Riverclinic
Newbie
I've just ordered from the factory a Beltuna Prestige 96 "fly" and they have asked me which setup of reeds I want i.e. LMMM or LMMH plus tuning of these - suggested +/-13cents. What do more experienced members suggest please??
New purchase - which reeds ?
- Thread starter Riverclinic
- Start date
Oh man this is a personal choice depending on what type of music you play. Question is whether a high “piccolo” reed is needed in your style. Same with tuning. Are you playing ears bleeding Scottish snaps, or mellow Dave Brubeck jazz???
Please elucidate us on what you want to accomplish with your beautiful Beltuna and maybe we can offer a more educated response…….
These two questions (LMMM va. LMMH and the amount of tremolo) are very much a matter of personal tasts.
Some people want a really nicely balanced tremolo (musette) sound and swear by having MMM. Others want a more versatile setup, also suitable for classical music, and prefer LMMH. And then of course there are people who cannot choose and go for an LMMMH setup...
Regarding the amount of tremolo, over the decades the general preference has changed from a lot of tremolo to a more mild tremolo. Accordions often came with MMM as -25/0/+25 (or even more), also known as Scottish or Amsterdam tuning. Personally, this gives me a headache within less than haf an houw. When I bought an accordion 2 decades ago "standard" tuning was around -15/0/+15. I can understand why they suggest -13/0/+13. Personally I would go lower, to -10/0/+10 and in the case of just MM I would use 0/+12 but again, it's all a matter of taste. Some people use 4 cents tremolo (swing) or 7 to 8 cents tremolo (demi-swing), or 10 cents (American tuning)... Every amount of tremolo has its use. Only you can decide...
Some people want a really nicely balanced tremolo (musette) sound and swear by having MMM. Others want a more versatile setup, also suitable for classical music, and prefer LMMH. And then of course there are people who cannot choose and go for an LMMMH setup...
Regarding the amount of tremolo, over the decades the general preference has changed from a lot of tremolo to a more mild tremolo. Accordions often came with MMM as -25/0/+25 (or even more), also known as Scottish or Amsterdam tuning. Personally, this gives me a headache within less than haf an houw. When I bought an accordion 2 decades ago "standard" tuning was around -15/0/+15. I can understand why they suggest -13/0/+13. Personally I would go lower, to -10/0/+10 and in the case of just MM I would use 0/+12 but again, it's all a matter of taste. Some people use 4 cents tremolo (swing) or 7 to 8 cents tremolo (demi-swing), or 10 cents (American tuning)... Every amount of tremolo has its use. Only you can decide...
Riverclinic
Newbie
Paul Debra’s your man on this one. I think he will have a better answer than me on what is good for your French Cafe. Maybe even @Ventura will chime in. Above my pay grade. And I’m smart enough to accept it.
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Sorry, but I don't have the "real" answer. Some people think that a "French Musette" sound woud be good, but they may confuse a real French Musette which nowadays has rather little tremolo and a more wet musette often used for playing musette but which is not really French...
If you listen to the soundtrack of the movie "Amelie" for instance, the accordion has a very mild tremolo. But if you listen to many recordings of "Sous le Ciel de Paris" (Under Paris Skies) you will notice a stronger musette.
To keep all options open you may want to opt for an LMMM configuration and you can still play with the M+ and M- values to get different sounds. But it's impossible for anyone but yourself to decide what YOU like best.
Ventura
Been here for ages!
perhaps if you explain it this way.. LMMM
with M- in relation to M being a very very gentle musette
with M+ in relation to M being a sweet musette even playing full chords
while M- M M+ together are a strong enough musette
that you can play a quick solo/single note melody with power
and if i were making this purchase for this kind of musical purpose,
no tone chamber, the M reeds can be what they normally
recommend/use but the L reeds should be the best they have
you really do not need fabulous expensive reeds to have a
wonderful musette box, just good enough that they start easily,
while the same L reeds when used solo can be a bit disappointing
in tone.. in other words, if i play Spanish Eyes with the L reeds
they have to make me smile or somebody is in trouble..
so for me i would pay extra for top shelf L reeds
with M- in relation to M being a very very gentle musette
with M+ in relation to M being a sweet musette even playing full chords
while M- M M+ together are a strong enough musette
that you can play a quick solo/single note melody with power
and if i were making this purchase for this kind of musical purpose,
no tone chamber, the M reeds can be what they normally
recommend/use but the L reeds should be the best they have
you really do not need fabulous expensive reeds to have a
wonderful musette box, just good enough that they start easily,
while the same L reeds when used solo can be a bit disappointing
in tone.. in other words, if i play Spanish Eyes with the L reeds
they have to make me smile or somebody is in trouble..
so for me i would pay extra for top shelf L reeds
You need a setup that gives you the sound that you are looking for, at the very least you should get from beltuna recordings of the different setups. Preferably you should be able to listen to the different instruments live.
No one here can choose for you.
No one here can choose for you.
