isn't large, it's packed with new and second hand accordions, all of which Palmi is happy to let customers play test. He's a pretty good player himself. As for repairs, he can do simple ones I believe but not more extensive work. Yet, like many, Palmi is getting on in years and so if you want to visit it's best to ring first and make sure he's in, or make an appointment. He came in for me on a weekend because I couldn't travel down during the week.

As for accordion stores - I wonder if any new ones will ever open up in Australia, or whether the number will slowly dwindle to the point that we'll end up with nowhere to go and admire, talk about and dream about that "One More Accordion".

cheers