Hi People,
I’m only familiar with my Italian PA, but I’ve wanted to try my hand at learning buttons and free bass, have gravitated towards the b-system, and have finally found a couple of cheap converter-bayans to choose from (3-row/120, 3/4, no registers). Once I achieve a modicum of proficiency and convince myself I’d like to pursue it further I’ll think about investing in a better 5-row wonderbox, with chin registers, etc. Just testing the waters so to speak with one of these boxes (both “refurbished” with 14-day full refund guarantee).
One box is a Rubin 6, the other a Start120 (I think it’s called). I saw somewhere on this forum a video of a Rubin 6 playing, and I have some questions;
I understand some of these issues may seem a little bit anal, but when my OCD kicks in what can I say? Does anyone here have any relevant information? Thanks for any thoughts on these noisemakers and on choosing one over the other.
I’m only familiar with my Italian PA, but I’ve wanted to try my hand at learning buttons and free bass, have gravitated towards the b-system, and have finally found a couple of cheap converter-bayans to choose from (3-row/120, 3/4, no registers). Once I achieve a modicum of proficiency and convince myself I’d like to pursue it further I’ll think about investing in a better 5-row wonderbox, with chin registers, etc. Just testing the waters so to speak with one of these boxes (both “refurbished” with 14-day full refund guarantee).
One box is a Rubin 6, the other a Start120 (I think it’s called). I saw somewhere on this forum a video of a Rubin 6 playing, and I have some questions;
- Assuming the buttons (treble and bass) are a standard size/spacing, the pictures looked like the Start was up to a couple inches larger (sorry, whatever that is in mm), it also has 15 bellows pleats vs the Rubin’s 14 and 2 lbs more weight. This all leads me to think the Rubin is a bit less than full-sized compared to the Start. I tend to think that while you can work with whatever you have, you can never have too much air capacity.
- The 3 treble reed-blocks look similar, but the Rubin bass side has some reeds mounted at the end on what I would call the plate (to which the 4 — therefore shorter — blocks are also attached). What’s with that? They said Tula (Rubin) bayans are “the best” (whatever that’s supposed to mean), so is that part of what they’re talking about? Does that reed placement format give it a more “bayan” sound compared to the Start?
- With 3 treble voices each, are they LMM, LMH, or something else? (I know nothing here, but to me the 3 on each bayan all appear close to the same size.) If there’s two Ms are they musette-tuned even though with no switches you can’t shut it off, or what is the point of having two always on? More volume for a better balance?
- Just to mention incidentally, another factor irrelevant here but a small personal consideration, is that I like the looks of the Start120 slightly better, but I could certainly be happy with either.
I understand some of these issues may seem a little bit anal, but when my OCD kicks in what can I say? Does anyone here have any relevant information? Thanks for any thoughts on these noisemakers and on choosing one over the other.
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