Newby - First question

[Martin593]

Hi, I'm Martin. Live in Stevenage, north of London UK. I've had a Roland FR3 for sometime (used it to teach electrroniv music) but probably not a great accordion to learn to play accordion! Heavy and very complicated to get it doing what I wanted musically (good for teaching MIDI though!). Retired now though.

I play folk music in bandfs etc (guitar) and also sing quite a bit. I decided I wanted a lighter "real" accordion that I could learn to play - pick it up and go! A friend at a ferstival had a Delicia Arnaldo 23 which he offered me for a good price. Its great being able to practice for 15 minutes without fiddling with settings first. I decided, however, that I need to be able to fix simple things. I discovered this forum when searching for a simpleanswer to a question.

There is a bellows pin missing (my friend told me!) which had been replaced by a small screw. I want to put a proper pin in. How do I find the size? I assumed there would be places that sold spares etc, but I can't find details of the size of pin I need for this accordion? Anyone know? Maybe all pins are the same size (pretty sure they're not).

There is also a slight "rumble" on tghe bass - almost as if it carries on for a fraction of a second after it should stop - any thoughts? It doesn't detract from my enjpyment or inhibit my ;earning, but of it has a simple fix I might attampt it.

Martin

 

[Rosie C]

There is also a slight "rumble" on tghe bass - almost as if it carries on for a fraction of a second after it should stop - any thoughts? It doesn't detract from my enjpyment or inhibit my ;earning, but of it has a simple fix I might attampt it.

That is normal. The Roland accordions (I've just bought an FR1) even have a setting to control how much growl is simulated

 

[Dingo40]

How do I find the size?

Hi Martin, and welcome!
Using muffled pliers, gently extract one of the existing pins and gauge it using callipers or a micrometer. The pin should ease out easily: it has no thread.
For a semipermanent fix, you can use a bullethead nail of a suitable diameter, cut to length.
(In general, it is recommended to keep pins to their original holes)
There are shops which cater for accordion repairers: I'm sure some of our European based members will give you the details.
Good luck with it!!

 

[Tom]

Hi, I'm Martin. Live in Stevenage, north of London UK. I've had a Roland FR3 for sometime (used it to teach electrroniv music) but probably not a great accordion to learn to play accordion! Heavy and very complicated to get it doing what I wanted musically (good for teaching MIDI though!). Retired now though.

I play folk music in bandfs etc (guitar) and also sing quite a bit. I decided I wanted a lighter "real" accordion that I could learn to play - pick it up and go! A friend at a ferstival had a Delicia Arnaldo 23 which he offered me for a good price. Its great being able to practice for 15 minutes without fiddling with settings first. I decided, however, that I need to be able to fix simple things. I discovered this forum when searching for a simpleanswer to a question.

There is a bellows pin missing (my friend told me!) which had been replaced by a small screw. I want to put a proper pin in. How do I find the size? I assumed there would be places that sold spares etc, but I can't find details of the size of pin I need for this accordion? Anyone know? Maybe all pins are the same size (pretty sure they're not).

There is also a slight "rumble" on tghe bass - almost as if it carries on for a fraction of a second after it should stop - any thoughts? It doesn't detract from my enjpyment or inhibit my ;earning, but of it has a simple fix I might attampt it.

Martin

Welcome Martin! I believe the common wisdom would be to remove the screw, and determine if the resulting holes are small enough diameter to hold a pin that you want to use. If yes, you are good. Otherwise pack the hole with a combination of glue and sawdust, and redrill to get a hole the size you want. You may or may not find a pin the exact shape and color as the ones you have but that’s ok. Check the Accordion Revival website, they probably have it.

I too have a Roland but never fiddle with settings. I do have some custom sounds but that’s it. Tried, wasn’t smart enough. I just turn it on and select the register. I would rather spend my time memorizing songs and learning new ones.

Good luck!!!!!

 

[Martin593]

That is normal. The Roland accordions (I've just bought an FR1) even have a setting to control how much growl is simulated

Thanks., Thats really helpful! I have never set that parameter on the Roland so by default my growl has been zero! I kind of wondered if it was normal. I'm sure I've never noticed it when playing guitar with others in band as it becomes part of the general tonality, but when its a new instrument (to you) and you are hugging the sound box ....
Martin

 

[Martin593]

Hi Martin, and welcome!
Using muffled pliers, gently extract one of the existing pins and gauge it using callipers or a micrometer. The pin should ease out easily: it has no thread.
For a semipermanent fix, you can use a bullethead nail of a suitable diameter, cut to length.
(In general, it is recommended to keep pins to their original holes)
There are shops which cater for accordion repairers: I'm sure some of our European based members will give you the details.
Good luck with it!!

Thanks, that was to be my default position. Just wnateds to check in case there is some mastertable of such things lurking somewhere.
Martin

 

[JerryPH]

You can also reach out to Delicia directly and just ask what size pins they use?

Arnaldo - DELICIA - klávesové a knoflíkové akordeony, heligonky

Arnaldo, DELICIA - klávesové a knoflíkové akordeony, heligonky

www.delicia.cz

delicia@delicia.cz

 

[Martin593]

You can also reach out to Delicia directly and just ask what size pins they use?

Arnaldo - DELICIA - klávesové a knoflíkové akordeony, heligonky

Arnaldo, DELICIA - klávesové a knoflíkové akordeony, heligonky

www.delicia.cz

delicia@delicia.cz

Brilliant. Thank you. I didn't find ths in my search for some reason.

 

[Glug]

The bellows pins come in several sizes - measure one and get a similar replacement.

Akkordeonwelt sells them in 2mm, 2.5mm and 2.8mm width with lengths from 15 to 28mm

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171483784016_skw=bellows&itmmeta=01JTBB0NR8XB7STSM0NA2P1X9A&hash=item27ed3ae350:g:c8IAAOxy0NtTFmwx

There are other shops, that's just one I use.

Edit: link seems to be broken, try https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171483784016?_trksid=p2332490.c102020.m5276

 

[Ffingers]

Hi, I'm Martin. Live in Stevenage, north of London UK. I've had a Roland FR3 for sometime (used it to teach electrroniv music) but probably not a great accordion to learn to play accordion! Heavy and very complicated to get it doing what I wanted musically (good for teaching MIDI though!). Retired now though.

I play folk music in bandfs etc (guitar) and also sing quite a bit. I decided I wanted a lighter "real" accordion that I could learn to play - pick it up and go! A friend at a ferstival had a Delicia Arnaldo 23 which he offered me for a good price. Its great being able to practice for 15 minutes without fiddling with settings first. I decided, however, that I need to be able to fix simple things. I discovered this forum when searching for a simpleanswer to a question.

There is a bellows pin missing (my friend told me!) which had been replaced by a small screw. I want to put a proper pin in. How do I find the size? I assumed there would be places that sold spares etc, but I can't find details of the size of pin I need for this accordion? Anyone know? Maybe all pins are the same size (pretty sure they're not).

There is also a slight "rumble" on tghe bass - almost as if it carries on for a fraction of a second after it should stop - any thoughts? It doesn't detract from my enjpyment or inhibit my ;earning, but of it has a simple fix I might attampt it.

Martin

Martin, welcome from me too.
Re. the 'grumble' usually it is just the reed continuing to vibrate after airflow has stopped, especially on reeds which are heavily weighted at their tips.
The unweighted length for many of the bass reeds would be quite huge