I went from a 12 button to a 24 button piano accordion and finally decided to take lessons

[Jeanninerose]

Greetings from hot and humid Virginia! I am an organist/pianist who was roped into playing the accordion for my husband's family "Czech Singers" for a festival. I started with a 12 button piano accordion but was obviously lacking the minor keys. Went with a used Excalibur 24 button piano accordion (I'm sure some of you are cringing and I get it!) which worked but is extremely limited. I decided to get serious about this instrument and have begun lessons with a wonderful teacher (who is in the process of breaking all of my bad self taught habits). Only because I already read music, I blew through the Palmer book 1 in a week and am halfway through book 2. I'm at the point where they introduce 7ths...which I don't have. I'm currently borrowing a beautiful instrument- a 120 base La Tosca. However, it does weigh about 26 lbs and I'm wondering if it is too much of an instrument to move up to at this point? I play a lot of Balkan, folk...and the accordion has found its way into church to play some gospel. I was thinking of a lighter weight 60 or 72 button instrument - or even a 48 button? Would appreciate the thoughts of others on this forum.

Thanks!

 

[Ventura]

La Tosca, which were distributed by Gretch musical
instruments as their own brand, typically were better
quality than the average student line of accordions..
if you become accustomed to the feel and sound of this
one, you may find it quite difficult to be happy with the
typical smaller old/used accordions available around here

i am assuming at 26 pounds that it is a typical 4/5 reed LMMH
which was the most common configuration back then

new smaller accordions are being built for a more
discriminating market and can give you something to
grow with and into, but can be expensive

if you get up this way sometime, there are several
mid-weight 3 reed treble accordions around for you to
try for size/feel/heft/balance and if you make it to a club meeting
next fall can find a few there usually to try too..

as a musician, if you prefer to not be limited by any genre
the La Tosca will be better.. if you wish to mostly support
the Balkan or Gospe then a small accordion targeted to the
appropriate sound is better

there are a few people here who own specifically Balkan
type accordions, which are quite unique

 

[Jeanninerose]

Ah... when you mean "up this way", where are you located and are you an accordion store? I am definitely looking for a mid weight accordion as I am doing quite a bit more lugging my instrument to family gatherings and festivals. Thanks for the tips!