Recommend My Model

[hoag]

Howdy everyone!

I'm on the hunt for a new box. I'm hoping that you experienced folk can offer some recommendations for an instrument that fits my needs. I'll list my preferred specs, and wait for your replies.



Treble Side

-41 or more waterfall style piano keys
-keyboard length between 14" and 16"
-low voice
-middle voice
-master voice

Bass Side

-96 or more bass buttons
-stradella or converter
-4 reeds
-2 or 3 voices

General

-vintage models are easier on my budget than new instruments
-strap hooks need to be on the top and bottom of instrument, not the back
-lightweight, between 10lbs and 16lbs



Extra reed banks and extra voices are appreciable, so long as they do not add too much extra weight. I would prefer a LMM setup or a LLM setup over a LMH setup, but tell me about them all! Thanks in advance. Cheers!

 

[Dingo40]

41 or more waterfall style piano keys
-keyboard length between 14" and 16"

Just a thought: 41 or more treble keys squeezed into 16" would be difficult for any normal adult to play, squeezed into 14" impossible!
Regarding waterfall keys, we'd be looking at pre-mid 1950s accordions. These instruments are quite elderly in accordion terms and liable to need serious renovations: expensive and hard to arrange. However, Liberty Bellows is a firm that offers an in-house repairs capability .
To see what may be available, cast your eye (and ear) over Liberty Bellows vintage accordions.
See here:

Google Search

 

[boxplayer4000]

10 to 16lbs weight is also a severe restriction on 41 keys as well.

 

[hoag]

Thanks, Dingo40, and boxplayer4000, for your replies!

The small keys do not bother me. It's actually something I would prefer on all of my boxes. I come from full sized pianos, and appreciate the extra reach I get on smaller keyed instruments. I am also learning the trade of accordion repair, and am not opposed to an instrument in need of some help.

I do own an older Brindisi, with a 41 key, 14.5" keyboard. It has 120 bass, and has both low and middle reed blocks. It weights right around 14lbs. My issue with this instrument is that I do not have a low register voice, only a middle voice and a master voice. It has four reeds on the bass side, and no voicing options.

I also own a Hohner Tango IIIM, which has a 41 key, 20" keyboard. This instrument has low voice, middle voice, cassotto voice, low mid voice, and master voice. It has five reed banks, and three voices on the bass side. This instrument has the sounds I'm after, but is too heavy for my stature, and is not conducive to walking into a jam session and sitting in easily.

I've checked out Liberty Bellows before, and will do so again as per your advice. I'm hoping that this thread can serve as an updating library of ultra compact, full range piano accordion models. Cheers!

 

[Superslowlearner]

Howdy everyone!

I'm on the hunt for a new box. I'm hoping that you experienced folk can offer some recommendations for an instrument that fits my needs. I'll list my preferred specs, and wait for your replies.



Treble Side

-41 or more waterfall style piano keys
-keyboard length between 14" and 16"
-low voice
-middle voice
-master voice

Bass Side

-96 or more bass buttons
-stradella or converter
-4 reeds
-2 or 3 voices

General

-vintage models are easier on my budget than new instruments
-strap hooks need to be on the top and bottom of instrument, not the back
-lightweight, between 10lbs and 16lbs



Extra reed banks and extra voices are appreciable, so long as they do not add too much extra weight. I would prefer a LMM setup or a LLM setup over a LMH setup, but tell me about them all! Thanks in advance. Cheers!

hello! have you looked at the various boxes basil has on his site? good luck with shopping! keith

 

[oldbayan]

41 keys in 14-inch... Does such thing exist? If I were you, I would look for shorter keyboards, like 37 treble keys with 96 bass.
If you want compactness nothing beats a CBA!

 

[hoag]

hello! have you looked at the various boxes basil has on his site? good luck with shopping! keith

I have not, could you direct me? I looked up "Basil accordion" and I found plenty of entries with the name Basile, but no "Basil."

41 keys in 14-inch... Does such thing exist? If I were you, I would look for shorter keyboards, like 37 treble keys with 96 bass.
If you want compactness nothing beats a CBA!

They do, and they're not uncommon here in the US. They're designed for beginners, it seems, and small hands; women and children. From what I've seen, they always have three or fewer treble-side voices.

As I'm mostly a jazzer, I only need a low voice, middle voice, and master. I also prefer the added range that the smaller keys offer! I'm aiming to find a simple box for jazz that has a keyboard length between 14 inches and 16 inches. If it has two voices on the bass side, that's a plus! It it's got an extra middle voice or high voice on the treble, cool.

It seems a lot of the older Ferrari badged PAs fit the bill. Anybody have experience with them?

 

[Paul vdV]

Basil: https://www.squeezydoesit.com/