Which way up ?

[Geoff de Limousin]

We are always told to stand the accordion on its feet when not being played but in George Bachich's book "Piano Accordion" he sugests that if an accordion has Tone Chambered reeds it would be better to stand it in the playing position, as this will stress those reed's valves less, or equally for all reed banks.

I noticed that my modern CBA, which has both Basson and Flute voices in the tone chamber, is beginning to have a few slow valves on the flute reeds. these are very difficult to see as they are hidden behind the Basson reed blocks. Could these slow shuting valves be due to standing the instrument in the normal 'on its feet' position when not in use ?

Which way do you stand your Tone Chambered accordion ?

 

[debra]

I try to always place my accordions with tone chamber in the playing position. Otherwise indeed half of the reed valves in the tone chamber are being pulled open by gravity. However this mostly affects the lower notes of the basson register. It should have absolutely no noticeable effect on the flute reeds as their valves are much smaller. And on modern accordions these valves are certainly made of plastic and weigh close to nothing.

 

[JIM D.]

All tone camber model accordions should be stored in the playing position. And yes some newer Italian model accordions come with plastic treble valves but the purist's still order them with leather.

 

[Geoff de Limousin]

Thanks for the good advice Debra and Jim. :tup:

I took another look inside this instrument last night and there are quite a mixture of valve types; leather, plastic, and leather supported by plastic, and this is not in any graded way like lowest notes have leather and moving to plastic for the flute voices ,more like as if someone has individually selected different valves to match each reed... but I don't know if it was fitted out this way at the fatory as I bought it secondhand.

I will keep it in the playing postion from now on, perhaps a little cushion to stand the accordion on its end ?

 

[Pietro]

Interesting post. This is something I never knew and may explain why I've had choking bassoon reeds on two instruments. I will try when possible to stand my instrument upright in future, although this appears to be less stable than sitting on its 'feet'.

Pete

 

[acordiansam]

I think it more when its in its case waiting to be played. Not as much when you use it.

 

[Geoff de Limousin]

OK, having established that an accordion with tone chambered reeds could be better stored in the playing position I now find another case for doing the same:

In another topic I discuss the 4 Voice Musette CBA I am currently restoring. Well, whilst examining the Bass end of this instrument I find that there are two banks of reeds which are attached 'flat on' to the foundation plate so that when the accordeon is stored 'on its feet' the valves on the underside of these banks are hanging downwards. So this instrument has a 5 voice Bass, three voices are on the usual style reed blocks and two are mounted flat, somewhat like a Bandoneon. Perhaps this is why the Bass has a somewhat Bandoneon-ish sound, however, the curling valve problem suggests that storing this instrument in the playing position might also be preferable.

So, then I examined my other old clunker boxes which also have 5 voice Basses and they each have one reed bank mounted flat on the foundation plate .

Looks like a case for storing all these in the upright position and I'll certainly consider replacing the curled leather valves with the modern plasic type.