• If you haven't done so already, please add a location to your profile. This helps when people are trying to assist you, suggest resources, etc. Thanks

Scandalli?

It's lovely, but it's very difficult to judge the natural sound from recordings 🤔🙂.
Ideally, you'd want to listen to it "in the flesh " while a good accordionist is playing it under ideals conditions.🙂
( As well as playing it yourself)
 
Scandalli are really good accordions. But a 120 bass accordion with just 37 treble notes... come on!
Piano accordions always have too few notes, but some people do want small. Yet, essentially $9.000, that's insane. I know prices have gone up but this is becoming outrageous. Our instrument will die out if this is what people have to pay for a "small" accordion...
 
Jenny you sure like nice accordions! I think Scandalli are really lovely too. The Intense cherry wood accordion is gorgeous.

Now, forgive me for taking the liberty of making an alternative suggestion, but I can't resist it. If I lived in the USA and could visit LB store I would choose this accordion in a heartbeat!

Scandalli BJP442

41 keys (19mm) so the size is COMPACT
Double cassotto
Standard 120 bass PLUS Quint free bass converter - so you can switch between Stradella bass or 3 octaves of free bass in the same Stradella formation (Octave 1 on counter bass & fundamental basses, Octave 2 on major & minor basses, Octave 3 on 7th & dim basses).

NEW Black Scandalli Conservatorio BJP 442 Quint Converter Piano Accordion LMMH 41 120

Type: Piano Accordion Converter Reeds: 4/4 LMMH (A442hz +0 cents) Treble: 41 Keys, 18.5(47cm) Key to Key, 13+3C Registers Bass: 120 Bass Buttons, 6 Registers Weight: 27.5lbs / 12.5kg Features: Quint Converter, Dry Concert Tuning, Palm/Chin Switches
www.libertybellows.com www.libertybellows.com

All you then need to do is pick up a copy of a few Palmer & Hughes books:

I just ordered my copies last week from Busso Music/Ernest Deffner in America:

Palmer-Hughes Converter Free Bass Book of Instruction
Palmer-Hughes Converter Free Bass Selections Book 1
Palmer-Hughes Converter Free Bass Selections Book 2

It's almost like two instruments for the price of one. A traditional Stradella bass accordion AND a compact free bass accordion. You can develop your Stradella skills by practising *Quint (because they are essentially the same system) and learn a new skill in the acquisition of free bass technique.

*which is actually an American/Italian-American invention. Just sayin' :)
 
Walker said:
...
Now, forgive me for taking the liberty of making an alternative suggestion, but I can't resist it. If I lived in the USA and could visit LB store I would choose this accordion in a heartbeat!

Scandalli BJP442

41 keys (19mm) so the size is COMPACT
Double cassotto
Standard 120 bass PLUS Quint free bass converter - so you can switch between Stradella bass or 3 octaves of free bass in the same Stradella formation (Octave 1 on counter bass & fundamental basses, Octave 2 on major & minor basses, Octave 3 on 7th & dim basses).
...
Click to expand...
That accordion is comes much closer to being worth the price than that 37-key one.
I'm probably the only one who notices in the demo that this new accordion is already out of tune... so it doesn't matter.
 
While I don't sweat those details, I notice them, and it makes a bit of an impression from the point of view of if they are offering "reliable info... and if not, does that extend to the rest of their descriptions or not.

That said... buying an accordion is just like buying a car... we NEVER buy it without trying it out in person and never without doing your homework. Paul kind of did voice my feelings about the price... $9000 for a 37-key accordion does border on outrageous pricing.

In a way, I am happy that I can say that I picked up what I feel is a superior instrument for a LOT less in a recent addition of my Beltuna Leader V. Using that as an example, we can at least say that there are potentially better accordions out there for a much more reasonable price!
 
Walker said:
Jenny you sure like nice accordions! I think Scandalli are really lovely too. The Intense cherry wood accordion is gorgeous.

Now, forgive me for taking the liberty of making an alternative suggestion, but I can't resist it. If I lived in the USA and could visit LB store I would choose this accordion in a heartbeat!

Scandalli BJP442

41 keys (19mm) so the size is COMPACT
Double cassotto
Standard 120 bass PLUS Quint free bass converter - so you can switch between Stradella bass or 3 octaves of free bass in the same Stradella formation (Octave 1 on counter bass & fundamental basses, Octave 2 on major & minor basses, Octave 3 on 7th & dim basses).

NEW Black Scandalli Conservatorio BJP 442 Quint Converter Piano Accordion LMMH 41 120

Type: Piano Accordion Converter Reeds: 4/4 LMMH (A442hz +0 cents) Treble: 41 Keys, 18.5(47cm) Key to Key, 13+3C Registers Bass: 120 Bass Buttons, 6 Registers Weight: 27.5lbs / 12.5kg Features: Quint Converter, Dry Concert Tuning, Palm/Chin Switches
www.libertybellows.com www.libertybellows.com

All you then need to do is pick up a copy of a few Palmer & Hughes books:

I just ordered my copies last week from Busso Music/Ernest Deffner in America:

Palmer-Hughes Converter Free Bass Book of Instruction
Palmer-Hughes Converter Free Bass Selections Book 1
Palmer-Hughes Converter Free Bass Selections Book 2

It's almost like two instruments for the price of one. A traditional Stradella bass accordion AND a compact free bass accordion. You can develop your Stradella skills by practising *Quint (because they are essentially the same system) and learn a new skill in the acquisition of free bass technique.

*which is actually an American/Italian-American invention. Just sayin' :)
Click to expand...
Hello,
It is true I really admire accordions, especially the really nice looking ones! I am so glad you and others are here on this forum to keep me wise and not foolishly spending my money on accordions that cost too much. Thank you! Accordions are too spendy and big to have too many, so one has to choose as wisely as possible given all the factors!! The accordion you referenced is gorgeous, for sure also sounds better than the one I posted and more features. Unfortunately, I am looking for something lighter, around 23 lbs or less too. I am thinking I got to think about my criteria, because “can’t have everything.” I have a Petosa SM 100 right now, bought on eBay 10 years ago for about $1200, and I am looking to upgrade. I got some very good suggestions through the Fisitalia vs Petosa thread, I posted too.
 
debra said:
Scandalli are really good accordions. But a 120 bass accordion with just 37 treble notes... come on!
Piano accordions always have too few notes, but some people do want small. Yet, essentially $9.000, that's insane. I know prices have gone up but this is becoming outrageous. Our instrument will die out if this is what people have to pay for a "small" accordion...
Click to expand...
Yes, truly said! I think they are capitalizing on how pretty it is!
 
Jennyt4778 said:
Hello,
It is true I really admire accordions, especially the really nice looking ones! I am so glad you and others are here on this forum to keep me wise and not foolishly spending my money on accordions that cost too much. Thank you! Accordions are too spendy and big to have too many, so one has to choose as wisely as possible given all the factors!! The accordion you referenced is gorgeous, for sure also sounds better than the one I posted and more features. Unfortunately, I am looking for something lighter, around 23 lbs or less too. I am thinking I got to think about my criteria, because “can’t have everything.” I have a Petosa SM 100 right now, bought on eBay 10 years ago for about $1200, and I am looking to upgrade. I got some very good suggestions through the Fisitalia vs Petosa thread, I posted too.
Click to expand...
“ having everything“, including lighter weight is why I got fixated on the 18.5 inch Petosa Leggera 1000 model - like everything except the price of it! So am researching “better bang for the buck”
 
Jennyt4778 said:
Hello,
It is true I really admire accordions, especially the really nice looking ones! I am so glad you and others are here on this forum to keep me wise and not foolishly spending my money on accordions that cost too much. Thank you! Accordions are too spendy and big to have too many, so one has to choose as wisely as possible given all the factors!! The accordion you referenced is gorgeous, for sure also sounds better than the one I posted and more features. Unfortunately, I am looking for something lighter, around 23 lbs or less too. I am thinking I got to think about my criteria, because “can’t have everything.” I have a Petosa SM 100 right now, bought on eBay 10 years ago for about $1200, and I am looking to upgrade. I got some very good suggestions through the Fisitalia vs Petosa thread, I posted too.
Click to expand...
Hi Jenny, what you say makes a lot of sense about having a lighter, more compact accordion. Though I personally like the more "feature packed" BJP442 a lot :love: I ACTUALLY think the Scandalli Intense is a VERY beautiful accordion and it has a lovely tone. I don't personally agree that 37 keys are too few. For folk and traditional styles of music I think 37 keys is ideal and at 11kg it is light. It might be short of notes for classical or jazz though, but for most other music, I doubt you would be short of notes on a 37 key. Would I choose a Scandalli Intense? Definitely! I believe they are available in walnut, maple, cherry and mahogany. Go and visit LB store and play some accordions.

Also, our musical maestro @Piotr plays the 41 key version of the Intense and I doubt there is much difference in price or weight between the 37 or 41. Either would be superb IMHO! If anyone can show me a more beautiful accordion than this I will be flabbergasted!


I think it would be worth every penny. :) Is Victoria, Brandoni or Siwa & Figli better for a wooden accordion? I very much doubt it!
 
Last edited:
Pearl for fancy showmanship! But white or ivory are great too. I don’t like the black and white marble keys that they have now on some. The Petosa 1000am Leggera 181/2” on their site is one such example.
 
Jennyt4778 said:
Pearl for fancy showmanship! But white or ivory are great too. I don’t like the black and white marble keys that they have now on some. The Petosa 1000am Leggera 181/2” on their site is one such example.
Click to expand...
petosa.com

AM-1000 Leggera MF (18 1/2

Details Unmatched quality engineered to be the lightest weight accordion of its class… Leggera is a new genre of professional accordion, optimizing sound and feel without abandoning the use of premium quality materials. A concept designed to manage the overall weight of the instrument without...
petosa.com petosa.com
 
Jennyt4778 said:
petosa.com

AM-1000 Leggera MF (18 1/2

Details Unmatched quality engineered to be the lightest weight accordion of its class… Leggera is a new genre of professional accordion, optimizing sound and feel without abandoning the use of premium quality materials. A concept designed to manage the overall weight of the instrument without...
petosa.com petosa.com
Click to expand...
Over $11 k too
 
Plus I don’t know how the Petosa “newly designed” reeds are. Seems to me possibly iffy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
    • Like
Scandalli Brevetto N 391982 - Want to learn but face dilemma.
Replies
9
Views
205
HumbleBeginner
H
G
Bugari 151/CH vs Scandalli Polifonico ix
Replies
14
Views
297
NickC
NickC
S
Scandalli super 6
2
Replies
22
Views
623
Walker
W
E
Wanted! Scandalli script badge.
Replies
2
Views
91
Tom
Tom
B
Another Scandalli
Replies
5
Views
186
Dingo40
Dingo40
Back
Top