Weltmeister Reed Upgrades?

[OuijaBoard]

Here and there I've seen people refer to ordering their Weltmeister with TAM Italian reeds. Has anyone played or heard a Weltmeister with this custom feature? Wondering if the reeds sound and/or respond differently than their stock (Eastern European?) machine reeds, and if so, how?

 

[JIM D.]

Yes, in most all cases the Italian hand made and even quality machine made reeds will be an upgrade to what a standard Welt'e has. If you have an older box a upgrade to a set of Italian reeds is a waste of money as the reed blocks are of soft wood or plastic.
I would like to comment more on the quality of Weltmeister accordions, but we do have a Dealer here as a member that sells them in the US .

 

[debra]

Yes, in most all cases the Italian hand made and even quality machine made reeds will be an upgrade to what a standard Welte has. If you have an older box a upgrade to a set of Italian reeds is a waste of money as the reed blocks are of soft wood or plastic...

Its also not trivial to find good reeds that fit. For each reed (note) there are similar quality Italian reeds that have a different physical size. Low quality reeds are also often smaller than high quality reeds so it will already be a challenge to find good quality reeds in a size small enough.

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

I was speaking to someone a couple of weeks ago about Weltmeisters. He told me that they now had Italian reeds, and went on to say that he had seen reeds inside the latest Weltmeisters which bore the Bugari stamp.

I am not saying that this is true, though I have no reason to doubt the word of the man who gave me this information. A visit to the Weltmeister website confirms that Italian reeds are fitted as standard, so they must not be a custom option.

 

[kimric]

Some Weltmeisters are available with hand made reeds on request like the Topaz and the Saphir. The Supita comes with hand made reeds.
It is not really possible to have Italian reeds that are currently made put in the smaller models, the Italian reed plates are larger and won't fit in the compact instruments like the Rubin and the Jewel.

I have had a few custom Weltmeister instruments made that used hand finished reeds made in the Czech factory. These will fit and give a more Italian sound. This does add cost to the instrument depending on how many reeds are used.

 

[debra]

I was speaking to someone a couple of weeks ago about Weltmeisters. He told me that they now had Italian reeds, and went on to say that he had seen reeds inside the latest Weltmeisters which bore the Bugari stamp.

I am not saying that this is true, though I have no reason to doubt the word of the man who gave me this information. A visit to the Weltmeister website confirms that Italian reeds are fitted as standard, so they must not be a custom option.

It would be very strange to find Bugari reeds in a new Weltmeister, because Bugari stopped making their own reeds a long time ago (and as far as I know they did not start again, but of course I could be wrong). Bugari reeds were used in the Hohner Morino N series, but the later S series has Cagnoni reeds (the change was needed as Bugari stopped making reeds, and some of the later N series may already have Cagnoni reeds). Nowadays Artigiana Voci, Binci, Cagnoni and maybe a few others are being used. Big accordion names like Bugari, Pigini, Beltuna, Scandalli, Victoria, and smaller ones alike all use one of these reed manufacturers and do not produce their own reeds.

 

[JIM D.]

Yes its extremely doubtful that any model Weltie would indeed have Bugari reeds or any quality Italian machine or hand fitted reeds. You see that the cost of these high quality reeds will far out value the retail cost of the box itself.
And yes the quality accordion makers today out source their reeds just as car makers out source their tires, batteries and air bags.
I havent got a newer model Weltie in my shop, but --If I make a guess, --they have the same mediocre quality Italian machine made reeds that Hohner uses in their China boxes.
For more positive info on what a new Weltmeister accordion offers for reed options - send a PA or email to our Forum member and dealer ---
http://www.smythesaccordioncenter.com/piano--chromatic-accordions.html

or

http://www.smythesaccordioncenter.com/

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

I have definitely read about Italian reeds in Weltmeisters, and am fairly sure that the information came from an official Weltmeister website.

As for the reeds bearing a Bugari stamp, I can only say that I received this information from a man in the accordion business. I trust his word, and he told me that he had seen Bugari reeds in a Supita. (and he owns one)

I have no independent knowledge on this subject, and am merely sharing information which I have received from a reliable source.

 

[OuijaBoard]

Thanks, all, for the information and interesting discussion. My question was focused on new orders, not substitutions in older Welt instruments. I heard or read a reference somewhere to Weltmeister models being orderable with Italian hand or TAM reeds, and wondered a) If this was so; and B) If anyone had played/heard a Weltmeister with such reeds. I didn't mean the high-end Supina, or Zupina, I meant the regular models. Have been eyeing the Romance LMM 72 and wondering if upgraded Italian reeds were possible . . . .Hmmm, okay, so Czech TAM reeds might be an option too. Interesting.

 

[JIM D.]

And again, you may contact our Forum member --
http://www.smythesaccordioncenter.com/
for more correct info on the current Weilte models.

 

[Soulsaver]

Im aware a couple (maybe more) of Weltmeister models can be ordered with Italian reeds. For sure Ive seen the Topas for sale new at €500 extra for Italian reeds. It didnt say what quality reeds so unlikely to be TAM, but it may be possible to order them. Heres one being played.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...BE5CC4F5F43B41B2764BBE5CC4F5F43B41B&FORM=VIRE

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

The following instruments are listed on the Weltmeister Home Page as being fitted with Italian reeds as standard:

Topas 37/96 Musette.
Topas 37/96 Accordion.

Saphir 41/120 Musette.
Saphir 41/120 Accordion.

Cassotto (374) 37/96 Musette.
Cassotto (414) 41/120 Musette.
Cassotto (414) 41/120 Accordion.

No references can be found to "special orders" anywhere in the text. As previously stated, I know someone with a Weltmeister Supita which has Italian reeds, and they came as standard.

Happy to Help.

EDIT: A visit to Thomann UK website confirms the above.