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Introducing Myself

afuller5

Newbie
Joined
Dec 5, 2024
Messages
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Location
Metro Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Hi all,

I'm new here. Thank you for allowing me to join the Forum. I thought I would introduce myself. (I tend to be wordy :), sorry.)

I play piano and organ at my church and have been doing so for about 40 years. About 30 years ago, I bought a used piano accordion--a Castiglione 41/120, 2/4, LM, 15-inch keyboard red student model. I taught myself the basics from Palmer-Hughes. Since I play piano/organ, I found the small keyboard a little hard to play. So after about a year, I ordered a Castiglione 703A 41/120, LMH, 3/5, with mute and mics, 19-inch in black. It was demo and like new. Back then I was a member of Squeezebox Newsgroup and e-mail distribution list. After about 2 or 3 years, life happened, and I set the accordions aside only playing them occasionally. Fast forwarding to this autumn, I fell and an broke my left foot which has stopped by organ playing briefly. Thankfully, I did not need surgery. Since the accordion is somewhat similar to organ, I started playing them again (mostly the 19-inch one). I love the larger accordion for variety in registers and the larger keyboard. However, the compactness of the buttons on the student model makes it a little easier for me to play the left hand. Since I want to get more proficient with the left hand, this is why I'm mostly playing the larger accordion. I can't get used to it and improve if I don't play it!

I know that I will never be a great accordionist but enjoy playing just about any instrument. I also play kalimba and a little tongue/tank drum. I may never play accordion in public although I did some 30 years ago in nursing homes.

I probably won't post much. I'm more of a lurker/reader than a poster. However, I look forward to reading others' posts and learning from everyone.

Allen
 
Welcome to you!

Glad you joined!

I like that red accordion. I've always wanted a red accordion, clear back to the beginning, when I was seven years old. Only thing is, good full sized ones with 19-inch keyboards are hard to find.
 
Noelekal,

As you know, my red accordion is a 14-inch student model with only LM. I'm guessing it is from the 1960s. Maybe others on here can confirm or correct that. It plays but needs a little work and some tuning. Since there are not many accordion repair people in my area, I'm just enjoying it as is. I also mainly play the larger accordion. However, the red accordion is louder than the black one. I think the mute in the black accordion quietens it even when open, but it still sounds wonderful.

Here is a link to a demonstration from Liberty Bellows of a Castiglione accordion similar to my red one. However, it is black.

Allen
 
Dingo and Tom,

Thanks for the warm welcome. I thought you might like to see my accordions. Photos are below.

Allen
That red accordion looks like the same one that my father-in-law traded a donkey for, (named Amos) the accordion came with my wife when we got married about 46 years ago, (Iā€™m not making this up!) my daughter has it now, along with another. She calls the red one Amos. I wonder if it would have been better to have had the donkey? Anyway, the wife was worth getting in the bargain! Welcome to this group!
 
Noelekal,

As you know, my red accordion is a 14-inch student model with only LM. I'm guessing it is from the 1960s. Maybe others on here can confirm or correct that. It plays but needs a little work and some tuning. Since there are not many accordion repair people in my area, I'm just enjoying it as is. I also mainly play the larger accordion. However, the red accordion is louder than the black one. I think the mute in the black accordion quietens it even when open, but it still sounds wonderful.

Here is a link to a demonstration from Liberty Bellows of a Castiglione accordion similar to my red one. However, it is black.

Allen
Accordionology is located in Decatur Georgia. They sell and repair accordions.
https://www.accordionology.com
 
Hi all,

I'm considering getting the red accordion above some repaired. It still plays okay, but some reeds respond slowly. It sometimes sounds a little "wheezy." It could also use a little tuning. I was just wondering if you think that it is worth repairing.

Thanks,
Allen
 
only if you do most of the work yourself

a 2 reed accordion is mostly a simple thing, with lots of
elbow room in the works, so putting on bunches of
fresh valve leathers, gaskets, cleaning stuff, looking
very very closely at all the wax holding reeds on, pads,
would be something you could do over time working
carefully and reading back in the archives and
other sources

that would get you affordably up to the costly tune it up point

if you pay for all the grunt work too, you will spend
10 times what the box is worth
 
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