Mute Vs Cassotto

[IHAccordion]

I've talked to a few other local accordionists and it seems like the mute feature on the grille of an accordion has the same purpose as a cassotto chamber? Both seem to mellow the higher frequencies out. Is a cassotto chamber just more effective at this purpose than a mute?

 

[debra]

The major difference in sound between a sordino (mute feature on the grille) and a cassotto is that the sordino partly mutes the sound, and in doing so it mutes the high frequencies more than the low ones, whereas the cassotto first and foremost amplifies the sound by getting it to resonate in the "tone chamber", and as a side-effect it mutes the higher frequencies a bit because it does not amplify them while they still need to travel through the chamber. So the "mute" versus "amplify" gives sordino versus cassotto a whole different meaning! The effect of making the sound more mellow may be somewhat similar, but the volume difference is very significant.

 

[saundersbp]

I found cutting up an old bath mat and putting it behind the treble and bass grills on my classical non-cassotto accordion has greatly improved the tone (less bright) and also decreased the volume to the extent that I don't annoy the neighbours! Not sure if Pigini recommend this sort of DIY tonal finishing though I like it!

 

[debra]

I found cutting up an old bath mat and putting it behind the treble and bass grills on my classical non-cassotto accordion has greatly improved the tone (less bright) and also decreased the volume to the extent that I don't annoy the neighbours! Not sure if Pigini recommend this sort of DIY tonal finishing though I like it!

Interesting. Many accordions have so little room to spare on the bass side that you could not fit an old bath mat in there. If the "padding" you install on the bass side touches the catorcetti (the ends of the levers being pushed by the pistons) these levers will eventually bend out of shape.
I have used thin felt, not to mute everything, but to create a more even sound. For instance, if you have a non-cassotto Giulietti (with the typical oval grille cutout) the notes with the pallet under the open part of the grille sound sharper than the notes with the pallet under the solid part of the grille (and the registers). A strip of felt on the far side of the grille makes the sound more even. I did the same to my Pigini bass accordion so the reeds sounding through the open end of the grille do not sound sharper than the reeds hidden under the register side of the grille.

 

[saundersbp]

Paul: there are bath mats and there are bath mats! Mine is very thin one like medium felt so doesn't touch the bass mechanism. I find Pigini accordions over bright which is a shame but otherwise excellent instruments.

 

[debra]

Paul: there are bath mats and there are bath mats! Mine is very thin one like medium felt so doesn't touch the bass mechanism. I find Pigini accordions over bright which is a shame but otherwise excellent instruments.

OK. For a moment I tried to imagine a thick bach mat inside an accordion...
I also find Pigini accordions on the bright side, which is why I generally don't recommend them. (I even find my Pigini bass accordion too bright...)
Of course sound preferences are very personal. I know quite a few people who really like the sound of (good) Pigini accordions.