Hohner Carmen III ???

[Sylvie]

I still have zero knowledge and still love accordion. So, I wanted something that I could buy at a starting price, but have no regret if it did not work for me. I found that little one for $200. Evething works and it is on tune. You can tell that it was well cared for. From the list of Hohner that I found on this forum, I am assuming that it is a 1930s Carmen III because of the 48 basses. Is that right ?
I can manage it much better than the Titano and am starting to learn my basses location, although the hand strap is a little loose for my hand and there are only two adjustments for it.

I have a little question. On one photo, you can see a little screw eye, which is on the bottom, directly below the keyboard. It does not make sense to me that it is located on the spot that the accordion should rest on your right thigh. Should I just pull it ? Thank you

 

[32251]

If you “pull” that eye hook, be prepared for every key on the accordion to blast off of it. Lol! That is the axle shaft that all the keys pivot on.

 

[Glug]

You can get a plate to screw on to cover the axle ends.
eg.

hardware misc.

hardware misc.

 

[Dingo40]

Should I just pull it ? Thank you

NO, NO, NO!
Do not touch!
It's the protruding end of the axle-rod which extends the whole length of the keyboard on which all your right hand keys are threaded!
As has already been said above.
Nice looking instrument: congratulations !

 

[PhiliGol]

Hi Sylvie
As already mentioned this is the key axle - not a good idea to pull it out.
Typically this is covered by a little metal plate which might got lost.
On the other hand: this little cover-plates are typically fixed by 1 or 2 screws - but I can't discover any screw-holes.
Btw: is there such a plate "on the other end" - the top side of the keyboard?
If not eventually it wasn't there (since not needed) on the lower side as well for the past decades.
Therefore prior adding such device which requires drilling a hole I'd recommend to give it a try to gently "push back" the central axle.
Take a stick of hard wood which doesn't leave any marks in the box's case and carefully push.

 

[Ventura]

an accordion that old and fragile if it works good don't mess with ANYthing
until you have to

for the looseness in the bass strap, just stop at an auto parts or dollar store and get a cream
colored seat belt shoulder strap pad and wrap it around.. the velro strip holds it on
but it will still slide up or down easily while it takes up a bit of the looseness

 

[Sylvie]

Thank you guy, for saving me from myself LOL ! Thanks @Glug, I will try to find something like that. No, @PhiliGol, there are no screw hole, and no screw or hole on the other side. Maybe they did not put the plate at the time. For now, I put a stiff styrofoam piece over it to protect my clothing/thigh. My guess is that since it is a light accordion, maybe it was expected to be played only standing up. Thanks to @Dingo40 for your reply and @Ventura, I will follow your advice for the strap. Since I intend to play my Carmen until it dies on me, I think I might glue some kind of plate over the screw and try to make it removable if need be, instead of screwing. I have no strenght at all and need to play sitting. Boy, clothing cost an arm and a leg now a day !
I will figure a solution now that I know NOT to pull the screw
Happy New Year to you all. It looks like I will stick here for a while!

 

[Dingo40]

will figure a solution now that I know NOT to pull the screw
Happy New Year to you all. It looks like I will stick here for a while!

In many older accordions ( I have one such) the axle rod sticks out at the bottom without a cover.
The simplest way to protect your lap/clothes could be to place a folded hand towel across your lap, under the accordion, when playing.
Having the rod protrude some is actually advantageous as it is easier to grip it in case of needing to remove it at some time eg, for keyboard repairs.

 

[dak]

Since I intend to play my Carmen until it dies on me, I think I might glue some kind of plate over the screw and try to make it removable if need be, instead of screwing. I have no strenght at all and need to play sitting. Boy, clothing cost an arm and a leg now a day !

I had the opposite problem: clothing (a corset locking button, don't ask) damaging the bellows. Whatever your accordion did to your clothing, you probably got off cheap.

 

[Rosie C]

I had the opposite problem: clothing (a corset locking button, don't ask) damaging the bellows.

Same! My mandocello has damage to the rear from a corset

 

[dak]

Same! My mandocello has damage to the rear from a corset

If I ever perform in that outfit again, I'll tape off the button row.

 

[Scuromondo]

Most accordions have a smooth cap which covers the axle, like this. It’s possible that you might be able to install one yourself if you continue to be bothered by the exposed axle.

Accordion Accordian Keyboard Axle Oval COVER PLATE Chromed | eBay

Price is for one plate only, screws are included.

www.ebay.com

 

[Snoopz]

If I ever perform in that outfit again, I'll tape off the button row.

For some reason, I'd really like to know why you performed in a corset...

 

[dak]

For some reason, I'd really like to know why you performed in a corset...

Because I am an alto singer and the typical audience for a light-mused program is too inflexible to deal with a female voice type from a male singer without experiencing an existential crisis and not being able to enjoy themselves. Been there, done that. And I have quite the male body shape (I do rock climbing). The corset is a significant part of recasting the body image, though it does need the aid of a bolero to mask the massively broad shoulders.

Why do you think I am so pessimistic about a mainstream audience being able to appreciate saxophone sounds (say) from an accordion-shaped controller?

 

[Snoopz]

Why do you think I am so pessimistic about a mainstream audience being able to appreciate saxophone sounds (say) from an accordion-shaped controller?

I believe you’re right in that regard. I watched some of the V-Accordion videos posted here as well as over on YouTube and I really do feel a little „unease“ when sounds other than accordion or obviously electronic are used. There is the video used for the promotion of the Roland fr-4x where this Swedish player uses guitar sounds to show off the capabilities and it just feels wrong somehow, even though I’ve been playing with electronic music generation on and off for more than twenty years and should be used to things sounding unexpectedly.

With singers it’s not so bad - I myself have a rather high singing voice, so I’m used to it I don’t have experience singing for any kind of larger audience though, so I really can’t say whether it’s an issue or not.

 

[debra]

I know it's already an older thread, but glancing through the replies so far it seems nobody has mentioned yet that the end of the keyboard should NOT be resting on your right thigh! the left shoulder strap should be shorter (and the right strap longer) so the whole accordion moves more towards the left and the keyboard will just "hang" between your legs, with the bellows supported on your left thigh.
When you stretch your right arm out to the right, and then bend the forearm all the way back your fingers should land right on the keyboard. That is an indication that the accordion is far enough to the left. Another test is to lower your chin and it should land right over the keyboard (right about where the black keys end).

 

[dak]

With singers it’s not so bad - I myself have a rather high singing voice, so I’m used to it I don’t have experience singing for any kind of larger audience though, so I really can’t say whether it’s an issue or not.

Well, it's not just the pitch. I am a natural bass-baritone. My alto range is a reinforced falsetto (so more the Kowalski type than the Scholl type). In pop, one strategy to keep the audience in their expectation range with that voice type is to go for a squeaky flamboyant style like Prince. Not my genre, not my thing. I did a rather straight act in "World Music" genres.

 

[John M]

. . .There is the video used for the promotion of the Roland fr-4x where this Swedish player uses guitar sounds to show off the capabilities and it just feels wrong somehow,. . .

I don't know the song the Swedish player was using the guitar sound on. I feel it is extremely important to fit the instrument sound to the song you are playing. For me, the accordion is the classic instrument for a polka.

This is what I really like about the Rolland 8X. I don't l know what tone/sound would be better on the Hawaiian Wedding song or Aloa-Oe than the guitar sound I have set up on my 8X when I roll the 6th and 3rd notes and use the dynamic bellows for expression.

 

[dak]

This is what I really like about the Rolland 8X. I don't l know what tone/sound would be better on the Hawaiian Wedding song or Aloa-Oe than the guitar sound I have set up on my 8X when I roll the 6th and 3rd notes and use the dynamic bellows for expression.

Accordion would be kind of an unusual choice for a ceremony, and at the reception/party wedding songs would be kind of unusual (there are a few must-haves like the waltz opening the dance floor).

Mind you, my sister made that choice for the ceremony, but it was my acoustic one that pitched in for the (non-existent) organ with the Mendelssohn wedding march at the entrance of the bridal pair, and a number of other acoustic instruments played by friends of them during the ceremony.

I consider it likely that landing that kind of gig with an accordion (electronic or acoustic) mostly happens when there are considerable personal relations involved. I don't think it is a common choice.

The party, by the way, had a DJ, and that's real competition for electronic instruments of the kind where the audience is challenged making the visual association between player and sound anyway.

 

[Helun]

then bend the forearm all the way back your fingers should land right on the keyboard. That is an indication that the accordion is far enough to the left. Another test is to lower your chin and it should land right over the keyboard (right about where the black keys end).

Thanks a lot for this advice, it have solved a big issue with my new Weltmeister Rubin.
Have chosen it because of the weight and fairly amount of keys/bass, my old accordion is 8,7 kg. The balance of Weltmeister seemed so (unacceptable) loud in the bass, but to move the bellow a good amount leftwards has given a much better balance.