new scandalli

[nagant27]

Over the weekend I had a chance to play a new scandalli accordion. It cosmetically looked like the famous super 6 (which I have never played), but I was surprised that the sound quality was no where I thought it would be. It had a double tone chamber, and I played a lot using the bassoon reed, since that's my favorite sound. It wasn't a bad sound, but was not very full/rich sounding. When I hear and watch you tube videos of other scandallis I have always admired the tone. I was very disappointed. The action and response of the keyboard was very good, and had a great feel- but just not what I was expecting tonally. What really shocked me was the 5 figure asking price. Was it just this one in particular or are the older ones really just made better? Any opinions?

 

[Zevy]

It cosmetically looked like the famous super 6

<FONT font=Garamond><SIZE size=130><COLOR color=#0040FF>That, my friend, is where the similarity ends. There is a whole history regarding the company and its reincarnations. An expert such as Jim D. can elaborate better than I.

 

[JIM D.]

Yes sadly as Zevy comments, The badge Scandalli has appeared over the years on accordions of low to high quality. There are low quality Super VI's out there that are plastic cased and have machine made reeds, and there are high quality Super VI's made with fine woods and hand made reeds. For the average accordionist without knowledge of these accordions with the badge Scandalli, it is advised to refer the accordion in question to a Scandalli dealer or established music shop for an appraisal of value. Pic's on a Forum such as this will always help. This situation is not only unique to the badge Scandalli, as for the last 30 years brand names such as Excelsior have appeared on low quality rip-offs with high prices. {} :? Caveat Emptor {}

 

[Deleted member 48]

Yes, customers should be wary and extra careful, take your time to examine the accordion.
Best is to take your accordion teacher, or an experienced accordion player, with you when going to the music shop for buying an accordion.

Also, use the internet to compare prices internationally
A 25 bass (used) Russian garmon is on sale here for £799 (about 1107,05 Euro)
http://scotlandaccordions.co.uk/Button accordions/Russian Garmon button accordion

Well ... these are sold online in Russia for as less as 25 Euro up to 100 or 200 Euro max.
https://www.avito.ru/moskva/muzykalnye_instrumenty/garmon_25na25_melodiya_550699632
You can see some for 3000 rubles (55 euro), used garmons.

Reading their customers comments, I can read many happy customers comments, but ... where are the full names of those happy customers ...?? :
http://scotlandaccordions.co.uk/Customer comments

http://scotlandaccordions.co.uk/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=5
Located in Perth, Scotland ? found:
7 Riverview Business Park
Perth PH2 8DF

 

[TomBR]

Yes, customers should be wary and extra careful, take your time to examine the accordion.
Best is to take your accordion teacher, or an experienced accordion player, with you when going to the music shop for buying an accordion.

Well ... these are sold online in Russia for as less as 25 Euro up to 100 or 200 Euro max.

What that comes down to is how much you need to save to make it worth buying an instrument unseen and unplayed from overseas!

A music shop obviously has to cover the costs of being there so that you can go and see and play instruments. If they dont theyll be out of business before long!

....but we were talking about Scandallis
Tom

 

[Deleted member 48]

Yes, customers should be wary and extra careful, take your time to examine the accordion.
Best is to take your accordion teacher, or an experienced accordion player, with you when going to the music shop for buying an accordion.

Well ... these are sold online in Russia for as less as 25 Euro up to 100 or 200 Euro max.

What that comes down to is how much you need to save to make it worth buying an instrument unseen and unplayed from overseas!

A music shop obviously has to cover the costs of being there so that you can go and see and play instruments. If they dont theyll be out of business before long!

....but we were talking about Scandallis
Tom[/quote]

Dealers trying to sell instruments for 799 GBP or more, bought originally for 3000 rubles or less, or in another country or different currency, will go out of business much quicker because customers are not stupid. They can compare prices in seconds on the internet.
regardless of the brand, country or currency, if youre talking Scandalli, Crucianelli, or a Russian accordion...
the common denominator is too expensive, so the reply is on topic, whatever the brand may be called

If businesses are interested in for a long time relationship with accordion customers, theyd better be aware customers compare internationally.

People can make international phone calls to ask for more information. They can ask to make a short video and ask to put it online.
Or you can ask someone you trust going on holiday or residing in that country to go test the instrument and pick it up.
Or if you want to test the instrument yourself on the spot (I agree, the best way is to play it yourself before you buy something), you can ask a foreigner living in your own country to deliver you such a cheap instruments. You can save a lot, if you can avoid these dubious dealers.

 

[nagant27]

Thanks guys. I feel better knowing it wasn't me. I was at a store, and the sales lady kept insisting how high quality it was, and I didn't want to insult her knowledge of accordions or say anything bad, but it just didn't sound that good. On the other hand I heard some scandalli super 6's on the internet that sounded awesome, so I was doubting myself. I started to think maybe it sounded different to the listener, or maybe it was the acoustics of the room, or maybe it was just me. I didn't say much, but I have an older excelsior(fully restored and tuned-) and an older dallape (that I am now bringing back to life with the help of Jim) that blew this out of the water. (Both also tone chambered)
One thing on the scandalli was the keyboard action and the compression was really good. I think it felt good to hold, but as far as playing not so good. I've played a few "new" accordions and this was actually at the bottom.

 

[JIM D.]

The firm of Suoni in Castelfidardo, Italy is a merger of the brands Scandalli - SEM - Farfisa - and - Paolo Soprani. High end models of Scandalli's and Paolo Soprani's appear on the market as clones with different badges. Mediocre models of Farfisa's and Scandalli's also appear as clones with different badges.