MIDI in my 1930s Settimio Soprani?

[Rosie C]

Life is interesting at the moment. I retire soon and my present to myself was a Roland rack-mount synth and a MIDI controller keyboard. I've also changed dancing side (team) and I'm seriously looking at an FR-1X accordion both for as a portable performance instrument, but also as an alternative controller for my synth.

Then last night I was out walking, and thinking about my 1930s Settimio Soprani accordion. It needs a lot of work including 200 new leather valves and then I'll have to think about tuning. I've been using it for learning really, planning to give it a good clean and put it on display more than playing it. But is it such a crazy idea to remove the reed banks and fit a MIDI system?

 

[JerryPH]

A couple things to consider:
1- If you remove the reeds, it won't have the ability to use bellows pressure for sound volume. If you leave them in, the sound will be less than ideal.

2 - Cost. This is basically money you are tossing out and won't get back on resale, higher if you get the accordion repaired to useable condition.

Now, doing this for some might be a good idea, repurpose an accordion that is now not playable. From my point of view, I'm more in the "nay" camp than "yay". That's just an opinion, no real valid reason.

 

[Giovanni]

A couple things to consider:
1- If you remove the reeds, it won't have the ability to use bellows pressure for sound volume. If you leave them in, the sound will be less than ideal.

2 - Cost. This is basically money you are tossing out and won't get back on resale, higher if you get the accordion repaired to useable condition.

Now, doing this for some might be a good idea, repurpose an accordion that is now not playable. From my point of view, I'm more in the "nay" camp than "yay". That's just an opinion, no real valid reason.

Hi Rosie , it is a good idea if that is what you want to do .
but in all honesty I tend to agree with Jerry PH.............
Good luck in what ever you decide to do !!

 

[Alan Sharkis]

Let me get this straight:

You say the 1930’s accordion is in rough shape and you’re considering removing the reed blocks and then essentially converting it into a MIDI controller? As Jerry pointed out, with the reed blocks gone, you’d lose bellows-controlled dynamics unless the air passages could be blanked off while still allowing some air to bleed out. That would take some experimentation to achieve. Then, you’d need a sound source and amplification, AND that’s assuming that the treble keyboard and the bass machine are in perfect condition. Sounds to me like a $2K US experiment.

The last time I checket, a Roland FR-1x goes for around $2K US, has all that stuff built in, and can be portable and also act as a controller if you wish.

You decide.

 

[Rosie C]

Let me get this straight:

You say the 1930’s accordion is in rough shape and you’re considering removing the reed blocks and then essentially converting it into a MIDI controller? As Jerry pointed out, with the reed blocks gone, you’d lose bellows-controlled dynamics unless the air passages could be blanked off while still allowing some air to bleed out. That would take some experimentation to achieve. Then, you’d need a sound source and amplification, AND that’s assuming that the treble keyboard and the bass machine are in perfect condition. Sounds to me like a $2K US experiment.

The last time I checket, a Roland FR-1x goes for around $2K US, has all that stuff built in, and can be portable and also act as a controller if you wish.

You decide.

I have a sound source and amp, but as you and Jerry say there is a fairly hefty cost for a MIDI kit. Maybe I'll just give it a good clean and get a display case for it

 

[Ventura]

for looks it would make for a cool controller

obviously, a refurb of the physical action would be
invested first, then you can evaluate if it has the chops..

there are/were simple midi controllers that are inexpensive,
note on note off, with do it yourself potential. By comparison even
$99 controllers have velocity nowadays, so most people really
couldn't live with a simple MiDi budget install..

if you can size/fit a basic MIDI kbd that could be swapped into the
accordion frame/keybed like some people do to an old
Grand Piano frame ? that might be good enough for the treble
but if you wanted midi Bass too ?

anyhow, if you ask around there were a few people
rolling their own Auduino Midi's and some posted the
code/programming for free

switching can be simple physical contacts, springs or leaf,
or reed switches, or Hall effect sensors (look like transistors)
the latter 2 use magnets or even optical sensor setups if you
can find some surplus (typically expensive)