Pigini or Fantini

[Inflammo]

I have a couple of accordions lined up to view next week- I'm downsizing plus wanting to play more folk. My options are

A Fantini SP/1 72 Bass, 3 voice, a mano reeds, mild swing (5 cents)- £1575
A Pigini P36-3 deluxe, 3 voice, a mano reeds, dry tuning, c 2years old- £2280

Grateful for any thoughts on these- I know its down to personal preference and there's no substitute for trying them out, but I'd appreciate any insight or views others may have on these makes/models and prices

 

[maugein96]

I have a couple of accordions lined up to view next week- Im downsizing plus wanting to play more folk. My options are

A Fantini SP/1 72 Bass, 3 voice, a mano reeds, mild swing (5 cents)- £1575
A Pigini P36-3 deluxe, 3 voice, a mano reeds, dry tuning, c 2years old- £2280

Grateful for any thoughts on these- I know its down to personal preference and theres no substitute for trying them out, but Id appreciate any insight or views others may have on these makes/models and prices

Ive no experience of PAs at all but was drawn to your post by the prices quoted. A new Pigini P36 (not deluxe) can be had for around £2750. I dont know what the difference is between deluxe and standard, but the box seems a bit pricey. I appreciate it is being sold by a respected dealer so that may have a bearing on the price.

A Fantini SP/1 costs around £2900 new, so it is the bargain between the two, depending on the relative condition. As far as Im concerned a used accordion is a used accordion. Doesnt matter to me what it looks like, as long as it plays OK and feels OK. Id rather buy a 5 year old box with signs of use for half the price of a new one, rather than save a few hundred on something that is virtually unplayed.

However, from experience of browsing the forum, I think most people would steer you towards the Pigini. Dont know if youre aware but Fantini is in dire straits and getting spares for one could be an issue, if you ever needed them. The make is well enough respected in terms of construction quality etc, but it seems they are about to go under. Having said that the world is full of accordionists playing makes that have long disappeared.

If its a question of money then I think Id be going for the Fantini, but you might get more stage cred with a Pigini. As you say you need to try them both out, and then make your choice. Ive occasionally travelled considerable distances in the UK to look at a French CBA accordion, when there has been only one choice of instrument. Unfortunately, Ive never come home without buying the instrument concerned, as they are rare enough in the UK to justify buying them, even if theyre not exactly what Im looking for. Then, maybe after another few years Ill see another overpriced rarity and decide to go and look at that one too. I stopped doing that a good few years ago, but still bought a box that the seller brought to me to have a look at recently. The term have a look at does not usually translate in my case.

Good luck.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi Inflammo,

I know that you want to play more Folk Music, but I would like to know a little more about the venues you will be playing at.

I play in Folk Clubs, and would not really consider taking a top quality instrument with me. (even if I owned one)

The two instruments you describe sound very good, and I feel sure you will have years of fun with either of them.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[Inflammo]

Hi Stephen
I play in sessions in pubs and Welsh tune clubs (a recent thing) but I'm also in a ceilidh band and would use this instrument when performing so I do need something that's decent quality. I did try a Chanson for a few months to see if I could get on with a 72 bass but to be honest I didn't enjoy it much- it was like driving a clapped out old Lada after a trusty and reliable Volvo (my Jonelli). Maybe the Pigini is entering the Jaguar end of the market?

 

[Inflammo]

I have a couple of accordions lined up to view next week- Im downsizing plus wanting to play more folk. My options are

A Fantini SP/1 72 Bass, 3 voice, a mano reeds, mild swing (5 cents)- £1575
A Pigini P36-3 deluxe, 3 voice, a mano reeds, dry tuning, c 2years old- £2280

Grateful for any thoughts on these- I know its down to personal preference and theres no substitute for trying them out, but Id appreciate any insight or views others may have on these makes/models and prices

Ive no experience of PAs at all but was drawn to your post by the prices quoted. A new Pigini P36 (not deluxe) can be had for around £2750. I dont know what the difference is between deluxe and standard, but the box seems a bit pricey. I appreciate it is being sold by a respected dealer so that may have a bearing on the price.

A Fantini SP/1 costs around £2900 new, so it is the bargain between the two, depending on the relative condition. As far as Im concerned a used accordion is a used accordion. Doesnt matter to me what it looks like, as long as it plays OK and feels OK. Id rather buy a 5 year old box with signs of use for half the price of a new one, rather than save a few hundred on something that is virtually unplayed.

However, from experience of browsing the forum, I think most people would steer you towards the Pigini. Dont know if youre aware but Fantini is in dire straits and getting spares for one could be an issue, if you ever needed them. The make is well enough respected in terms of construction quality etc, but it seems they are about to go under. Having said that the world is full of accordionists playing makes that have long disappeared.

If its a question of money then I think Id be going for the Fantini, but you might get more stage cred with a Pigini. As you say you need to try them both out, and then make your choice. Ive occasionally travelled considerable distances in the UK to look at a French CBA accordion, when there has been only one choice of instrument. Unfortunately, Ive never come home without buying the instrument concerned, as they are rare enough in the UK to justify buying them, even if theyre not exactly what Im looking for. Then, maybe after another few years Ill see another overpriced rarity and decide to go and look at that one too. I stopped doing that a good few years ago, but still bought a box that the seller brought to me to have a look at recently. The term have a look at does not usually translate in my case.

Good luck.

So the Pigini deluxe model comes with best quality hand made reeds and retails new at £3250 so at £2280 for a nearly new hardly played I str not too bad a deal. And yes the person selling the Fantini had told me they were struggling but I hadnt thought about the issue of spares in the future so a good point. As to the going to see them- youre absolutely right...its a bit like going to see a puppy, you dont come back without one. I am going to try and be objective and hold off the impulse thing until Ive had a chance to try both...Ive put quite a lot of time and effort into sourcing potential instruments and Learned my lesson earlier in the year with a Pierre Maria which was a lovely box but just not right for me.

 

[maugein96]

Even though decent accordions are hard to come by these days, we are still spoilt for choice in the UK compared with some people elsewhere. In a lot of cases the potential player only has one accordion available and it's either that or nothing.

Some of the Brazilian players I've heard on old obsolete boxes the size of small portakabins can do great things with them, having never had the opportunity to own anything else. Finding "that" instrument seems to be an obsession for some of us, I've owned a good few accordions in my time and am still the crap player I was when I decided the first one wasn't the right one. Neither was the second, the third, the fourth, and I think I'm on number 7 or 8, although I still have four of them. Two of them are "half right" for me, and the other two I keep in case I ever need to light a bonfire, although I'm pretty sure one of them wouldn't burn too well at all.

Same with guitars. My wife called me "Johnny 10 guitars" and I got fed up with it, so I now only own three. Mind you guitars are a lot cheaper than accordions and I gave half a dozen of them away to family and friends because they "weren't right" for me either. Must have only had 9 guitars then, so my wife was wrong all along.

Ceili bands are outwith my experience, but volume seems to be the main requirement there, if you're only playing acoustic.

I'm sure you'll make the right choice (for the moment).

 

[Neoscan]

Both great makes. I have a Pigini P36 with hand made reeds, dry tuned which I love. The hand made reeds have a great responsiveness (especially with the lower notes and reeds).

I’ve played a few Fantinis too and think they are great. I’d love one of their SP30 models.

The Pigini is great in sessions etc but I always prefer a bit of tremolo when playin for ceilidhs.

Both will be way better to play that the Chanson.

Try not and see I suppose is the right answer!

 

[Inflammo]

Even though decent accordions are hard to come by these days, we are still spoilt for choice in the UK compared with some people elsewhere. In a lot of cases the potential player only has one accordion available and its either that or nothing.

Some of the Brazilian players Ive heard on old obsolete boxes the size of small portakabins can do great things with them, having never had the opportunity to own anything else. Finding that instrument seems to be an obsession for some of us, Ive owned a good few accordions in my time and am still the crap player I was when I decided the first one wasnt the right one. Neither was the second, the third, the fourth, and I think Im on number 7 or 8, although I still have four of them. Two of them are half right for me, and the other two I keep in case I ever need to light a bonfire, although Im pretty sure one of them wouldnt burn too well at all.

Same with guitars. My wife called me Johnny 10 guitars and I got fed up with it, so I now only own three. Mind you guitars are a lot cheaper than accordions and I gave half a dozen of them away to family and friends because they werent right for me either. Must have only had 9 guitars then, so my wife was wrong all along.

Ceili bands are outwith my experience, but volume seems to be the main requirement there, if youre only playing acoustic.

Im sure youll make the right choice (for the moment).

:lol: Im on my 3rd box but with 2 that took up temporary residence. My heart was always with my first proper 120 bass-a Crucianelli which was retuned from Scottish to French musette and which I won beginners, elementary and polka classes in regional competition. I was encouraged by the ceilidh band leader to sell this for the 96 bass Jonelli about 12 years back- something I always regretted. A couple of weeks ago I saw what looked like my old Crucianelli advertised for sale on Gumtree and enquired and lo and behold it was definitely mine- since then Ive been trying hard not to re-buy it back! For what its worth my husband seems to collect skis and ski boots and is now into double figures which is pretty impressive given that he has only 1 pair of feet and skis one week each year...a couple of accordions by comparison is phenomenally restrained I think!

 

[Inflammo]

Both great makes. I have a Pigini P36 with hand made reeds, dry tuned which I love. The hand made reeds have a great responsiveness (especially with the lower notes and reeds).

I’ve played a few Fantinis too and think they are great. I’d love one of their SP30 models.

The Pigini is great in sessions etc but I always prefer a bit of tremolo when playin for ceilidhs.

Both will be way better to play that the Chanson.

Try not and see I suppose is the right answer!

So whats the difference between a Fantini Sp/1 and an SP30....is the latter a lighter weight version of the 72 bass with 30 as opposed to 34 keys?

 

[Neoscan]

Hi, yes, that’s basically it- a smaller size.

 

[maugein96]

For what its worth my husband seems to collect skis and ski boots and is now into double figures which is pretty impressive given that he has only 1 pair of feet and skis one week each year...a couple of accordions by comparison is phenomenally restrained I think!

Last time I was on skis was when I was stationed in Arctic Norway in 1975/6. We had thousands of NATO plank skis in various shades of white, and a huge assortment of sizes, either 190 or 210cm. For the type of work we did we had to use the big 210cm. If your husband had been there with us hed never have put skis back on his feet again. Bloody lethal things, and the notion of anybody taking off downhill on a pair of those knitting needle things the sporty types call skis is frightening. Most of us donned the dreaded snow shoes or commandeered a kick sledge the Norwegians use to get their shopping with. Skis were for work, and even gym shoes would have been preferable to prancing around with two big timber joists strapped to your boots all day.

We skied all day, every day, until our knees were like plasticine, and our backs were numb from the weight of the aircraft equipment and armament we had to carry on them. Only way downhill was to traverse, and uphill was a nightmare. In the extreme cold, the leather straps on our ankle webbing gaiters used to snap, and wed end up with wet and freezing lower legs. Send him to Norway for a fortnight with the Royal Marines ski instructors. As he can ski already, hell be spared the pure joy of being towed behind a tracked snow cat vehicle, as thats how they taught us.

When he comes back you can show him all your new accordions that the money he will save on skis will have bought you (or not).

I dont even like Ski yoghurt!