maugein export

[godgi]

Hi i am new the forum.
I play c system.
Recently I bought a second hand Maugein Export - whilst the instrument has some positive features like lite weight some decent sound qualities etc . However the keyboard noise on the treble side is massive like an old typewriter. I read some where where one accordionist put some extra grill fabric in.
The mechanism appear ok.
Is this just a deficiency in the instrument.
john from dublin

 

[Geoff de Limousin]

Hi John,

you might lower the noise level with a thick fabric under the grill but it wll also cut the output volume of the notes. I think you would be better looking at the felt washers under the buttons which dampen the noise when the buttons are depressed, or perhaps the clacking happens when the button rises quickly and the metal lever taps against the underside of the keyboard cover..... and then there is the slap of the old (hardened) pallets slamming back down over the air holes. You could take a look at www.accordionrevival.com for helpfull suggestions.

 

[maugein96]

Hi i am new the forum.
I play c system.
Recently I bought a second hand Maugein Export - whilst the instrument has some positive features like lite weight some decent sound qualities etc . However the keyboard noise on the treble side is massive like an old typewriter. I read some where where one accordionist put some extra grill fabric in.
The mechanism appear ok.
Is this just a deficiency in the instrument.
john from dublin

Hi John,

Most older French boxes tend to rattle a bit, on both the treble and bass side, and it sounds as though the box youve bought has been very well used. As Geoff says, the box may have had such a degree of use that the felt pads underneath the buttons need replaced. If you do decided to undertake replacement of them then you are in for very sore fingers, as every button will need to be unscrewed, the felt pad replaced, then screwed back on again. There is a tool you can buy to remove and replace the buttons, but youll be lucky to get one for less than about 80 Euros.

If the rattle seems to be due to the pallets I would recommend taking it to a repairer who can better assess what the cause is.

I have a 50 year old Cavagnolo thats had a pretty hard life, and the felt pads on it are worn right down. However, although the treble buttons click a bit, its not too bad.

I also have a 30 year old Maugein Mini Sonora, which has had an easier life, and the felts underneath the buttons look as good as new.

The Maugein Export is usually a great little box, and it might be the case that that youre finding it noisier than an Italian made accordion?

Noisiest French box I had was a 1950s Fratelli Crosio, and it sounded like a room full of typewriters. However, the noise diminished when it was played, and I learned to live with it.

There may be a cure for the problem, but on the other hand it may just be down to unfamiliarity with the type.

 

[godgi]

Thanks for the rely and the great help.
I opened it up this morning and I am sure the instrument was little played before.
One thing I noted was the noise on key release in particular on row 1 and 4.
On investigation noted little micro levers with rivets some of the little levers were loose fitting and therefore rattling about more than others.
I did something I am sure was totally wrong but dabbed a little superglue which tightened up the physical looseness a little and made some improvement.
However I concur its not a PIGINI we are dealing with here.
I will have to live with it.
Pleasant sound with the 2 reed option giving a Parisian feel.
John

 

[maugein96]

John,

One or two French players still continued to use their Exports for a few years after they turned professional. Domi Emorine even used hers to play classical music at times. I think they still make them with the choice of LM and MM, and the "off the shelf" default tuning for the MM versions is usually "americain", which will indeed give that Paris sound. Three voice musette still has a following in France, but two voice americain has been more typical of the "Parisian" musette style for many years now.

It's entirely possible that your Export may have hand finished reeds in it. The Cavagnolo equivalent "Junior" with hand finished MM reeds sounds as good as its bigger stablemates. The tinny French sound of French boxes puts a lot of people off them, but that sound has been part of the French musette scene for many years. So much so that Italian makers like Mengascini and Piermaria, who make a range of instruments specially for the French market, nail or pin the reeds onto cork, which I believe is the modern way of mounting them.