Is there a standard measure of bellows hardness?

[hyphz]

Something like Newtons per Decibel or something like that? Just wondering if there's a way to measure expectation..

 

[Soulsaver]

In a word...no.

 

[Glenn]

I guess you could calibrate each accordion model with a pressure /sound curve but it there would need to be a curve for each reed bank combination and in fact each note of said combination. Anyone fancy doing that?

 

[JIM D.]

A quality accordion with hand made reeds would have a hard or heavy bellows curve (least amount of bellows travel). And a low cost box with machine made reeds will tend to have a light bellows curve (larger amount of bellows travel) As an accordion ages the bellows hardness becomes lighter as the gaskets start to leak, bellows wear, and leather valves and pads harden. Service is then needed to restore bellows hardness. Today bellows hardness is referred to as good or bad bellows response and a good or hard bellows response is the most desirable by pro musicians. Some accordionist's tend to prefer a lighter bellows curve. Because of different taste's in bellows response the new "V" types of accordions offer the owner a choice of curves from X-Light, Light, Standard, Heavy, and X-Heavy.

 

[george garside]

the different degrees of hardness could perhaps be delineated as ''one Viagra'', ''two Viagra'', or if stiff forever ''three Viagra''!!

George

 

[Glenn]

I don't get it George . Maybe I'm too young

 

[JIM D.]

You can get it with a prescription. I personally prefer Miracle-Gro. :b

 

[kimric]

Something to consider is the cross section of the bellows. The larger the bellows the more hand pressure it will take to give the reed the same air pressure as a small bellow cross section.

 

[george garside]

Indeed! that is why it is easier to go from quiet to loud or anything in between ,aka dynamics, on a smaller piano box and even easier on a very small button box such as the castagnari lilly. On the other hand large bellows require less movement

george