I checked out these

[Elizabeth]

I spent some time in a real live accordion store a few days ago, and played several accordions, including the petosa 950 and the petosa Antico. The 950 is 3 reed and has a compact body and simply feels good. The Antico is cute, its a modern accordion but has a bit of styling reminiscent of a 1920s accordion. I never knew how hard it was to figure out do i want 3 reed or 4 reed? Do i really like the picoolo reed?These are both 96 bass.

Is anyone familiar with either of these?
Has anyone found it difficult to transfer from a traditional black and white keyboard to one where the keyboard side was just dark- black or gray?

You can only try out accordions for so long before your brain gets saturated! I did briefly try the cba- now that was fun! I think i could get into giving that a go!

 

[Longshore]

can only try out accordions for so long before your brain gets saturated! I did briefly try the cba- now that was fun! I think i could get into giving that a go!

I find it hard to remember my 'red lines' when I'm surrounded by a plethora of desirable accordions.
And yes, CBA's are indeed great fun...

 

[JeffJetton]

Has anyone found it difficult to transfer from a traditional black and white keyboard to one where the keyboard side was just dark- black or gray?

Since you almost never look at the keys when you play anyway (right? ), I wouldn't imagine it makes much difference what color they are.

Anyway, I'm jealous. I haven't set foot in a shop with a decent selection of accordions in years!

BTW, I have just one accordion with a piccolo reed and I rarely use it. It does come in handy for when I want that big, full "pipe organ" sound. But other than that... meh.

 

[96Bass]

I spent some time in a real live accordion store a few days ago, and played several accordions, including the petosa 950 and the petosa Antico. The 950 is 3 reed and has a compact body and simply feels good. The Antico is cute, its a modern accordion but has a bit of styling reminiscent of a 1920s accordion. I never knew how hard it was to figure out do i want 3 reed or 4 reed? Do i really like the picoolo reed?These are both 96 bass.

Is anyone familiar with either of these?
Has anyone found it difficult to transfer from a traditional black and white keyboard to one where the keyboard side was just dark- black or gray?

You can only try out accordions for so long before your brain gets saturated! I did briefly try the cba- now that was fun! I think i could get into giving that a go!

The 950 and Antico are both 96 bass but the 950 is 36 keys F-E, and the Antico is 37 keys G-G.
I personally dislike the dark keyboards and it will take some getting accustomed to. I am guessing that you are looking at the battleship grey floor demo. For the extra $200 I would get the classic black with white keys. Remember, black is the supreme color for an accordion.
None of my accordions have piccolo reeds. I don’t miss having them. It really is a choice depending on the type of music you play and the sound you personally like.
The price would indicate that the 950 is better quality although both accordions appear to be top quality instruments. The 950 is more compact and the Antico is a bit more capable with 1 more piano key and a 4th set of treble reeds.
The Antico is also sold in Europe under the Zero Sette badge.

 

[Elizabeth]

Since you almost never look at the keys when you play anyway (right? ), I wouldn't imagine it makes much difference what color they are.

Anyway, I'm jealous. I haven't set foot in a shop with a decent selection of accordions in years!

BTW, I have just one accordion with a piccolo reed and I rarely use it. It does come in handy for when I want that big, full "pipe organ" sound. But other than that... meh.

Hey thanks jeff-you know i think that is one accordion capability that i have, not looking at the keyboard. My 30 yr old son thinks the dark keyboard accordion is particularly attractive and edgy..
I played a 3 reed accord tor over a decade before even knowing a piccolo reed existed.

 

[Elizabeth]

The 950 and Antico are both 96 bass but the 950 is 36 keys F-E, and the Antico is 37 keys G-G.
I personally dislike the dark keyboards and it will take some getting accustomed to. I am guessing that you are looking at the battleship grey floor demo. For the extra $200 I would get the classic black with white keys. Remember, black is the supreme color for an accordion.
None of my accordions have piccolo reeds. I don’t miss having them. It really is a choice depending on the type of music you play and the sound you personally like.
The price would indicate that the 950 is better quality although both accordions appear to be top quality instruments. The 950 is more compact and the Antico is a bit more capable with 1 more piano key and a 4th set of treble reeds.
The Antico is also sold in Europe under the Zero Sette badge.

Oh thanks, great intormation.
Actually i was liking the titanium bLack one, not the battleship grey, which looks too much like a battle ship. I like the classic better, but quite attracted to the titanium black.
I didnt know the antico sold under the zero sette badge,and i didn't know they were called badges. And i didn't know black wad supreme!
And that is part of the problem…i dont know what i like sometimes!

 

[Siegmund]

Am envious of your shopping trip, whatever the outcome.

All of the color / key color / piccolo reed choices are personal and I doubt we can help you make up your mind If we are voting, one more vote here for 'you arent supposed to look at the keys anyway so no need for them to be a familiar color' with a dash of 'go for the 18th century harpischord look' thrown in.

As for the reeds, I personally use the H more than the musette --- my current accordion is LMMH but tuned much too wet for my taste so I diligently avoid adding the M+. If forced to go down to 3 reeds I would take LMH over LMM but if the advertising brochures are to be believed I might be in a very small minority for that.

 

[Elizabeth]

Yes, although the choices are mine, it is fun to read a discussion about, and to hear thoughts snd read about experiences of many aspects of accordions and playing. I always learn and greatly appreciate the community and different points of view; and the humor!
I just might need s few more hours, or more, sampling accordions.

 

[Siegmund]

I just might need a few more hours, or more, sampling accordions.

What do you mean, "might"?

You will need that even after you buy this one, and your next one and the one after that!

 

[jozz]

looking at the site of Petosa, I would go for the black w. gold trim for both types, maybe seeing it in real life would change that

the piccolo reed is an extra option but sacrifices cassotto in this case:
- it appears the 950 has a double-cassotto and the Antico doesn't have cassotto??

so that makes the final choice the 950 in black/gold for me

 

[96Bass]

looking at the site of Petosa, I would go for the black w. gold trim for both types, maybe seeing it in real life would change that

the piccolo reed is an extra option but sacrifices cassotto in this case:
- it appears the 950 has a double-cassotto and the Antico doesn't have cassotto??

so that makes the final choice the 950 in black/gold for me

Very good observations jozz.

 

[Elizabeth]

What do you mean, "might"?

You will need that even after you buy this one, and your next one and the one after that!

You are so so so right!!! Argh!

 

[96Bass]

Oh thanks, great intormation.
Actually i was liking the titanium bLack one, not the battleship grey, which looks too much like a battle ship. I like the classic better, but quite attracted to the titanium black.
I didnt know the antico sold under the zero sette badge,and i didn't know they were called badges. And i didn't know black wad supreme!
And that is part of the problem…i dont know what i like sometimes!

Other finishes can be very nice but black is the ultimate color for an accordion.
Kind of like comparing a color tux to a black tux.
I like the looks of a reverse color keyboard, black natural keys and white sharp/flat keys. But I don’t care at all when all keys are the same color with no contrast.
Here is the Zero Sette Antico. There are no Zero Sette dealers in the US.
The Antico is available from Petosa in the US.

 

[dan]

And that is part of the problem…i dont know what i like sometimes!

Well then you need to fritter away more time watching accordion videos until you figure out what you like! ? seriously the video demos on Petosa (and also Liberty Bellows) are a good way to get familiar with different features. But what fun to shop in person!

 

[Elizabeth]

I will watch more of those demos!
Hopefully it will be a fun endeavor.
But as far as my accordion playing future goes,i wont know a lot until after this hand surgery is done, a “salvage” procedure, to restore some function and stability to a chronic torn scaphoid lunate ligament.

 

[debra]

Other finishes can be very nice but black is the ultimate color for an accordion.
Kind of like comparing a color tux to a black tux.
I like the looks of a reverse color keyboard, black natural keys and white sharp/flat keys. But I don’t care at all when all keys are the same color with no contrast.
Here is the Zero Sette Antico. There are no Zero Sette dealers in the US.
The Antico is available from Petosa in the US.

I don't particularly like this antique look... but if you want to play one and do it sitting down you should consider where you rest the accordion on your legs. The shape of the body at the high-note end of the keyboard may be uncomfortable except when you place the accordion far enough to the left to have the keyboard rest on your right leg. You have to consider whether this is how you already hold an accordion. The keyboard a bit further to the right is not an option as it will really hurt...

 

[Elizabeth]

Good point, i hadnt even thought about how that antique shape might feel. Thanks for pointing that out. The accordion that really had a nice feel to it was the 950. It’s compact, it doesnt weigh less thsn my 120 but it feels a bit lighter and it fits a bit better because of its compactness.