Loss of V-Accordions

[TW]

What does anyone make of this:-

Roland V Accordions
You are all aware of the closing of our factory in Italy where the V-Accordions are currently produced.
Production will continue at Roland Europe for the V-Accordion and other instruments until March, 2014. After that time, production of the V-Accordion will be transferred to an appropriate facility within the Roland family.

Apart from the tradional 'I told you so'...?
It's not April yet , is it?

 

[jarvo]

I can make a hat,or a bird,or a pretty brooch.........(airplane)

But seriously....who knows ....Where is Roland Europe ? I mean I thought Italy was in Europe? But call me old fashioned..........

hmmmmm, may do some digging on this .

Jarvo

 

[Soulsaver]

What does anyone make of this:-

Roland V Accordions
You are all aware of the closing of our factory in Italy where the V-Accordions are currently produced.
Production will continue at Roland Europe for the V-Accordion and other instruments until March, 2014. After that time, production of the V-Accordion will be transferred to an appropriate facility within the Roland family.

Apart from the tradional I told you so...?
Its not April yet , is it?

Is there a link?

 

[TW]

Long, somewhat frenetic, thread on SynthZone forum:

http://www.synthzone.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/374395/NEWS_FOR_ROLAND_EUROPE#Post374395

 

[Glenn]

Must admit that it doesn't look good.
I assume Italy was chosen as a manufacturing plant for its skill base and knowledge in all things accordion.

 

[dunlustin]

This was mentioned on the Melodeon forum. Helpfully, one post directed to a statement from Roland.
Roland V-Accordions in Italy is not going into receivership but being shut. The statement seems intended to justify closure on falling profits.
I can't remember the exact figures but production in 2012 rose by 15% over 2011 to around 24000 units. That doesn't sound like something you'd stop doing in the accordion world.
Also the launch of the X versions, the push/pull version and the "flagship" 8X do not suggest a company in crisis.
My worry: that losing the credibility factor of "Made in Italy" could cost them sales and in the end make continued production unattractive. Certainly I was reassured when considering my FR1XB to find they were made in Italy.
Yes, I know Roland makes lots of stuff elsewhere but I wonder if accordion players are a bit more conservative than the average banjo player? (And yes I know Roland don't make banjos?)

We haven't heard from JIMD in a while; I wonder what he would think?

 

[Soulsaver]

I believe it was/is the Dellape factory in Italy.
But are there still acoustics being produced at the factory?

Found this in the thread TW linked to:
http://www.roland.com/ir/pdf/2013/20131108_3.pdf

 

[TW]

Yes, 'the other locations' is a bit of a worry..there again many(most) computers - including Lenovo - are Chinese and they are fine..

 

[dunlustin]

I think Dallape closed around 2010 - before doing so they allowed Roland to sample their acoustics and that's what is available in Roland's add-on.

SS: Your pdf is the document I mentioned - production numbers.

"I assume Italy was chosen..." Years ago my brother was "chosen" to implement computerised stock control for a Middle East Airline. It took about 3 years to "empty" him into a colleague.
He wasn't amused but the airline is still there.

By the way isn't "Loss of.." a bit misleading - we didn't lose Dyson or Hohner or Fender

 

[jarvo]

I think that this is more about the yankee dollar and production for lower prices than winding down a viable product.....V Accordions will probably re-emerge at a child labour factory in a developing country on a different planet in another galaxy on the furthest and cheapest star therein....or something like....and yes I am very cynical.......

 

[george garside]

As there is very little ''accordion'' technology involved they should be no worse for being made in China or wherever where vasst amounts of 'electronic' gear is produced - they may even be a bit cheaper.

As to the 'diatonic' FR18 which to be fair is the only Roland I have tried it would be truly impossible to make it any worse!

george

 

[jarvo]

As there is very little ''accordion'' technology involved they should be no worse for being made in China or wherever where vasst amounts of 'electronic' gear is produced - they may even be a bit cheaper.

As to the 'diatonic' FR18 which to be fair is the only Roland I have tried it would be truly impossible to make it any worse!

george

Tch tch , don't let your prejudices all out at once George.... :lol:

 

[simonking]

I was surprised to find out they are still made in Italy! Since they are basically the same as electronic keyboards, requiring very little in the way of traditional craftsmanship, I expect they'll be made wherever Roland already has a good manufacturing base for those, almost certainly in China.

 

[jarvo]

I was surprised to find out they are still made in Italy! Since they are basically the same as electronic keyboards, requiring very little in the way of traditional craftsmanship, I expect theyll be made wherever Roland already has a good manufacturing base for those, almost certainly in China.

 

[JIM D.]

I was aware of the Roland decision to change the location of their keyboard and "V" accordion manufacture for monetary reasons but not aware of the time and date. Major musical instrument firms such as Yamaha and Peavy have moved their production plants to China and in order to compete and I,m afraid we will see them all following suit. In the US we have a chain of Walmart stores that like Amazon sell everything from food, electronics, auto parts, drugs, and clothing. The sad fact is when shopping in a Walmart the only thing you find that's not made in China are the employees. The quality of the "V" accordions will remain the same and just might result in a reduction of their retail prices. JIM D.

 

[Glenn]

There will be some effect of a move to china, at least on the perception of the instrument as a serious one.
Take for example the trumpeting of Chinese accordion manufacturers that they use "real Italian reeds".
Now call me old fashioned but I do imagine that a country as technologically advanced as China can rustle up something as simple as a reed block set with the same materials. They reverse engineer whole cars for goodness sake. Thus for me the "made in Italy" badge is something us accordionists desire and without it the V accordion may lose some of its cachet.

 

[Tom]

I wonder if the old, "made in Italy" v accordions will become valuable collectors items. As mentioned, electronic devices generally don't gain value as they age due to technology, etc. Right now it seems like there is no real competition. If the v accordions are made in China I would expect reverse engineereing would bring us the cheaper Walmart version, kind of like the evolution to the $50 keyboard. I think they are very nice but now I'm conflicted as to should I buy a "italian" model or wait for the walmart model?

 

[Soulsaver]

China may be the ultimate destination but if their press statements are believed, Indonesia first:

"Meanwhile, under the initiative to implement structural reform of the Electronic
Musical Instruments Business announced in November last year, the Company has been pressing ahead to
concentrate its digital piano production bases in Indonesia. This initiative executes one of the main assignments
for action as set out in its Medium-term Business Plan announced on May 8, 2013, with the aim of switching its
production policy from “local production for local consumption” to “efficient production through centralization.”"

 

[lasvegascolonel]

Rolands made elsewhere may not be a real big issue. The key is will the manufacturer exert sufficient quality control to ensure the product performs as expected. I've already had some issues with my new Hohner as have others who bought them. The higher priced Weltmeisters have some issues with some of their models, though many people experience none with these models. I would hope the Roland has its manufacturer in Japan where electronics expertise is high and quality control is high.

 

[blisterpeanuts]

Interesting comments. Both my Bugari's were made in Italy, with hand-made reeds, and the sound and action have been superb. However, the Italian electronics -- microphones and MIDI -- died years ago despite my efforts to patch it up. Pure crap and a waste of $1700. I think Roland did the right thing, partnering with the Italians to make a great accordion, and now that they have the techniques and training, they can move it to a place where the electronics are top quality for lower cost.