Which way up should the accordion be when storing in case?

[Jules]

Hello! I have a Guerrini Ramona IV 72 bass piano accordion that I keep in a soft Fuselli Gigi Bag that looks like the attached photo. I've found conflicting information regarding the best position to store an accordion while it's in its case, so I'm a little confused. Some say to store it with the keyboard facing upward and parallel to the floor, and this case is oriented to stand that way, but I've also seen lots of folks saying to store it in the playing position with the keyboard perpendicular to the floor. I want to make sure I position it correctly when not in use so as to avoid gravity induced damage to any internal parts.

So which way up should I position it when I'm not playing it? Or does it only matter if you don't play it for long periods of time?

Thanks so much!

 

[Scuromondo]

If it does not have a cassotto, then storing it on its feet (with the keyboard perpendicular to the floor) is best, but storing it in the playing position is also ok. If it has a cassotto then the only way is in the playing position.

 

[Jules]

If it does not have a cassotto, then storing it on its feet (with the keyboard perpendicular to the floor) is best, but storing it in the playing position is also ok. If it has a cassotto then the only way is in the playing position.

Thank you so much for the reply! I've seen conflicting information everywhere I've looked online (even in posts in this forum), so I've been nervous about it. I don't see anything about cassotto in the listing from when I bought it, so I'm assuming it does *not* have it then. So it should be stored in its case in the position shown in the photo below?

 

[debra]

Besides cassotto an accordion should also be stored in the playing position when it has a "Winkelbaß", which means a bass reed block where the largest reeds are mounted at a 90 degree angle. Whether an accordion has this or not is very rarely listed in the description of a model.
When in doubt, always store an accordion in the playing position because that is fine for all accordions.
If you see accordions in a showroom they will always be displayed standing on their feet. Don't take this as a recommendation for how to store the accordion. It doesn't hurt the accordion when it is put on display and sold relatively quickly, but it should not be stored like this for a long time (if it has cassotto or Winkelbaß).

 

[Jules]

Besides cassotto an accordion should also be stored in the playing position when it has a "Winkelbaß", which means a bass reed block where the largest reeds are mounted at a 90 degree angle. Whether an accordion has this or not is very rarely listed in the description of a model.
When in doubt, always store an accordion in the playing position because that is fine for all accordions.
If you see accordions in a showroom they will always be displayed standing on their feet. Don't take this as a recommendation for how to store the accordion. It doesn't hurt the accordion when it is put on display and sold relatively quickly, but it should not be stored like this for a long time (if it has cassotto or Winkelbaß).

Thank you! Well, if it's always safe to store an accordion in the playing position, then that's what I'll do. I really appreciate the information! I had never heard of cassotto or Winkelbaß before!

 

[Dingo40]

Jules,
Here's a link to a very comprehensive earlier thread on this subject:

Valves and accordion storage orientation

I know this subject has been addressed in other threads, but I have a "problem" with the responses. Besides contradicting each other [several orientations suggested], the reasons given weren't clear to me. So I looked at my accordions for an answer. No luck... Following is my analysis: Number...

www.accordionists.info

Personally, all my accordions had already been stored "incorrectly" for decades before the matter became a topic of interest that I doubt any change now would make much of a difference for them.

 

[debra]

...
Personally, all my accordions had already been stored "incorrectly" for decades before the matter became a topic of interest that I doubt any change now would make much of a difference for them.

It's a gradual process of deterioration due to gravity (but only for valves being pulled open by gravity when the accordion is on its feet). What you notice most is that the lowest octave in the L register becomes slow to start on pull (and not on push). When that happens the valves need to be replaced or readjusted. It is mostly a problem when the valves do not have metal booster springs. The problem may take about 10 years to become noticeable, and by 20 years it's impossible to miss. It keeps getting worse, and that causes the problem that because the change is so gradual the player gets so used to the "current" situation with the accordion that (s)he never realizes that it has gotten worse over the years.

 

[Waldo]

Does this advise apply to plastic valves, as well?

 

[Jules]

Jules,
Here's a link to a very comprehensive earlier thread on this subject:

Valves and accordion storage orientation

I know this subject has been addressed in other threads, but I have a "problem" with the responses. Besides contradicting each other [several orientations suggested], the reasons given weren't clear to me. So I looked at my accordions for an answer. No luck... Following is my analysis: Number...

www.accordionists.info

Personally, all my accordions had already been stored "incorrectly" for decades before the matter became a topic of interest that I doubt any change now would make much of a difference for them.

Thank you!

 

[Jules]

It's a gradual process of deterioration due to gravity (but only for valves being pulled open by gravity when the accordion is on its feet). What you notice most is that the lowest octave in the L register becomes slow to start on pull (and not on push). When that happens the valves need to be replaced or readjusted. It is mostly a problem when the valves do not have metal booster springs. The problem may take about 10 years to become noticeable, and by 20 years it's impossible to miss. It keeps getting worse, and that causes the problem that because the change is so gradual the player gets so used to the "current" situation with the accordion that (s)he never realizes that it has gotten worse over the years.

Thank you for that explanation. It really helps to know how, when and and why it happens!

 

[Skari]

Here is an example of reed-valve sag on an old Hohner Morino Club I recently acquired on eBay.de. It must have been stored on its feet for much of its life, as the down-facing valves on the cassotto reed blocks have really curled.

I wish that was the only thing that needs attention on this old guy. I am planning to do some restoration work using techniques learned from this forum and other online sources. Fortunately, I didn't pay much for the accordion, so I can take some risks. I must be one of the few that still plays the club layout.

 

[debra]

Here is an example of reed-valve sag on an old Hohner Morino Club I recently acquired on eBay.de. ....

Many thanks for these pictures. A very clear illustration of the problem. I keep telling people to store their accordion in the playing orientation and they look at me in disbelief because 1) their teacher never told them and 2) the person or store they bought the accordion from didn't tell them and 3) accordions are on display in accordion stores, all sitting on their feet instead of in the playing orientation...

 

[Skari]

Here is another view of the cassotto reed block. The up side is on the left, down on the right. I will be storing my cassotto accordions in playing position from now on.

 

[HiTechBiniou]

The main solution is to keep your accordion standing up in the playing position because that way, ALL LEATHERS (VALVES) WILL BE ON THEIR SIDE.

Try to hold a 8"X11" sheet of paper horizontally and you will notice it will always fall down. Hold it on its side, it will stay like that more easily.

The attached picture show a regular non cassotto accordion and still, you can see in the bass region that one reedblock is not completely vertical.

The leathers on this side will warp if you keep your accordion on its feets.

 

[McSqueeze]

This issue crops up from time to time, and since in my 68 years playing I've always stored my accordions on their feet, I decided to check them out.
Apart from several newer instruments I have a 60+ year old Ranco, a 50+ year old Morino and a 40+ year old Elka Classique (with cassotto).
All the leathers on all my accordions, including the one with cassotto, are lying perfectly flat, with no issues whatsoever.
Whilst I appreciate others have had leather problems with feet storage, for what it's worth, that has not been my experience.
So since I find it more convenient to store my accordions on their feet, I'll continue to do so, but it's not necessarily a recommendation.

 

[Dingo40]

McSqueeze,
"All the leathers on all my accordions, including the one with cassotto, are lying perfectly flat, with no issues whatsoever."

Do not try this at home!, but my own experience mirrors yours, as stated above, perfectly: except that my accordions lie flat on their backs in their hard cases.!

 

[debra]

This issue crops up from time to time, and since in my 68 years playing I've always stored my accordions on their feet, I decided to check them out.
Apart from several newer instruments I have a 60+ year old Ranco, a 50+ year old Morino and a 40+ year old Elka Classique (with cassotto).
All the leathers on all my accordions, including the one with cassotto, are lying perfectly flat, with no issues whatsoever.
Whilst I appreciate others have had leather problems with feet storage, for what it's worth, that has not been my experience.
So since I find it more convenient to store my accordions on their feet, I'll continue to do so, but it's not necessarily a recommendation.

Maybe gravity is lower where you live...
Seriously, when gravity pulls the valves down they will after some time stay down (i.e. open). I have seen this on accordions I have serviced, including older Morinos and they all suffer from valves that stay open, and those are *only* the valves that are pulled open by gravity when the accordion stands on its feet. The result is that the notes then become slow to respond on pull. People who have brought me accordions for tuning have noticed that notes were becoming slower to respond (low notes in the L register especially, and to a lesser extent low notes in the M register, but they get slower on push, not pull). Some types of valves suffer more than others though. When you have a good quality accordion with leather valves and metal booster springs then the effect of gravity is less than when you for instance have (faux) leather valves with plastic booster "flaps". The plastic does not hold up to gravity very well. And old Morinos have large valves made out of a material that turns into the consistency of cardboard after decades, so these valves become so stiff that even gravity cannot pull them open. (But playing can then hardly pull them open either.)

 

[wirralaccordion]

If it does not have a cassotto, then storing it on its feet (with the keyboard perpendicular to the floor) is best, but storing it in the playing position is also ok. If it has a cassotto then the only way is in the playing position.

My playing position is always with the keyboard perpendicular to the floor. However I play my piano with the keyboard parallel to the floor!

 

[McSqueeze]

My playing position is always with the keyboard perpendicular to the floor. However I play my piano with the keyboard parallel to the floor!

In 1988 I saw the Bulgarian clarinetist Ivo Papazov in Australia with his band.
The accordionist also played a short keyboard held vitrually perpendicular to the floor.
See from about 5.40 on this video -

 

[Ikesaccordions]

Here is another view of the cassotto reed block. The up side is on the left, down on the right. I will be storing my cassotto accordions in playing position from now on.

The leathers can be straightened. Roll up the leather with the top grain out. Then flatten it and check that it lies flat. Re- glue using traditional shellac glue.