MMAC
Newbie
Should I be able to see light through the corners of my bellows ? Through the little leather or skin inserts in the corners ?
I saw the Light !
- Thread starter MMAC
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MMAC
Newbie
Thanks Tom,
I was wondering about light being visible. It may have no bearing on the air tightness at all. I am brand new to this but I find it fascinating. But then I'm the guy who as a kid took apart a lot of alarm clocks.
I was wondering about light being visible. It may have no bearing on the air tightness at all. I am brand new to this but I find it fascinating. But then I'm the guy who as a kid took apart a lot of alarm clocks.
Yeah, hard to really say without experiencing it directly. You will know if the accordion is losing too much when you play it. If no problem, then no problem! Because those leather corners can be tricky to deal with, especially on old accordions. Good luck!!!!
I was expecting an accordion cover of Hank Williams in this thread!
What you saw is called "the light at the end of the tunnel". We used to have one this side of the pond but it got turned off as part of the government budget cutting measures.
What you saw is called "the light at the end of the tunnel". We used to have one this side of the pond but it got turned off as part of the government budget cutting measures.
MMAC
Newbie
Thanks Tom,
I think I'll leave well enough alone with the skin corners. This one has all leather valves and I am conflicted about replacing all with plastic. I understand plastic is more noisy and these leather ones are all laying down pretty good. So, I will probably leave that alone too. "Don't fix it if it ain't broke."
I think I'll leave well enough alone with the skin corners. This one has all leather valves and I am conflicted about replacing all with plastic. I understand plastic is more noisy and these leather ones are all laying down pretty good. So, I will probably leave that alone too. "Don't fix it if it ain't broke."
That's funny Ttalbot
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MMAC
Newbie
Sorry T Cabot
Those leathers are gonners.
On plastic vs leather:
Yes, leather is marginally better, but only if they are very fresh valves, very high quality and their thicknesses are very well matched to the reeds.
If you can't ensure all 3 of these conditions, you're better with plastic, imho...And no, just because you bought the valves from an accordion shop yesterday doesn't make them "fresh" - they could have been kept in a box for 10 years.
For higher notes (most trebles apart from lowest octave of a 41-key PA) plastic is just as good as the best leathers.
It's just the lower notes where leather makes a difference.
For your very first overhaul just go with plastic. There will be so many other things going wrong that valve material will be the least of your concern.
On plastic vs leather:
Yes, leather is marginally better, but only if they are very fresh valves, very high quality and their thicknesses are very well matched to the reeds.
If you can't ensure all 3 of these conditions, you're better with plastic, imho...And no, just because you bought the valves from an accordion shop yesterday doesn't make them "fresh" - they could have been kept in a box for 10 years.
For higher notes (most trebles apart from lowest octave of a 41-key PA) plastic is just as good as the best leathers.
It's just the lower notes where leather makes a difference.
For your very first overhaul just go with plastic. There will be so many other things going wrong that valve material will be the least of your concern.
MMAC
Newbie
Thanks Mr. Cabot. I appreciate your suggestions. Wish I could buy small amounts of plastic valves. Enough for 1 accordion instead of boxes of different sizes. I'm not going into the Accordion repair business lol
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