Lighter Accordion

[mtj]

I’m happy with my Giulietti Continental F4T except for its weight, which is 28.5 lbs. I’m thinking about adding a lighter one. To that end I am curious: are some brands lighter or heavier than others? Just for variety I’d like to get a musette LMM. I tried a used 26/60 key/button LMM Paolo Soprani and I really liked the sound (and even more the weight which was about 15 lbs), but thought it was a little expensive ($3000) and I wanted to be able to play in all key signatures (I assume that means at least 72 buttons). I’d like the weight to be 18 lbs or less. All that notwithstanding is there a strategy for getting a lighter accordion?

 

[Dingo40]

mtj,
This topic is a hardy perennial and crops up regularly. If you search the forum you should find some past threads.
Here's something from the web:

8 Best Lightweight Accordions for Beginners and Pros - Musical Instrument Pro

The best lightweight accordions include Hohner Cajuniv, Hohner HA-3100 Panther, Hohner Compadre GCF, Rizatti Bronco, Roland FR-1x, Mugig and more

musicalinstrumentpro.com

 

[hais1273]

Giustozzi make a very fine 3 voice 26/72. Pigini makes a 2 and 3 voice 30/72. I had a play on the 3 voice version and it's very good. Beltrami and Freres Ballone Burini make a 2 voice 26/60 instrument. Petosa in the States makes or at least sells a lighter 26/72. Other than buying new I couldn't say where you would get a used instrument. I bought a Giustozzi 26/72 a few months ago and have no regrets at all. It's totally adequate for the folky dance music I tend to play. It's actually brilliant. Love it.

 

[debra]

Something you should always consider: lighter means that the accordion (outer shell) is made out of thinner wood, which may not influence the sound in any significant way but which WILL influence the strength and thus the amount of damage in case of any accidents like bumps, fall, or worse, air travel in the cargo hold... It's not a matter of newer versus older accordion. A friend of mine recently had his Hohner Morino IV M (over 60 years old) tumble to the floor from a seat (so less than 2 feet, and not a straight drop). The treble case was broken in two corners and cracked all the way across the front (the side where it has the Hohner logo). The Morino M series is liked a lot because these accordions are lighter than the later Morino N and S series (made by Excelsior), and they also have a nicer sound. But few people really take into account how fragile the Morino M accordions are due to the thin outer shell. When you see a "lightweight" accordion, always consider that it will be more fragile than a heavier one of the same size!
People often think for instance that the Pigini Peter Pan is a great accordion for children (because it is small and very lightweight). But the thin plastic outer shell is fragile. The strap lugs may break off. The bass belt may break free from the housing, etc. This accordion may be great for a careful adult wanting to travel very light while carrying an accordion but this accordion is absolutely not suitable for a child (meaning careless, throwing their instrument around, etc.). The Peter Pan is a great example of why lightweight accordions may not always be a good idea.

 

[mtj]

Giustozzi make a very fine 3 voice 26/72. Pigini makes a 2 and 3 voice 30/72. I had a play on the 3 voice version and it's very good. Beltrami and Freres Ballone Burini make a 2 voice 26/60 instrument. Petosa in the States makes or at least sells a lighter 26/72. Other than buying new I couldn't say where you would get a used instrument. I bought a Giustozzi 26/72 a few months ago and have no regrets at all. It's totally adequate for the folky dance music I tend to play. It's actually brilliant. Love it.

Do you mind me asking how much you paid for it?

 

[mtj]

Something you should always consider: lighter means that the accordion (outer shell) is made out of thinner wood, which may not influence the sound in any significant way but which WILL influence the strength and thus the amount of damage in case of any accidents like bumps, fall, or worse, air travel in the cargo hold... It's not a matter of newer versus older accordion. A friend of mine recently had his Hohner Morino IV M (over 60 years old) tumble to the floor from a seat (so less than 2 feet, and not a straight drop). The treble case was broken in two corners and cracked all the way across the front (the side where it has the Hohner logo). The Morino M series is liked a lot because these accordions are lighter than the later Morino N and S series (made by Excelsior), and they also have a nicer sound. But few people really take into account how fragile the Morino M accordions are due to the thin outer shell. When you see a "lightweight" accordion, always consider that it will be more fragile than a heavier one of the same size!
People often think for instance that the Pigini Peter Pan is a great accordion for children (because it is small and very lightweight). But the thin plastic outer shell is fragile. The strap lugs may break off. The bass belt may break free from the housing, etc. This accordion may be great for a careful adult wanting to travel very light while carrying an accordion but this accordion is absolutely not suitable for a child (meaning careless, throwing their instrument around, etc.). The Peter Pan is a great example of why lightweight accordions may not always be a good idea.

Interesting. I hadn't actually thought of weight that way. I was thinking more does dropping from 120 bass buttons to 96 or 72 bass buttons save that much weight compared to say less keys, or having one less reed. I had also heard that in general Pigini and Petosa were generally heavier instruments but as you and others pointed out that varies so much on a model basis. I believe I read in another thread that you wrote that Beltuna for example tends to innovate more than other companies and I thought perhaps they might have a technology the produces lighter models. I was just kind of wondering if there was a strategy.

 

[Big Squeezy Accordions]

My LMMH Hohner Morino IVM with 4/4 reeds and double cassotto is only 22 pounds and has a huge sound. I also have a quadruple cassotto Stradovox, which is very nice, but rarely played, as it is much quieter and 30 pounds. You might also consider a Hohner with a metal shell body instead of wood, like an Atlantic or Lucia, which are very light, although the sound is not as rich as the Morino. Or, if you have the money, there's this carbon fiber accordion:

Carboneon Shop

Carboneon Shop

www.carboneon.com

 

[debra]

Interesting. I hadn't actually thought of weight that way. I was thinking more does dropping from 120 bass buttons to 96 or 72 bass buttons save that much weight compared to say less keys, or having one less reed. I had also heard that in general Pigini and Petosa were generally heavier instruments but as you and others pointed out that varies so much on a model basis. I believe I read in another thread that you wrote that Beltuna for example tends to innovate more than other companies and I thought perhaps they might have a technology the produces lighter models. I was just kind of wondering if there was a strategy.

Pigini accordions are often (but not always) just a bit lighter than an equivalent Bugari (or Zero Sette or Petosa, made by Zero Sette). Beltuna is often also a bit lighter. In terms of strategy there is only one true business strategy: any change is usable as an excuse to make production cheaper and at the same time make the products more expensive. The Hohner metalbau was a good example of that: make the shell of the accordion out of metal that can be pressed out of sheet metal in one second instead of hours of work with wood and glue for a traditional accordion. The result was way cheaper to make, but because it was an innovation the price of the instruments was higher than similarly spec-ed wooden accordions. Of course not all innovations make production cheaper, so sometimes a higher price is indeed worth it.
When I think of the weight of an accordion I immediately also think of whether lighter can be done without making the accordion more prone to damage from (light) abuse... I'm very glad that the Bugari sound I like comes in an accordion that is also quite sturdy. The Morino (Artiste X S) I also have is also quite sturdy (and made by Excelsior). I have worked on enough accordions to notice the drawbacks of lightweight construction...

 

[Dingo40]

Talking of kids abusing their instruments, I'm reminded of a youngster who frequently played dodgem cars with his accordion , deliberately banging it into that of his sister with some force, much to her annoyance.
I do remember it was a sturdy, fifties, Italian made (Galanti?), student sized model which survived the course!

 

[mtj]

My LMMH Hohner Morino IVM with 4/4 reeds and double cassotto is only 22 pounds and has a huge sound. I also have a quadruple cassotto Stradovox, which is very nice, but rarely played, as it is much quieter and 30 pounds. You might also consider a Hohner with a metal shell body instead of wood, like an Atlantic or Lucia, which are very light, although the sound is not as rich as the Morino. Or, if you have the money, there's this carbon fiber accordion:

Carboneon Shop

Carboneon Shop

www.carboneon.com

Carbon fiber, fascinating! But more than I want to spend.

 

[saundersbp]

This accordion may be great for a careful adult wanting to travel very light while carrying an accordion but this accordion is absolutely not suitable for a child (meaning careless, throwing their instrument around, etc.). The Peter Pan is a great example of why lightweight accordions may not always be a good idea.

I can attest to the truth of this!
The better option for children (and with plenty of notes so they can keep the instrument for a longtime) is the Pigini B2. We recently bought 10 of these and they are absolutely super for kids.

 

[Ffingers]

I can attest to the truth of this!
The better option for children (and with plenty of notes so they can keep the instrument for a longtime) is the Pigini B2. We recently bought 10 of these and they are absolutely super for kids.

How about for a grumpy 80 year old beginner who has arthritic joints?

 

[hais1273]

Do you mind me asking how much you paid for it?

Hello, about £2.5K. The actual cost of the instrument varies, expect to pay more for decoration, wood finish, AM and TAM reeds etc etc etc. better value than some other retailers selling. 26/72 or 60 bass instruments